Posted February 26, 2012 at 5:02 am | No comments
The Blues is a vast and rich musical genre that has proved to be one of America’s lasting musical contributions to the global community. After being birthed and raised in the U.S., the blues has since spread out to welcome musicians from all over the world to its flock, producing some of the most memorable and lasting recordings and musical moments of the past century. While the blues has spread out geographically, unfortunately when it comes to the musicians that play this great music, the vast majority are male, with only a small percentage of blues musicians being women.
Posted in: Blues Reviews, Reviews
Posted February 25, 2012 at 7:11 am | One comment
When I was first turned on to South African guitarist Derek Gripper, to be honest I didn’t know what to expect. Was the music going to be African in nature, or featured a more American background? I had read that Gripper studied in India, so was his music going to follow the Raga and Indian classical music tradition? He has acknowledged the influence of Brazilian composers and performers such as Villa-Lobos and Egberto Gismonti, and so would these influences come out in Gripper’s writing? The answer to all of these questions, as I was to find out, was yes.
Posted in: Classical Reviews, Reviews
Posted February 24, 2012 at 12:01 pm | One comment
The Women And Cancer Fund was established in the memory of Linda McCartney and in the last four months it has had two varied, yet distinctive fundraising events: (1) Let Us In Nashville – the CD and live concert at the Ryman Auditorium – November 7, 2011 and (2) Guitar Master Class featuring Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel and former Wings guitarist Laurence Juber.
Posted in: Acoustic News, Guitar News
Posted February 24, 2012 at 6:12 am | No comments
To say thanks to all his followers on Facebook, for supporting his online written and video lessons, this weekend Matt Warnock will be giving away 1 free sixty-minute one-on-one Skype lesson to a lucky follower of his Facebook teaching page. The lesson can be taken any time that fits their schedules, and can be split up into two 30-minute lessons if preferred.
Posted in: Guitar News, Jazz News
Posted February 24, 2012 at 4:15 am | One comment
Australian guitarist Chris Brooks is a monster player, flat out. Following in the path of the great instrumental rock guitarists such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Greg Howe, Brooks is a world-class player that brings both lightning-fast chops and a strong sense of melody and groove to his songwriting and improvisations. After spending years honing his chops and compositional skills,
Posted in: Instrumental Reviews, Reviews
Posted February 23, 2012 at 11:02 am | No comments
REO Speedwagon, STYX and Ted Nugent will join forces for “The Midwest Rock ‘n Roll Express” 30-date U.S. tour. Rolling out May 1 in Hidalgo, TX, tickets for various cities will go on sale starting February 22.
Posted in: Guitar News, Rock News
Posted February 22, 2012 at 3:37 am | No comments
XI: The Days Before Tomorrow is the eleventh release from Louisiana Music Hall of Fame members, Lillian Axe and marks the debut of new lead vocalist Brian Jones. Lillian Axe has recorded an impressive amount of songs, earned the loyalty of a devout fan base worldwide and amassed an extensive amount of effusive critical acclaim from their peers.
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted February 21, 2012 at 4:49 am | 2 comments
Throughout the past century, guitar students the world over have been introduced to the instrument through the publications of Mel Bay, Hal Leonard, the Royal Conservatory and the Suzuki Method. As these books have grown in popularity, especially the Mel Bay Guitar Book 1 which is an institution in itself, these instructional books have become ingrained in the minds of students, teachers and parents as they have made their way into countless practice rooms and teaching studios the world over.
Posted in: Book Reviews, Reviews
Posted February 20, 2012 at 4:03 am | No comments
Since their inception in 2004, Pigtronix has pursued a conceptual approach to pedal design called F.A.T. – Futuristic Analog Tone. Pigtronix has distilled the essential soul of tube overdrive into the straightforward yet remarkably flexible design of the new FAT Drive.
Posted in: Gear Reviews, Reviews
Posted February 19, 2012 at 7:49 pm | No comments
PRS Guitars’ new Collection Series instruments, introduced in the fall of 2011, are built in small batches by the company’s Private Stock department. Each Collection Series consists of one electric and one acoustic guitar made with the most exacting methods and the most prized components in the company’s possession, including pernambuco necks and fingerboards (which are exclusive to the Collection program). For the second installment in PRS Guitars’ exclusive Collection Series, Paul Reed Smith and the Private Stock team worked with David Grissom, Tony McManus, and Martin Simpson to design two exceptional instruments.
Posted in: Guitar News, Product News
