Posted June 21, 2011 at 4:46 pm | No comments
For many musicians, being given a 50 plus minute drum solo to listen to, then asked to write and record a duo track to accompany that drum solo, before devoting two years of one’s life (on and off) to the project would seem out of the question, if not a little crazy. But that is the scenario that Chapman Stick player Trey Gunn found himself in when he teamed up with percussionist Marco Minnemann on their duo album Modulator. The album features a pre-recorded drum track, which is almost an hour in length, that Gunn was then expected to work with as he composed, improvised and recorded his second part of the album. The result is not only thought provoking from a compositional and musical standpoint, it is an engaging work of avant-garde art that pushes one to break down their expectations and boundaries as they join these two world-class musicians for this hour-long epic ride.
Posted in: Interviews, Jazz Interviews
Posted June 21, 2011 at 4:17 pm | One comment
There is something to be said for capturing music live, in the moment, with all the excitement of the band caught in the thrill of the song and the crowd cheering them on to new heights of inspiration. Blues guitarist Todd Wolfe is no stranger to the stage, and he recently brought that experience to a new live CD and DVD, aptly titled The Todd Wolfe Band Live. The album is a blues tour de force that features Wolfe’s powerhouse trio at the peak of their inspiration and technical facility.
Posted in: Blues Interviews, Interviews
Posted June 21, 2011 at 11:34 am | One comment
Marty Friedman is one of the finest shredders to come out of the ’80s, and one of the survivors from that age. The two albums he released with Cacophony (also featuring the great Jason Becker) are still influencial today. After Megadeth, he became very popular in Japan working on TV and in the local “J-pop” music scene as producer and musician.
Posted in: Interviews, Metal Interviews
Posted June 16, 2011 at 8:31 am | One comment
Guitarist David Lindley is a pioneer of international music who led one of the first world music rock groups during the ’60s called Kaleidoscope. He would later work with singer-songwriter Jackson Browne starting in 1971 and his staggering solos can be heard ripping through such hits as Jackson’s classic “Running on Empty.”
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted June 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm | One comment
In the third and final segment of our three-part interview with Les Paul’s son, Rusty Paul, Rusty delves into how he plans on perpetuating Les Paul’s legacy, the early days of Fender, competition between the guitar makers, Joe Satriani, and the magic that inherently came along with Les wherever he went.
Posted in: Interviews, Legends Interviews
Posted June 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm | No comments
In this Part II of our three-part interview with Rusty Paul, son of the legendary Les Paul, Rusty gives us a glimpse into Les Paul’s relationships with some of the most beloved guitarists and musicians in the music world, including Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Slash and Steve Miller, among others. Let’s get right to it!
Posted in: Interviews, Legends Interviews
Posted June 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm | No comments
In tribute to the legendary guitarist, Les Paul, we caught up with his son, Rusty (Lester G. Paul, Jr) to gather up his thoughts about his father, who had passed a way over a year before. We knew Rusty was carrying on the family musical legacy, by playing bass with his own group, frequenting the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, a long time gig played by his father every Monday night for decades and working on a tribute tour for his dad.
Posted in: Interviews, Legends Interviews
Posted June 15, 2011 at 6:51 am | One comment
Queensryche’s anticipated new CD, Dedicated to Chaos is the sound of the band marching forward artistically, philosophically and sonically. Their commitment to their craft is unwavering. Their ability to challenge themselves and create new soundscapes is unparalleled in hard rock. A band continually re-inventing themselves, growing, and blending the boundaries of heavy metal, hard rock, alternative to form a unified and unique sound that is always recognizable with Geoff Tate’s vocals at the helm. I had a chance to meet up with guitarist Michael Wilton to talk about the new CD, reflect back on the 20th Anniversary of Empire and talk about all things on guitars and gear.
Posted in: '80s Rock, Interviews, Rock Interviews
Posted June 15, 2011 at 6:40 am | 3 comments
Brazil seems to grow great guitarists as easily as it grows the palm trees that line the country’s boulevards and streets. Some of the greatest players to ever live have come from this South American guitar breeding ground, such as Baden Powell, Raphael Rabello and Yamandú Costa just to name three. With such a rich guitar history, it is no wonder that Brazil continues to develop and produce some of the best young guitarists on the planet. With a strong recording catalog already in his library, a series of high-profile concerts and the ability to compose, interpret and improvise at a world-class level, Ouro Preto based guitarist Tabajara Belo is a player that deserves to be counted as one of the country’s finest guitarists.
Posted in: Classical, Classical Interviews, Interviews
Posted June 14, 2011 at 6:49 am | One comment
Allele (pronounced Uh leel) is Wally Wood (vocals), Mason Romaine (guitar), Giancarlo Autenzio (drums), Tim Tobin (bass), and Kelly Hayes (guitar). All of these musicians, formerly known only to each other as “local boys” that once played in various bands around the Jacksonville, Florida area, comprise a group of incredibly sharp, talented musicians that deliver a clear message that rock n roll is not a joke, nor is it dead. After their first CD, Point of Origin, there were tours, followed by Wally’s departure, then a regrouping of the lineup with Wally’s return and Lane’s departure.
Posted in: Interviews, Rock Interviews
