The Guitar Channel

Lee Ritenour Performance and Interview for NPR

Lee Ritenour appeared on the Jazz24 radio program at NPR station KPLU recently for an in-studio performance and interview. Follow the link below to hear the entire session via NPR's website.

NPR Favorite Sessions - Lee Ritenour: A Half-Century Of Jazz Guitar

And the winner is...

Eric Faust! Eric has won a copy of the new Lee Ritenour album 6 String Theory! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest.

Congratulations Eric!

Current Listening

A quick roundup of the albums I've been listening to lately...

 

Ray Riendeau - Atmospheres

Really cool jazz-prog-funk-fusion album from bassist Riendeau. Killer guest list includes Jeff Kollman, Alex Machacek, Marco Sfogli, Greg Koch, and many others.

 

Paul Gilbert - Fuzz Universe

Gilbert's 3rd instrumental album is loaded with over-the-top tones and playing. Includes a cool cover of Todd Rundgren's "Blue Orpheus."

 

Mark Papagno Trio (Review)

Great Holdsworthian fusion. The double bass adds a cool, straight-ahead vibe.

 

Lee Ritenour - 6 String Theory

Fantastic disc that is essentially a tribute to the guitar. Guests include Steve Lukather, John Scofield, B.B. King, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Guthrie Govan, Slash, and many others. Win a copy of the album here!

 

Garage a Trois - Outre Mer

This is about 5 years old, but I still listen to it a lot. Awesome funky jazz album with Charlie Hunter on guitar.

Win a copy of the new Lee Ritenour album!

Contest time! I'm giving away one copy of guitarist Lee Ritenour's new album 6 String Theory. This amazing tribute to the instrument features 20 guest guitarists including Steve Lukather, John Scofield, B.B. King, Mike Stern, Joe Bonamassa, Guthrie Govan, George Benson, Pat Martino, Neal Schon and Slash, among others. Bassist Tal Wilkenfeld also appears on several tracks, as does drummer Vinnie Colaiuta.

For your chance to win, send an email to [email protected] with the subject Lee Ritenour CD Giveaway. On Monday July 19th, I will choose one email at random and announce the winner on the site. One entry per person please; past Guitar Channel contest winners are not eligible. Good Luck!

Lee Ritenour Interview and Review at Guitar International

Guitar International Magazine has published an interview with guitar legend Lee Ritenour, along with a review of his latest album 6 String Theory. Both pieces come courtesy of the hardest working man in guitar journalism, Matt Warnock. 6 String Theory features a vast array of special guests including Steve Lukather, John Scofield, Joe Bonamassa, Guthrie Govan, B.B. King, and many others.

Guitar International - Review: 6 String Theory
Guitar International - Interview: Lee Ritenour

New Lee Ritenour Album includes Lukather, Scofield, Stern, Govan and others

PRESS RELEASE

Legendary GRAMMY® Winning Guitarist Lee Ritenour's
6 String Theory CD Scheduled for Release on Concord Records/Monster Music June 29, 2010

George Benson, BB King, Steve Lukather, Slash, John Scofield, Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo, Robert Cray and Joe Bonamassa Among 20 World Class Guest Guitarists From All Music Genres Joining Ritenour In Celebration of the World’s Most Popular Instrument—THE GUITAR!

Beverly Hills, CA – It’s hard to believe that 2010 marks 50 years since Lee Ritenour starting playing the guitar, setting in motion a career that legends are made of. A career that has earned him 19 GRAMMY® nominations, a GRAMMY® Award, numerous #1 spots on guitar polls, A Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian SJ Awards, and the prestigious “Alumnus of the Year” award from USC. During his illustrious career, he has recorded over 40 albums, with 35 chart songs and was a founding member of the group Fourplay, considered the most successful group in contemporary jazz. As a young guitarist his diverse musical style became the foundation of over 3,000 sessions, covering a broad spectrum of artists ranging from his first session at 16 with the Mamas and Papas, to Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, Simon & Garfunkel and Frank Sinatra. On his latest endeavor, 6 String Theory, Ritenour celebrates the instrument that has allowed him this blessing, the guitar; —by producing and assembling a star-studded tribute with the greatest and soon- to- be greatest guitarists of our time.

Set for release on Concord Records /Monster Music on June 29, 2010, for 6 String Theory, Ritenour is also among the twenty legendary world class guitarists starring on the recording, which he produced along with John Burk of the Concord Music Group. Joining him in this tribute to the guitar, the all-star line-up includes: George Benson, BB King, Slash, Steve Lukather, John Scofield, Robert Cray and Vince Gill among many other superstars. Blending rock, blues, jazz, acoustic, country and classical, they come together for a seamless project that promises to take the listener on a musical journey and exploration of the guitar. Also featured on vocals are BB King, Robert Cray, Vince Gill, Keb' Mo', Taj Majal, Joe Bonamassa and Jonny Lang.

Ritenour also had a musical mission to help launch a new star of the guitar. To do so, he partnered with Yamaha Corp., Berklee College of Music, Monster Music, D'Addario Strings, and Concord Records to hold the international talent search, The Yamaha 6 String Theory Guitar Competition. Hundreds of contestants from over 45 countries posted YouTube videos to enter the competition with six finalists from around the world (one in each musical category) selected at a finals competition in Los Angeles in March 2010. Winning top honors was 16-year-old classical guitarist, Shon Boublil, from Montréal, Canada, who as the winner made his debut recording performance on 6 String Theory and received a four-year full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music.

Ranging from 16 year old Shon, 18 year old, Joe Robinson (winner of Australia's Got Talent) and BB King in his young 80s, 6 String Theory covers it all, from amazingly talented upcoming guitarists to the greatest guitarists of our time. It also shows the high esteem for which Ritenour is held by his peers enabling him to assemble such an awe inspiring cast of musicians to celebrate their mutual love of the guitar. Blending together styles, ages and musical colors, Lee Ritenour’s 6 String Theory promises to be one of the greatest guitar recordings ever made!

Lee Ritenour's 6 STRING THEORY features

1. Lee Ritenour 2. BB King 3. George Benson 4. John Scofield 5. Steve Lukather 6. Vince Gill 7. Slash 8. Pat Martino 9. Mike Stern 10. Neal Schon

11. Robert Cray 12. Keb Mo 13. Taj Mahal 14. Jonny Lang 15. Joe Bonamassa 16. Andy Mckee (acoustic virtuoso 30 million Youtube hits) 17. Guthrie Govan (Guitar Player Magazine New Talent of the Year 2009) 18. Joe Robinson (18 years old won Australia's Got Talent) 19. Hotei (Japan's rock guitar superstar) 20. Shon Boublil (16 year old winner of Yamaha 6 String Theory Competition)

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NOTE: Tal Wilkenfeld also plays bass on several tracks.

http://www.sixstringtheory.com/

http://www.leeritenour.com/