The Guitar Channel

Walter Kolosky Discusses New eBook Release of "Power, Passion and Beauty - The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra"

I interviewed author Walter Kolosky recently regarding the new eBook edition of his fantastic book Power, Passion and Beauty - The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra. The new 2013 eBook version adds lots of great content to the book's original release, including new interviews with Carlos Santana and Chick Corea (among others), an extra chapter, and much more. Follow the link below and you'll see - Nobody knows the history of Mahavishnu and its founder John McLaughlin like Walter does.

Walter Kolosky: The Guitar Channel Interview

Videos: Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith - Live at NAMM 2013

Two videos of Kirk Fletcher and Josh Smith at the NAMM 2013 Two-Rock booth. I could listen to these guys all day.

Video: Frank Gambale, Victor Wooten, Tom Coster and Steve Smith - Live at NAMM 2013

Frank Gambale, Victor Wooten, Tom Coster and Steve Smith - Live at the VOX/Korg booth - Winter NAMM 2013.

Video: Greg Howe, Dennis Chambers, Victor Wooten - "Bird's Eye View" Live at NAMM 2013

Starting to upload some of my NAMM videos. Here's Greg Howe, Dennis Chambers and Victor Wooten playing "Bird's Eye View" at the NAMM 2013 D'Addario Artist Party.

NAMM Time!

The 2013 Winter NAMM Show starts today, and once again The Guitar Channel will be there. I'm only attending for about two and a half days though, so I'll be scrambling to cram in as much guitar geekery as possible. I'll try to post some updates and pics from the show floor on Twitter and Facebook. Also look for a wrap-up piece and photo gallery after the show ends.

Jimmy Herring: The Guitar Channel Interview

Jimmy Herring's latest album Subject To Change Without Notice (Abstract Logix) was without question one of the truely great albums of 2012. I had the pleasure of interviewing Jimmy at length recently about the new disc, and a variety of other topics as well such as being a bandleader versus a sideman, his gear, playing outside, even his days as a GIT student (where he had a certain classmate named Paul Gilbert). Read on...

Jimmy Herring: The Guitar Channel Interview

Favorite Albums of 2012

2012 was a tremendous year for progressive guitar music. Here are my favorite releases of the year, in no particular order.

 

Michael Landau - Organic Instrumentals

Landau's first instrumental album since 1990's Tales From The Bulge is one of my favorite guitar records in many years, let alone this one. Awesome tones, dynamic playing, deep writing. A must-have for serious guitar geeks.

Wayne Krantz - Howie 61

Krantz took a bold new step with this album, and the results are rich and engrossing. A fantastic production filled with heady writing, and an amazing lineup of musicians.

Jimmy Herring - Subject To Change Without Notice

Awesome follow-up to 2008's Lifeboat. Highly textured with killer playing and grooves.

Alex Machacek, Raphael Preuschl, Herbert Pirker - FAT

Adventurous and dynamic with a great variety of guitar tones. Further proof that Machacek is among the most forward-thinking modern jazz composers of his generation.

Kurt Rosenwinkel - Star of Jupiter

Can't get enough of this one. Uber-deep jazz record, filled with great writing and improvisation.

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Live Meat And Potatoes

Funky, energetic live release with killer guitar work from Jeff Kollman. Nobody grooves like the Meatbats.

OHMPhrey - Posthaste

Stellar recording from the OHM-meets-Umphrey's McGee supergroup. Loaded with great riffs and playing. Everybody shines here, but the twin guitar attack of Chris Poland and Jake Cinninger is particularly awesome.

Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, Dennis Chambers - HBC

What a band. Killer disc packed with guitar-driven trio versions of fusion classics. Henderson is amazing as always.

Karizma - Perfect Harmony

A 3-disc smorgasbord from keyboardist/composer David Garfield's classic west coast jazz band. Features a who's-who of the genre's luminaries, including Michael Landau.

The Aristocrats - Boing, We'll Do It Live!

