The Guitar Channel

Abstract Logix offering discounted Guitar Holiday Pack

NEWS FLASH: Abstract Logix is offering several holiday gift packs at discounted prices, one of which is the 4-disc Guitar Holiday Pack. With this set you get Alex Machacek's [sic], Jimmy Herring's Lifeboat, John McLaughlin's Floating Point, and Wayne Krantz's Krantz Carlock Lefebvre, all for $46.98. If you don't own these great albums yet, now is the perfect time to get them.

Abstract Logix - Guitar Holiday Pack

Jeff Kollman Tour Dates

Upcoming tour dates for guitarist Jeff Kollman:

THE BOMBASTIC MEATBATS
featuring: Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth, Kevin Chown & Kenny Aronoff
December 12th
The Safety Harbor Kids Benefit
Malibu, CA., USA

December 13th
The Baked Potato
North Hollywood, CA., USA

December 15th
KLOS - 'Mark & Brian Christmas Show'
Los Angeles, CA., USA

December 19th
featuring: Chad Smith, Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth, Kevin Chown & Kenny Aronoff
The Drum Channel 'DVD Shoot'
Los Angeles, CA., USA

December 20th
featuring: Chad Smith, Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth & Kevin Chown
The Baked Potato
North Hollywood, CA., USA
Time: 9:30PM and 11:30PM

January 13th, 2010
featuring: Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth, Kevin Chown & Kenny Aronoff
The Baked Potato - 'NAMM Week Celebration'
North Hollywood, CA., USA

January 14th, 2010
NAMM - Fender Booth
Anaheim, CA., USA
Time: 5:00PM

January 15th, 2010
featuring: Chad Smith, Jeff Kollman, Ed Roth & Kevin Chown
SABIAN Party
Anaheim, CA., USA

JEFF KOLLMAN
January 2nd, 2010
Jeff appears with TIZER featuring violinist Karen Briggs.
The Baked Potato
North Hollywood, CA., USA

January 16th, 2010
Jeff performs with TIZER.
2010 Barbados Jazz Festival
Barbados

February 13th, 2010
Jeff performs with Lao Tizer and famed percussion great Munyungo Jackson
The Palm Desert Arts Fest (downtown)
Palm Desert, CA., USA

February 18th, 2010
Jeff will be playing at the Dubai Jazz Festival
Dubai Jazz Festival
Dubai, UAE

via Truth In Shredding

Allan Holdsworth - SynthAxe Rehearsal Video

Here's a cool old clip of Allan Holdsworth playing his SynthAxe during a rehearsal. What a wild instrument.

Marco Minnemann, Ric Fierabracci, and Brett Garsed - Regatta de Blanc

A fun clip of Marco Minnemann, Ric Fierabracci, and Brett Garsed jamming on the Police classic "Regatta de Blanc" during rehersals for their Vladivostok International Jazz Festival performances in Russia. Anyone find more clips from these gigs?

Greg Howe - Hammer-Ons From Everywhere lesson for Premier Guitar

Check out Greg Howe's latest article for Premier Guitar magazine.

Greg Howe: Hammer-Ons From Everywhere!

More Steve Morse Band dates

The following Steve Morse Band dates have been announced for this coming January. These are all  Southern California shows that line up nicely with the NAMM show.

Brixton
Redondo Beach, CA
Thu, 01/14/10

The Canyon Club
Agoura Hills, CA
Fri, 01/15/10

Coach House
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Sat, 01/16/10

The Boardwalk
Orangevale, CA
Sun, 01/17/10

Slim's
San Francisco, CA
Tue, 01/20/10

via SteveMorse.info

UPDATE - the following show has just been added:

Mystic Theatre
Petaluma, CA
Tue, 01/19/10

Steve Lukather and Joe Bonamassa - "Further on up the Road"

More footage of Steve Lukather and Joe Bonamassa at Guitar Center's King Of The Blues competition. Great stuff!

Two videos of Eric Johnson sitting in with Oz Noy

Here are a couple of videos of Eric Johnson sitting in with the Oz Noy Trio in Austin (with Anton Fig on drums, and Roscoe Beck on bass).

Schizophrenic - October 2009

Cissy Strut - June 2009

More Rodrigo y Gabriela with Al DiMeola

Cool interview with Rodrigo y Gabriela where they discuss how Al DiMeola has influenced them, followed by the full version of "Mediterranean Sundance" from their performance together in Paris.

And the winner is...

Wayne Bryce has won a copy of the new Gerald Gradwohl Trio album Sally Beth Roe! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.

Congratulations Wayne!

