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Latest about soul

Musical Guest Kool & The Gang perform on February 25, 1984
Robert “Kool” Bell on how one of Kool & The Gang's most enduring hits came about

By Janelle Borg Published

Kool & The Gang’s penchant for stellar grooves and genre-blending beats is a core part of their success – and this particular hit, which is rooted in reggae, is no different

Bassists
American soul singer and songwriter James Brown (1933-2006) performs live on stage with the J.B.'s, including bass guitarist Bootsy Collins on left and guitarist Catfish Collins (1943-2010) behind on right, in East Ham, London in March 1971
Bootsy Collins' first Fender Jazz Bass has just been sold at auction – and shot past its estimate

By Janelle Borg Published

James Brown bought the bass sometime in 1970 for his young protégé, William Earl Collins, better known as Bootsy Collins, and it would go on to be played by another one of his bassists, Fred Thomas

Bass Guitars
Maya Delilah plays a Maton electric guitar
The oddball electric guitar that fast-rising soul-pop guitarist Maya Delilah favors over her Strats and Teles

By Janelle Borg Published

The fingerstyle guitarist and genre-blending singer-songwriter recently released her debut record on the historic Blue Note Records

Guitarists
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performs at Living History Live: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter at The GRAMMY Museum on December 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter went to a James Brown gig – and had to step in as his sideman at the last minute

By Janelle Borg Published

Brown may be known as the the “Hardest-Working Man in Show Business”, but it seems like Skunk is also worthy of that moniker...

Guitarists
Grace Bowers performs on Day 1 of BottleRock Napa Valley at Napa Valley Expo on May 24, 2024 in Napa, California
Grace Bowers on moving past the blues guitarist label – and where she’s heading next

By Janelle Borg Published

Bowers’ blues chops were the gateway to her making a mark on the guitar scene, but her album and live performances show that she’s much more than just a one-genre player

Guitarists
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Country-Funk—What Hank Williams and James Brown have in Common

By Keith Wyatt Published

A lesson in the two-beat “boom-chick” style of rhythm playing.

Artists