Amazing live CD/DVD release with insane playing and band interplay. Guthrie Govan's guitar work is both musical and mind-blowing.

Other favorites from 2012:

Prashant Aswani - Visions
Chris Poland, Frank Catalano, Sean O'Bryan Smith, Jim Gifford - Polcat
Tribal Tech - X
Tohpati Bertiga - Riot
John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension - Now Here This
Paul Gilbert - Vibrato
Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful, Vol. 2
OHM - Tsunami Jams
Ed DeGenaro - Holiday In Madras
Flying Colors
Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations
Chris Buck - 3 Crows
Jason Sadites - Broken
Renegade Creation - Bullet
Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (Ed note: \m/)

See Also:

Favorite Albums of 2011
Favorite Albums of 2010
Favorite Albums of 2009
Favorite Albums of 2008
Favorite Albums of 2007
Favorite Albums of 2006

2013 Special Edition eBook "Power, Passion and Beauty- The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra" officially released

PRESS RELEASE

2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the tumultuous break-up of the greatest band that ever was, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The group, founded by British guitarist John McLaughlin, was the first to fuse jazz, rock and world music into critical and commercial success. In a remarkable feat, its strictly instrumental albums were able to find their way into the Top 20 of the Billboard rock charts. The Special Edition eBook “Power, Passion and Beauty - The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra” is the updated version of Walter Kolosky’s critically acclaimed work first published in 2006. Many have called that book “The Bible” of the Mahavishnu Orchestra and the jazz-rock fusion movement. The Special Edition eBook is brand new to those who have not read the original printed version of this riveting story. For those that have, however, many new anecdotes, insights, opinions, and an extra chapter updating the story of Mahavishnu have been added. The list of those exclusively sharing their views and memories of Mahavishnu for the original book was staggering. Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Sir George Martin, Jeff Beck, all of the original Mahavishnu members and almost 150 other music giants helped tell the Mahavishnu tale. This time around, Carlos Santana, Chick Corea, Steve Howe, Carmine Appice, and many other noted artists, producers, audio engineers and spiritual travelers add to the legend that is the Mahavishnu Orchestra. The Special Edition eBook “Power, Passion and Beauty” also has dedicated web pages that will offer more rare images, news and information.

SOME EARLY COMMENTS AND REVIEWS:

“Thank you so much for doing this book!” - Carlos Santana

“This (“Power, Passion and Beauty”) is a great book!” - Chick Corea

“I was riveted by “Power, Passion and Beauty,” even though I knew the incendiary and brief history of the band, probably because it was so inspiring to hear how everyone who ever heard or was associated with the band was changed forever, not just by the power and originality of the music, but as if by something more spiritually fueled. This music was life-changing for all of us who heard it, and for all music which followed and continues to emerge from Mahavishnu's long shadow. Walter is to be eternally thanked for stoking the Flame.” - Christopher O’Riley, noted musician and host of America’s National Public Radio and Television’s “From The Top.”

"Walter Kolosky is clearly the foremost authority on the most important and powerful jazz-rock group of all time, the Mahavishnu Orchestra. With its enthralling interviews and insight, Kolosky's "Power, Passion and Beauty" details the storied history and influence of this epic band in a book that's as fun to read as it is fascinating. "Power, Passion and Beauty" is a must-have for music fans seeking a deeper understanding of the origins of the jazz-rock movement, and the greatest band the genre has ever known." - Rich Murray, The Guitar Channel

“Walter Kolosky has made the definitive tome on Mahavishnu Orchestra even more expansive and engaging. With fresh perspectives, sharper details, and new interviews, this eBook is a must-have for avid Mahavishnu and John McLaughlin fans. For those of you that were there, the book provides great insight into your fond memories. For those who know the band solely through recordings, this book gets you as close as you can to the alchemy that took place onstage and in the studio.” - Anil Prasad, Innerviews (The web’s first and longest-running music magazine)

Goto www.walterkolosky.com for more details.

