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Ok, so the theme is updated now, although it looks like some of the layout still needs tweaking.  Tags/Categories still don’t work – my apologies.  Let me know if you notice anything else.  I’ll try to get it back up and running by next week sometime…

Best, R.

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A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from my webhost telling me that – basically – the software running my blog was dangerously out of date.  In other words, update the software or doom would me mine.  So, now, after hours and hours and days of work, it’s finished.  It’s not that updating WordPress (the aforementioned software) is actually hard, it’s just that figuring out what myphpadmin is and how to use it, among a bunch of other nerdy things, was a bit beyond my grasp at first.  Also, as it turns out, I can’t spend more than about 15 minutes in front of my computer without having to dash of to resolve another issue of some kind.  I had hoped to get this done while away last week, but my hotel connection was a bit, um, well, let’s just say slow.  Anyway, I notice that the tags/categories are still not working, and the theme itself needs to be updated, but otherwise, the update is done and the blog is none-the-worse-for-wear.

If you notice something that isn’t working properly (I’m not talking about the content!), please let me know.  Otherwise, ciao for now.

Best, Rick

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My “watchful eye to the music industry” is rapidly evolving – I’ve been thinking about recasting this blog as something more like what it is turning into. More on that later. In the meantime, here is yet another video (courtesy of Youtube) that highlights the Either/Orchestra. (more…)

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Not my title; not my headline. It comes from JazzVideoGuy on Youtube. He has posted a wonderful podcast that is, um, all about Cecil McBee. I studied with Cecil for almost four years when I was getting my B.M. at New England Conservatory. He is still my mentor, and I can’t imagine that changing – at least I hope not!

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slJX2-cyegQ]

He is a wonderful bassist, phenomenal musician, and incredible man.

Enjoy, R.

PS – the connection in my hotel is pretty rough – I’ll have to check the whole video out later – let me know how you like it, though…

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In my last post about our recent trip to London, I included links to Youtube video of Getachew Merkurya at our Barbican show, and a link to BBC footage of our Glastonbury show. As predicted, the BBC show seems to have been made unavailable, so here’s hoping some of you got a chance to check it out.

In the meantime, there are a few more links up on Youtube. All the Youtube videos really show the AlterEGO bass well, which I find personally very satisfying. Anyway, here they are: (more…)

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A wonderful turn of events has come from a pretty challenging experience. A few weeks ago, my car was broken into and some very serious gear was taken from it. The tricky thing about the experience is that it left me somewhat paralyzed, because the most important things stolen from me were the amplifiers I use on gigs. These amplifiers were made by Gallien-Krueger. Well, as of a couple days ago, I am honored to say that I now am a part of the Gallien-Krueger endorsing artists program. I plan on posting an update once the gear arrives. I can already tell you that it’s great gear because I have been using GK amps almost exclusively for nearly 20 years. Many thanks to Bob Gallien and Brian Clark at GK!

Best,

Rick McLaughlin

Endorser of AlterEGO instruments and Gallien-Krueger amplifiers.