By the time you’re reading this, legendary guitarist, Joe Satriani has already released his 14th studio CD this past May, his 2013 World Tour has taken him to through Europe, Turkey, Russia and he is now half way through his full U.S. tour and first ever cross-Canada tour.
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.
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.
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.”
When one thinks of Saudi Arabia, a strong and open music scene doesn’t normally come to mind, but as is the case with many cultural stereotypes, looks can be deceiving. One of the artists that is looking to shed light on the Saudi musical scene and heritage is guitarist, and current Vancouver resident, Faze, and his Faze Project is an exciting new instrumental record that features world-class playing and writing. Aside from his work as a performer and recording artist, Faze is also an experienced teacher who is spreading his wings into the realm of live workshops and internet guitar lessons. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for Faze, he’s definitely ready to make a splash on the international, instrumental-guitar scene.
We don’t get a lot of electronic music coming our way at Guitar International, and I have to admit that my own lack of experience with the genre left me with stereotypes and misconceptions of a genre that is often labeled on one side of the spectrum as club music, and on the other, academic based composition. When Ricky Graham’s new album Signals Under Tests came across my desk, I was a bit hesitant at first because of the genre label, but man am I ever glad that I sat down and gave this record a chance. It has turned out to not only be a very enjoyable listening experience, but has also opened my eyes and ears to the electronic genre, especially the guitar’s role in this music.