 

Eric Clapton Announces Major U.S. Tour Culminating In 2013 Crossroads Guitar Festival Presented By Chase

PRESS RELEASE

OVER 30 OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST GUITARISTS PLAY SIDEMEN TO EACH OTHER OVER TWO NIGHTS AT THE WORLD’S MOST FAMOUS ARENA,

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, APRIL 12-13

 

Two-Night Festival To Feature Legendary Music And Collaborations Including: Allman Brothers Band, BB King, Brad Paisley, Eric Clapton, Gary Clark Jr., Jeff Beck John Mayer, Keith Urban, Vince Gill and many more

(November 19, 2012) – Widely considered one of the world’s all time greatest guitarists and known amongst his peers as a great collaborator, Eric Clapton announced today a major U.S. tour culminating in his fourth Crossroads Guitar Festival presented by Chase.  The Festival, which has become legendary in its own right for hosting performances and impromptu collaborations from the world’s most legendary guitar players, will take place April 12-13 for the first time at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden. See full listing below of artists performing.

Clapton and his band will visit more than a dozen cities across the U.S. beginning March 14, 2013 (see itinerary below). The tour will end with the two-night Festival where Clapton will gather the past, present and future of guitar music onto one stage for an unparalleled musical event. All profits from the Festival will benefit The Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a treatment and education facility founded by Clapton for chemically dependent persons. The Festival is presented by Chase.

Since its inception, Clapton’s vision for the Crossroads Guitar Festival has been to create an event where his friends and contemporaries can have fun and perform together for the benefit of a good cause. This year’s Festival will feature two-nights of musical performances with once-in-a-lifetime guitar collaborations. Known as pioneers in their field, the roster of artists spans old and new. The audience can expect unrivaled entertainment, brilliant guitar work, surprise guests and impromptu jams that are the hallmark of these performers.

The first Crossroads Guitar Festival, in June 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, was an unprecedented collection of guitar icons from blues, rock and contemporary music. The sold-out show was chronicled in a 2-disc DVD that has since gone on to become one of the world’s top-selling music DVD’s. The Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007 and 2010 were the second and third such concerts by Clapton and were staged at Toyota Park in Chicago.  Both Festival were filmed for DVDs and met similar acclaim and achieved multi-platinum status.  This will be the Festival’s first-ever visit to New York and Madison Square Garden.

“The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage,” said Clapton. “The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect.”

In addition to the concerts, the “Guitar Center Road to Crossroads Exhibition” will be featured on the Terrace level @ Madison Square Garden and will excite fans with an incredible guitar-centric celebration of past Crossroads Guitar Festivals.  This exhibition will feature the “Legends Guitar Walk”, with some of the most valuable guitars in the history of Rock and Blues, including historic guitars from Guitar Center’s Legends Collection featuring Eric Clapton’s two most famous Fender Stratocasters®, BLACKIE® and ‘Brownie,’ Gibson ES-335 as well as Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Lenny’ Fender Stratocaster®, plus selections from Guitar Center, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Experience Music Project. Additionally, Fender, Gibson, Ernie Ball and Martin will host interactive exhibits where guitar lovers can plug in and play new products and classic favorites, while all visitors will be able to peruse memorabilia and watch archival footage of once-in-a-lifetime performances from prior Crossroads festivals on video walls throughout the exhibition. The “Road to Crossroads Exhibition” will open at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. Saturday, and is free to all ticket holders.

Tickets for the Crossroads Guitar Festival Presented By Chase will be offered as an advance sale to Chase customers beginning Monday, November 26 at 12pm EST via www.ticketmaster.com through Thursday, November 29 at 10pm.

General Public On-Sale will begin Friday, November 30 at 12pm EST.

Tickets for the Clapton 2013 U.S. Tour will go on-sale beginning November 30, 2012.  Please check local venue listings for more detailed information.

