John McLaughlin has been a pillar of the jazz guitar community for over 30 years. He has played with many of the legendary musicians of our time. McLaughlin has explored his acoustic side as well as pioneering the fusion movement.
Since January 2006, I’ve had the privilege, and the big fun, of working with and photographing the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise.
Recorded live in Tokyo back in May of 2009, the DVD “Mick Taylor Band – The Tokyo Concert” features Taylor on guitar and vocals, Max Middleton on keyboards, Kuma Harada on bass, Jeff Allen on drums, and Denny Newman on guitar and vocals.
After one of the worst winters in metropolitan Washington, D.C.’s recorded history, the audience at the Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, was badly in need of a sunny afternoon – and that’s just what Ray Davies conjured up.
In her book Music Success in Nine Weeks, Ariel Hyatt presents a wealth of knowledge in a readily-accessible, easily digestible form. The reader immediately gets the distinct impression that Ariel is really trying to help them out, and not just sell them a “get rich quick” book. Music Success is an interactive book in the sense that what you put into it is what you’ll get out of it, like music in general. It’s well laid-out, plus it reads and the information can be easily assimilated and quickly put to good, real-world use.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the music of Bill Frisell, or maybe more to the point, that you might find it difficult to pinpoint exactly what it is that he does and what genre of music he plays, you’re probably not alone. He is, after all, constantly changing directions in his musical endeavors. From jazz, to American folk and blues, to some combination of the two, his music always manages to bear the stamp of his unique musical voice. On the 2009 release of Films of Buster Keaton by Bill Frisell, the guitarist once again explores new musical territory in his homage to the silent-era films of Buster Keaton.
When not fulfilling his duties for Soulfly or Cavalera Conspiracy, guitarist Marc Rizzo was shuffling in and out of the recording studio to finish his latest solo effort Legionnaire. An eleven song guitar record that draws influences from metal, classical, flamenco, and South American music, with LegionnaireRizzo has created a solid instrumental record that fans of shred guitar and straight-up metal will appreciate.
In the concert DVD Quiet Stream Breaks the Rocks, the Branco Stoysin Trio exhibits Stoysin’s artistry as a composer and arranger. Throughout the set, the entire trio demonstrates their ability to achieve a very particular contemplative mood and feel with a fluid blend of jazz and Eastern European folk music. It’s the first DVD release from Stoysin, and it utilizes much of his music from previous record releases Inexhaustible (2009), Quiet Stream Breaks the Rocks (2007) and Heart is the Bridge (2003), along with some new material thrown in for good measure.
Bill Frisell’s unique guitar work and musical excursions in his installment of Solos: The Jazz Sessions are nothing short of awe-inspiring and unconventional. As with much of Frisell’s output, he has demonstrated again and again how he has become a master of his own guitar idiom.
Legendary bassist Dave Holland is now in his fifth decade as a jazz performer. His solo work and his ensemble leadership are equally extraordinary. Holland first became a familiar name as a member of Miles Davis’ group.
