Neo-Classical Guitarist Matt Mills on a New Acoustic Journey
When you open up a can of Matt Mills music, you’ll discover a a variety of flavors that will take you from some finely nuanced flamenco guitar to the world of high velocity shred.
When you open up a can of Matt Mills music, you’ll discover a a variety of flavors that will take you from some finely nuanced flamenco guitar to the world of high velocity shred.
Some music diminishes over time and fades away as new sounds and trends emerge that capture new generations with faddish sound effects, speed or unheard of complexity. But, when I hear the 1959 Santo and Johnny Farina #1 hit instrumental, “Sleepwalk”, it always stops me in my tracks, and I listen.
James Marsters just might be the hardest working man in show business with one of the coolest dossiers in both music and Hollywood.
“Every song has something in it that pushed my buttons!” said Steve, and it’s clearly evident on each song on his latest CD release, The Story of Light.
Guitarist, Randy Ellefson, is driven to create something special, whether it’s his music or his other artistic endeavors. His musics ranges free style melodic instrumentals to crushing heavy metal, both of which contributed to one very bad case of tendinitis.
Greg Howe is an amazing guitar virtuoso who has become one of the most in-demand performers, clinicians, guitar teacher, studio and touring musicians on the scene today. Howe has performed with musicians such as Michael Jackson, Enrique Iglesias, N’Sync, Victor Wooten, Dennis Chambers, Stu Hamm among many others. In this interview we talk about Howe’s music, jazz influences in his music, his touring with different pop stars as well as Howe’s thoughts on Allan Holdsworth, success and teaching individuality.
In July 2001, I was deeply honored to interview roots music legend, the late, great Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown before he passed away just a few years later. At some 77 years young, the virtuoso guitarist, fiddle player, and multi-instrumentalist had been blessed with a luminous, storied career and had shared the live performance stage and recording studio with the likes of Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, Leon Russell, Roy Clark, and a glittering who’s who of music icons who have all tipped their hats to Gate’s musical gifts and immeasurable influence on them.
I first heard and saw John Benitez perform with the Richie Flores Sextet during the 2011 Heineken Jazz Festival in Puerto Rico. Benitez’s enthusiasm, charisma and personality were felt subtly through his performance with this ensemble. Benitez contributed a sense of truthfulness to the performance that many young performers are in search for today.
The world of instrumental guitar is mostly associated with American and British performer such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Allan Holdsworth and Guthrie Govan, but there have also been amazing guitarists from other countries who have made meaningful contributions to the genre over the years. One of the countries that have produced some of the best instrumental guitarists over the last 30 years is Sweden. Players such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Adreas Olberg and now Fredrik Pihl have all shone a spotlight on the Swedish guitar scene with their lightning fast technique, soaring melodies and on-stage flair.
Legendary guitar and piano/keyboard virtuoso, Tony MacAlpine’s new selftitled album, to be released June 21 on Favored Nations, marks a highly-anticipated return to solo work after a prolific decade of output with his bands, including prog-metal-fusion trio
Planet X; GRAMMY-nominated jazz fusion outfit CAB; power metallers Ring Of Fire; as well as performing keyboard and guitar duties in Steve Vai’s double platinum DVD-selling live band “The Breed” from 2001-2006. “When I set out to write a new album, I quickly realized that my urge to once again create and define myself as a solo artist had returned with a vengeance,” said MacAlpine. “This is my strongest album to date. I can’t wait to hit the road and play it live.”
Do you love the guitar and all things guitar related? 