Steve Lukather jams with Joe Bonamassa - King Of The Blues Competition

Here's Steve Lukather jamming with Joe Bonamassa at Guitar Center's King Of The Blues competition in Hollywood this past Thursday. Check out Joe rocking the Albert Lee model Music Man! He's a little hard to hear in this clip though.

Review: Oz Noy - Schizophrenic

Oz Noy is at the cutting-edge of modern jazz-funk guitar. An in-demand session player, Noy can often be found plying his wares in clubs such as New York's 55 Bar, or The Bitter End. His unique compositions and playing style make him one of the most easily recognizable players on the scene today, and his solo recordings have all been virtual clinics on jazz and funk guitar playing.  On his fourth release, Schizophrenic (Magna Carta), Noy delivers another set of tight instrumentals, though his approach is somewhat different this time around. Noy's last album Fuzzy (2007 - Magnatude) was jam-packed with effects, loops, and assorted post-production high-jinks. With Schizophrenic, Noy dials that back a bit in favor of a more approachable sonic aesthetic. Not only does this album sound more traditional, the writing is more mainstream as well. Noy's funk stylings are fused with a pop sensibility here that we've rarely heard from him before. The result is Noy's most commercial-sounding album yet. But fear not; it still includes advanced funk rhythms, off-the-rails jazz lines, biting Strat tones, and the occasional sonic shenanigan. This is an Oz Noy album after all.

Another staple of Noy's solo records has been the great cast of players he enlists. This trend continues with Schizophrenic, which has Noy joined by frequent collaborators Will Lee (bass), Anton Fig (drums), Keith Carlock (drums), and Dave Weckl (drums), as well as Ricky Peterson (keys), Chris Palmaro (keys), and Steve Lukather ("rock" guitar).

With it's tight syncopated rhythm and snappy solo, the opening track "Ice Pick" could easily fit right in on any of Noy's previous releases (especially Fuzzy). But even so, the pop inspiration here is stronger than Noy has displayed in the past. As such, it provides a strong indication of what to expect for the rest of the disc, making it a perfect choice for the opener.

"120 Heart Beats" is certainly the most commercial-sounding track Noy has ever produced. The main riffs and melody give this piece a TV theme feel, though Noy's envelope filter-laden solo still has his classic off-kilter vibe. This is also the first of two tracks to feature guest Steve Lukather, who's suitably credited with "Rock Guitar."  Lukather provides the main distorted riff, and a great outro solo. Lukather also appears on the aptly named title track, which features wild mood swings between Noy's tight funk rhythms, and Luke's heavy riffs. This track also features dueling drum solos courtesy of Anton Fig and Keith Carlock. Cool stuff.

Other standout tracks include Schizophrenic's two ballads; "Seven" which has a smooth jazz groove, and the atmospheric "Underwater Romance," which may be my favorite song on the album. Noy is well known for his high-energy funk guitar prowess, but I've always been impressed with his ballad writing as well. These two pieces are among the best he's ever done.

Though Noy may have added some new shades to his writing for Schizophrenic, one thing that hasn't changed much is his eccentric improvisational style (the album's title could easily be a reference to Noy's approach as a soloist). His broad vocabulary includes jazz lines, blues phrases, and Hendrix-inspired double-stops. Granted, many other guitarists use these same tools as well - the difference with Noy is the adventurous spirit with which he plays. Regardless of tempo or mood, Noy throws caution to the wind with every solo, often injecting outside lines and over-bends into areas that defy logic, yet it always works. Noy takes great solos throughout Schizophrenic, though I particularly enjoy his playing on "Elephant Walk" and "Jelly Blue," where he keeps one foot in Scott Henderson-like blues territory while weaving through the changes. The highly lyrical "Twice In A While" solo is another standout.

Overall, Schizophrenic is the most mature, well-produced album Noy has recorded thus far. Throughout the record, the writing shows a new, more melodic slant, while still maintaining Noy's original voice. This album could go a long way towards introducing this great player to a wider audience.

 
Oz Noy - Schizophrenic (Magna Carta)


Personnel:

Oz Noy - Guitar
Will Lee - Bass
Keith Carlock - Drums
Anton Fig - Drums
Dave Weckl - Drums
Steve Lukather - Rock Guitar
Ricky Peterson - Keys
Chris Palmaro - Keys

Tracklisting:

1. Ice Pick
2. 120 Heart Beats
3. Seven
4. Schizophrenic
5. Elephant Walk
6. Twice In A While
7. Jelly Blue
8. Underwater Romance
9. Bug Out

Rich

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