The Guitar Channel

Current Listening (and Viewing)

Some of the stuff I've been digging lately...

Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

Killer modern fusion album with a strong prog influence. Incredible playing from all involved, especially Garsed and bassist Ric Fierabracci. Look for a full review soon.

Corea, Clarke & White - Forever

Two disc set features Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke & Lenny White in an acoustic trio setting, plus Return To Forever studio rehearsals from 2009 with Bill Connors on guitar.

Johnny Hiland - All Fired Up

Loaded with insane chops and fun tunes. Hiland is one of the best country pickers around.

Chad Wackerman - Legs Eleven

This one is several years old but I've had it on heavy rotation lately. Exceptional writing and production. Great guitar work from James Muller also.

Gannin Arnold - 5 World Class Drummers [DVD]

Features Arnold playing with drummers Taylor Hawkins, Jimmy Chamberlain, Simon Phillips, Terry Bozzio and Gary Novak to demonstrate their varying styles. The bonus disc includes interviews and extra footage.

Video: John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension - Live at the Teano Jazz Festival

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension live at the Teano Jazz Festival on July 24th 2011. Check out the drum battle between Ranjit Barot and Gary Husband!

Guitarists Join Forces to Salute Guitar Great Joe Diorio Aug. 7

PRESS RELEASE

Some of jazz's finest plectrists will gather to salute acclaimed guitarist Joe Diorio for his 75th birthday at New York's famed Birdland jazz club on August 7.

Among the well-wishers will be Pat Martino, Jimmy Bruno, Vic Juris, Paul Bollenback, Chris Robinson, David Becker and Gil Parris among others. Not to be missed! Showtimes are at 9pm and 11pm. For reservations or more information, call (212) 581-3080 or visit www.birdlandjazz.com.

Composer and guitarist Joe Diorio has been called "one of the most mature and uncompromising new plectrists to work the room since Joe Pass" by Leonard Feather and an "undervalued virtuoso" by Rolling Stone. With over 50 years experience as a performer and recording artist, Diorio has worked with such jazz luminaries as Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris, Stan Getz, Horace Silver and Freddie Hubbard. He is featured on over 20 albums as both a leader and sideman with musicians such as Steve Bagby, Harvie Swartz, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris, Benny Green, Horace Silver, Anita O'Day, and Gijs Hendriks. He has toured and performed in jazz festivals throughout the U.S., Holland, Belgium, Italy and Argentina among others.

Highly respected as an educator, Joe Diorio taught at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, CA (where he was one of the three founding instructors) and at the University of Southern California, and has conducted Jazz Guitar seminars throughout the U.S., Europe and Brazil. In addition to teaching, Diorio has released several instructional videos; written articles for Guitar Player Magazine and numerous instructional books.

Brett Garsed "Dark Matter" Review at Guitar Noize

Check out Jon Bloomer's review of the new Brett Garsed disc Dark Matter over at Guitar Noize.

Guitar Noize: Review: - Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller - October 2011 West Coast Tour Dates

Mike Keneally and Bryan Beller will be taking their bands on a west coast tour this October. See below for the current list of dates and venues.

Wednesday, October 12
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
and Steve Uccello
at Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 California 9
Felton, CA 95018-9710
(831) 335-2800
Steve Uccello: 7:30
Bryan Beller Band: 7:50
Mike Keneally Band: 8:50
Admission: $20

Thursday, October 13
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
and The Travis Larson Band
at Biscuits & Blues
401 Mason St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Travis Larson: 8:00
Bryan Beller: 8:50
Mike Keneally: 10:00
Admission: $20

Saturday, October 15
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
at Humbrew's
celebrating the 15th Anniversary of The Arcata Eye
856 10th St.
Arcata, CA 95521
707.826.BREW
Doors: 8:00
Bryan Beller Band: 9:00
Mike Keneally Band: 10:00
Admission: $20

Monday, October 17
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
at Mt. Tabor Pub
4811 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, OR 97215-3251
(503) 360-1450
Doors: 8:00
Bryan Beller Band: 8:45
Mike Keneally Band: 9:45
Admission: $20, $18 in advance

Tuesday, October 18
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
at The Rendezvous' Jewelbox Theater
2322 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 441-5823
Showtime: 8:00
Admission: $20

