Bass Magazine digs into the latest releases of albums, books, and videos involving all things bass.
Tower Of Power
Step Up [Mack Avenue]
TOP’s potent latest effort is both a reminder that the inimitable Bay Area horn band is unstoppable, as it enters its 51st year of touring and recording, and a heartfelt tribute to Rocco Prestia. Prestia, who appears on all 14 tracks, co-writing five, is honored in the liner notes as a bass innovator and “the most adored member of the band,” who has retired from the road. A shout-out to current bassist Marc Van Wangeningen is also included. Rocco gets right down to rhythm-and-business with lifelong drumming partner David Garibaldi to provide the bubbling underpinning for the “Oakland Stroke”-like opener and closer, “East Bay All the Way” and the riffy title track. “Look in My Eyes,” the first of two straight tracks Prestia co-wrote with Spyro Gyra keyboardist Tom Schuman, sports a slick, syncopated start before Rocco settles into his trademark galloping groove. The second collab, “You Da One,” rides Prestia’s percolatin