For more information go to www.ericclapton.com or www.crossroadsguitarfestival.com

 

CURRENT CROSSROADS FESTIVAL ARTIST LISTING

(Note: Two Different Nights of Music. Not All Artists Will Perform Both Nights)

Albert Lee
Allan Holdsworth
Allman Brothers Band
Andy Fairweather Low
BB King
Blake Mills
Booker T
Brad Paisley
Buddy Guy
Citizen Cope
Dave Biller
Doyle Bramhall II
Earl Klugh
Eric Clapton
Gary Clark Jr.
Jeff Beck
Jimmie Vaughan
John Mayer
John Scofield
Jonny Lang
Keb Mo
Keith Urban
Kurt Rosenwinkle
Los Lobos
Quinn Sullivan
Robbie Robertson
Robert Cray
Robert Randolph
Sonny Landreth
Taj Mahal
Vince Gill

 

ERIC CLAPTON 2013 TOUR and ITINERARY

Clapton has assembled an impressive band for the 2013 U.S. dates which will consist of long-time touring partners: Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Steve Jordan (drums), Chris Stainton (piano and keyboards), and Willie Weeks (bass), along with newcomers Paul Carrack (organ and keyboards) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). Michelle John and Sharon White will join the touring band again as backing vocalists. The tour will also feature special guests, The Wallflowers.  Please check local listings for ticketing information. 

Thursday, March 14               Phoenix, AZ               U.S. Airways Center

Saturday, March 16                Houston, TX              Toyota Center

Sunday, March 17                  Austin, TX                 Frank Erwin Center

Tuesday, March 19                 Dallas, TX                  American Airlines Center

Wednesday, March 20           Oklahoma City, OK       Chesapeake Energy Arena

Friday, March 22                    Nashville, TN               Bridgestone Arena

Saturday, March 23                New Orleans, LA         New Orleans Arena

Tuesday, March 26                 Jacksonville, FL           Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

Wednesday, March 27           Atlanta, GA                  Gwinnett Arena

Friday, March 29                    Hollywood, FL              Seminole Hard Rock Live

Saturday, March 30                Hollywood, FL              Seminole Hard Rock Live

Tuesday, April 2                      Charlotte, NC             Time Warner Cable Arena

Wednesday, April 3                 Raleigh, NC                 PNC Arena

Friday, April 5                          Uncasville, CT             Mohegan Sun Arena

Saturday, April 6                     Pittsburgh, PA            Consol Energy Center

Friday, April 12                        New York, NY             Madison Square Garden

Saturday, April 13                   New York, NY             Madison Square Garden

 

The Crossroads Centre, Antigua
Founded in 1998, Crossroads Centre, Antigua was created to provide treatment and education to chemically dependent persons, those with other compulsive addictive behaviors, their families and their significant others. Treatment is provided through residential care, family and aftercare programs. The pathway to recovery is founded on the movement toward a change in lifestyle. Crossroads Centre, Antigua also operates a 16-bed halfway house in Antigua called the Bevon House (exclusively for Antigua residents) and facilitates a school-based education series, Breaking the Cycle, in all Antiguan schools. The Crossroads Centre has recently expanded its programme to offer transitional living for men, in line with the Crossroads Centre’s philosophy on recovery, at The Sanctuary in Delray Beach, Florida, for those who have completed a residential treatment programme.
www.crossroadsantigua.org

About Chase

Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. Chase serves more than 50 million consumers and small businesses through more than 5,500 bank branches, 17,500 ATMs, credit cards, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking as well as through relationships with auto dealerships. More information about Chase is available at www.chase.com.

“BOING, We’ll Do It Live! The Aristocrats At Alvas Showroom” Release Date Set For DECEMBER 10!

PRESS RELEASE

ROCK/FUSION POWER TRIO THE ARISTOCRATS

TO RELEASE FIRST LIVE CD/DVD

BOING, WE’LL DO IT LIVE! ON DECEMBER 10

Guitarist Guthrie Govan, bassist Bryan Beller, and drummer Marco Minnemann are captured live at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro, CA

 

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 8, 2012) – The rock/fusion power trio The Aristocrats – featuring Guthrie Govan on guitar, Bryan Beller on bass, and Marco Minnemann on drums – will release BOING, We’ll Do It Live! The Aristocrats At Alvas Showroom on December 10, 2012. The release will be in two formats: A standard-edition, 14-track, 2CD album, and a Deluxe EditionDVD + 2CD package featuring two additional bonus tracks, bonus audio from soundcheck, additional candid show footage, and bonus interviews with each band member. The 6-camera video was shot in high definition, and the 5.1 surround audio mix was done by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. A 2-channel stereo mix is also available.