Friday, October 21
The Mike Keneally Band
with The Bryan Beller Band
at The Baked Potato
3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-1615
Showtime: 9:30
Admission $20

Sunday, October 23
The Mike Keneally Band
with special guest The Bryan Beller Band
at The Lark Barn
Anaheim, CA
**special house concert-style show!**
Suggested donation: $20 (includes amazing BBQ and soft drinks)
To reserve seats and for more info,
e-mail BLARK at BESTPC dot COM

via bryanbeller.com

 

Video: The Bombastic Meatbats - Live at the Baked Potato 7/22/11 "Oh! I Spilled My Beer"

The Bombastic Meatbats playing "Oh! I Spilled My Beer" at the Baked Potato on 7/22/11. With Jeff Kollman - guitar, Kenny Aronoff - drums, Kevin Chown - bass, and Ed Roth - keys.

Video: Oz Noy - Live at the Bitter End - 6/27/11

Cool video of Oz Noy live at the Bitter End on 6/27/11. With Ron Oswanski - keys, and Joel Rosenblatt - drums.

Chris Taylor "Nocturnal" Review at Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog

A short but sweet review of Chris Taylor's debut Nocturnal has been posted at the Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog.

Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog: Guitarist Chris Taylor Makes Some Great Sounds on Nocturnal

Brett Garsed "Dark Matter" Review at Guitar.com

Guitar.com has a great review up of Brett Garsed's new album Dark Matter.

Guitar.com Review: New Brett Garsed CD - Dark Matter

Video: Allan Holdsworth and Bunny Brunel - Live at the Baked Potato 7/15/11

More footage of Allan Holdsworth and Bunny Brunel live at the Baked Potato on 7/15/11. With Dennis Hamm on keys, and Ronald Bruner Jr. on drums.

Derek Sherinian releases new solo album 'Oceana'

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release, London, England -

Derek Sherinian's new solo album 'Oceana' is released Monday September 5th by the Music Theories Recordings label via the Mascot Label Group.

If this were the 1970's, the heyday of such keyboard titans as Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman and Jon Lord, Sherinian would be among that elite circle of players who were superstars back in the day when such talent was not only appreciated, but celebrated in popular music. This is, however, 2011, and in this age, Derek Sherinian is the premiere rock keyboardist of his generation, a member of the supergroup Black Country Communion, a former member of Dream Theater, and a solo artist in his own right.

Sherinian has played keyboards with artists including Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen and KISS. In addition to being a former member of Dream Theater, Sherinian was also a member of the prog rock band Platypus, and the founder of the progressive fusion metal band Planet X.

'Oceana' is mixed by legendary drummer Simon Phillips (whose drumming credits include Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck, 10CC, Roxy Music). Phillips also plays drums on the entire album.

Steve Lukather collaborates with Sherinian on 'Mulholland', 'Euphoria' and 'Seven Sins', while former Planet X guitarist Tony MacAlpine performs on 'Five Elements' and 'Mercury 7'. Steve Stevens is featured on 'Ghost Runner' and the title track, while Black Country Communion band-mate Joe Bonamassa performs on 'I Heard That'. Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) performs on 'El Camino Diablo', and Jimmy Johnson plays bass on all tracks with the exception of 'Ghost Runner' and 'Oceana', which both feature Tony Franklin.

Favouring a guitar heavy rock based approach to fusion ala Jeff Beck, Sherinian's music creates a certain energy that comes through the recordings, setting him apart from other jazz fusion artists.  His music also appeals to fans of technical heavy metal. Thanks to his relentless touring schedule with a wide range of well-known artists, Sherinian easily adapts to ever changing musical genres, while always maintaining his signature style.

Click here to download hi res photos and read the full press release announcement - www.noblepr.co.uk/Press_Releases/dereksherinian/oceana.htm.

Complete 1978 Steve Morse Interview Published at Jas Obrecht Music Archive

Jas Obrecht has just published the complete unabridged version of an interview his conducted with Steve Morse in 1978. Portions of the interview appeared in Guitar Player magazine that year, but the complete 10,000-word conversation remained untranscribed for 33 years. Great pieces like this are just one of the reasons Obrecht's site should be in every guitar-geek's bookmarks. Check out the interview via the link below.

Jas Obrecht Music Archive - Steve Morse: The Complete 1978 Dixie Dregs Interview