Posted May 10, 2011 at 7:44 am | No comments
Aaron Shragge is a young trumpet and Shakuhachi flute player who, on his first recording date as a leader, collaborates with New York virtuoso guitarist Ben Monder in an intimate duo setting. The duo setting of wind instrument and guitar is certainly not a departure for Monder, whose previous record Bloom was recorded with Saxophonist Bill McHenry, a record on which they both bewitchingly achieve loose, ethereal atmospheres. The Key is in the Window is a reflection of Shragge’s musical influences, such as the music of Shakuhachi flute and North Indian Vocal style music. Aaron Shragge, in my opinion, creates a remarkable bond between Oriental and Indian traditions with his own Western musical roots. The talented multi-instrumentalist pays tribute to his influences by performing pieces from the Shakuhachi repertoire, such as “Choshi” and “Kyorei,” as well as music from the North Indian Classical tradition.
Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews
Posted May 9, 2011 at 1:01 pm | No comments
Like many fellow guitar players and gear enthusiasts, the search for that perfect overdrive pedal is one that rarely finds an end. I can’t tell you how many late nights I’ve spent scouring video reviews on YouTube and proguitarshop.com looking for that perfect box of sonic goodness. This is why I can’t tell you that my search is finally over. What I can say, is that I’ve found a pedal that has halted my search. That pedal is the Rockett Pedals Animal Overdrive.
Posted in: Gear Reviews, Guitars and Gear, Reviews
Posted May 9, 2011 at 11:11 am | No comments
Released in the U.S. by Capital records in 1963, the B-side of the record label’s first ever single, “I Saw Her Standing There” the song was a hit for both the Beatles and the record label. Though the A-side, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” topped the Billboard charts for 11 weeks, the B-side only peaked at number 14, though it remained on the charts for 14 weeks that year. Originally titled “Seventeen,” “I Saw Her Standing There” was initially conceived by Beatles’ bassist and vocalist Paul McCartney while driving home after a Beatles concert in Southport, Lancashire.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted May 9, 2011 at 8:04 am | No comments
For the purposes of this article, I’ll define jazz guitar as the tradition as exemplified by Charlie Christian, Eddie Lang, Barney Kessel, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Johnny Smith, Wes Montgomery, Tal Farlow and others of a similar pedigree.
Posted in: Jazz, Op-Ed, Reviews
Posted May 8, 2011 at 9:42 am | No comments
In previous eras, there seemed to be two very distinct camps in the jazz world, those that prefer to play “traditional”, bebop-oriented jazz and those that took a more modern approach to the music, which posed a problem in itself since one person’s modern jazz is Wayne Shorter circa 1970 and to someone else it’s Ben Monder. In recent years, it seems that the jazz world has evolved a new subgenre, that of the “Modern Bebop” player, one who’s playing is steeped in the traditional jazz vocabulary, but that are also open to modern harmonic, rhythmic and melodic concepts as well. Sheryl Bailey is just such a player that fits into this new category of jazzer, and her latest album, For All Those Living, is a showcase for her traditionally steeped, yet modernly tinged, approach to jazz guitar, composition and improvisation.
Posted in: Jazz, Jazz Reviews, Reviews
Posted May 8, 2011 at 8:31 am | No comments
Released in 1965, along with the film of the same name, “Help” was a huge hit for the Beatles in both the U.S. and the U.K, where it reached number one for three weeks in both countries. Though written by John Lennon, the song was credited to Lennon/McCartney as was the custom in those early days of the Beatles’ career. Described as an important step in his songwriting style, John Lennon wrote “Help” to express his feelings about the band’s meteoric rise to fame and fortune in the early ‘60s. Since being released the song has become a fan favorite the world over.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted May 7, 2011 at 1:18 pm | One comment
I wasn’t’ really expecting the first track of Elvin Bishop’s latest CD, Raisin’ Hell Revue to be particularly compelling. But, I’ve been wrong before and I was definitely deep into that well-plowed field on this one. It’s a swampy Cajun romp that shuffles along infectiously with its funky, hand-jive beat that’s more festive than his earlier hit “Fooled Around and Fell in Love.”
Posted in: Blues, Blues Reviews, Reviews
Posted May 7, 2011 at 7:31 am | No comments
Written by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon/McCartney, “Dear Prudence” was released on the Beatles’ 1968 White album. The song was written about Prudence Farrow, Mia Farrow’s sister, who accompanied the band to India earlier that year. The song was recorded in Trident Studios in London, and features Paul McCartney, normally on bass, playing drums in place of Ringo Starr who had temporarily left the band at this point, which was a sign of things to come in in the near future. Though Ringo Starr made an appearance on the song when it was released on The Beatles: Rock Band video game.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted May 6, 2011 at 3:07 pm | No comments
The Beatles have written countless great songs and many of the best guitar hooks of the 20th century, but none may be more famous than the main riff to their mega-hit single “Day Tripper.” Mixing the E mixolydian scale with a flat 3rd, which is often called the “blue note,” the riff has become one of the most recognizable rock riffs of the Beatles catalogue, and one that just about every guitarist has worked out at one point in their development. Released along with the A-side, “We Can Work it Out,” the song remains as one of the best loved Beatles tracks and a must learn for any guitarist.
Posted in: Guitar Tab
Posted May 5, 2011 at 5:33 pm | No comments
It takes a special kind of person to make a living in today’s competitive and ever-changing music scene. That person needs to be entrepreneurial, hard-working, multi-talented, internet savvy and above all else a world-class performer. Chicago guitarist Brad Conroy is a musician who possesses all of these qualities and more, which have made him an in demand performer, in multiple genres, and guitar pedagogue throughout the Windy City area and Midwest. His playing is world-class, encompasses a multitude of genres, and his ability to mix classic repertoire with original compositions is exemplary.
Posted in: Classical, Classical Interviews, Interviews