 

Formed practically by demand after a single raucously received set at the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA in January of 2011, the trio tracked their debut album The Aristocrats [BOING!] just four months later, and released it that September to universal acclaim. But the core energy of the band from the start was their preternatural live chemistry, which became even more explosive during a year’s worth of worldwide touring.

 

“We’re all definitely proud of the studio album,” says bassist Beller, “but we were just getting to know each other when we cut it. Now that we’ve traveled the world together, we really get each other musically and personally. Honestly, we spend a lot of time making each other laugh to the point of tears. I think that really comes through live, the sense that we’re friends walking a high wire together musically, but also that, sometimes, we just choose to be extremely silly. Somehow it all works.”

 

BOING, We’ll Do It Live! was captured over two nights in June of 2012 at Alvas Showroom in San Pedro,CA, and features the entire Aristocrats repertoire, plus select material from the trio’s individual back catalogs, and a brand new, previously unreleased song, “Dance Of The Aristocrats.”

 

TRACK LISTING

 

DISC ONE

1. Bad Asteroid

2. Greasy Wheel

3. Boing!…I’m In The Back

4. Flatlands

5. I Want A Parrot

6. Blues Fuckers/Drum Solo

7. Waves

 

DISC TWO

1. Get It Like That

2. Furtive Jack

3. Train Trax

4. Cave Dweller

5. Mr. Kempinski

6. See You Next Tuesday *

7. Dance Of The Aristocrats

8. A Very Metal Introduction

9. Sweaty Knockers

10. Erotic Cakes *

* on Deluxe Edition only

 

DVD FEATURES

 

* Complete show, including bonus tracks & additional between song footage

* 5.1 surround mix by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree (and 2-channel stereo mix)

* Bonus audio from soundcheck

* Interviews with each band member

Current Listening

Listening to lots of great new stuff lately...

 

Prashant Aswani - Visions

Awesome melodic rock fusion disc. Loaded with Aswani's signature legato lines, smooth overdriven tones, and groove-heavy writing. Includes a guest appearance by Jeff Kollman.

Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, Dennis Chambers - HBC

Awesome, raw record with killer playing from all involved. Love the stripped-down trio arrangements of fusion classics such as "Actual Proof" and "Mysterious Traveller." A must-have for Scott Henderson fans.

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension - Now Here This

Another great release from the godfather of fusion and his crack quartet, the 4th Dimension. Filled with deep improvisation and band interplay. Not to mention, McLaughlin's ripping runs on "Riff Raff" prove that he is still one of the greatest pickers ever.

Karizma - Perfect Harmony

New three-disc release from keyboardist David Garfield's classic west coast jazz band. Includes new music, plus demos and live tracks. Features Michael Landau, Tim Pierce, James Harrah, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Porcaro, and many others. Loaded with great playing.

Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola - Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead

Love the vibe on this one. Loaded with deep grooves and subtle interplay between Hunter and Amendola.

The Fusion Syndicate

Cool collection of jazz-fusion originals from producer Billy Sherwood, performed by a lengthy roster of the genre's giants. Lineup includes Steve Morse, Larry Coryell, Steve Stevens, Scott Kinsey, Chad Wackerman, Billy Cobham, Jerry Goodman, Jordan Rudess, Derek Sherinian, Jimmy Haslip, Randy Brecker, Percy Jones, and many others.

Video: The Aristocrats - Live in Frankfurt 10/26/12 Full Show

The Aristocrats' entire 10/26/12 show from Frankfurt Germany. Guthrie Govan - guitar, Bryan Beller - bass, Marco Minnemann - drums.