On-Stage’s GPB-DLX Deluxe Pedalboard is a pedal-organization solution that enables musicians to easily store and transport an entire effect chain as a single portable unit. The two-tiered board has room for up to 11 standard-sized pedals. The upper tier, which holds three standard-sized pedals, can be removed entirely, or positioned on the left, on the right or in the center of the main platform to fit the user’s preferred pedal arrangement. An added benefit of the upper tier is that a power supply, buffer or other utility device can be mounted below it without taking up precious pedal space. Plus, with the upper tier oriented left or right, the board accommodates volume and wah pedals. The main platform and upper tier are angled toward the user for comfortable viewing and ease of operating foot switches.
Aspiring arrangers and orchestrators for jazz ensembles, big bands or jazz orchestras can absorb the decades of wisdom contained in Chuck Israels’ newly revised book, Exploring Jazz Arranging, from Sher Music. Israels, pianist Bill Evans’ bassist of choice for many years, shares sage advice on how to construct perfect bass lines. He begins by stressing the primary importance of rhythm above chord voicing and the essential relationship between the “outer lines,” melody and bass line. The author goes on to talk about chord voicing, voice-leading and recognizing recurring patterns in chord progressions. He also writes about arranging for solo, two, three, four and five voices and gradually gets into writing for combos and smaller ensembles before discussing writing for big band. The 187-page spiral-bound book is available in both printed and PDF formats, with free downloads of audio files for each musical example.
