The Guitar Channel

Current Listening

Some great music I've been listening to lately...

Tohpati Bertiga - Riot

Awesome rock fusion trio from Indonesia. Guitarist Tohpati is super-tasty with great chops and tones. The writing has occasional shades of Wayne Krantz, only heavier.

Matt Resnicoff - The History Of Now

Highly adventurous debut from the one-time music journalist. Resnicoff plays a vast array of instruments across 23 tracks, produced by and co-starring Mike Keneally. A veritable stream of consciousness.

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Live Meat And Potatoes

Killer double live album recorded at the Baked Potato in 2009. Dripping with grooves. Outstanding guitar work from Jeff Kollman.

The Crane & Fabian Project - No Limits

All-star modern jazz record featuring Mike Miller, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Mitch Forman, Eric Marienthal and others.

Current Listening

I've been listening to a TON of great new music lately. Here's what I've had in heavy rotation...

The Michael Landau Group - Organic Instrumentals

Landau's first all-instrumental album since his 1990 debut Tales From The Bulge absolutely RULES. Great writing and production, killer playing, amazing tones. Line-up includes Gary Novak, Andy Hess, Jimmy Haslip, Larry Goldings, Vinnie Colaiuta, and others.

Polcat

Way-cool jazz fusion project with Chris Poland on guitar, Frank Catalano on sax, Sean O'Bryan Smith on bass, and Jim Gifford on drums. Awesome grooves and playing. Poland is a great fit.

Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations

Wackerman's latest features Allan Holdsworh on guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Jim Cox on keys - the same band Wackerman utilized for his 1991 solo debut Forty Reasons. Lots of group improv on this one. Holdsworth is amazing as usual.

Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2

Excellent modern fusion album; a more-than-worthy follow-up to 2010's Volume 1. Amazing guest list includes Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Ray Russell and Jan Hammer.

Ed DeGenaro - Holiday In Madras

Deep fusion with a strong Indian influence. Ed drops some amazing Shawn Lane-like runs as well. Personnel includes Ric Fierabracci and Marco Minnemann among others.

Steve Weingart & Renee Jones - Dialogue

This one's been out a while but I've been digging into it more lately. Super high-quality electric jazz album with great writing and playing. Features the always-tasty Mike Miller on guitar. Steve Lukather also guests on one track.

Tribal Tech - X

One of the greatest fusion bands ever is back with their first new album in 12 years. Features a good balance of group improv and composition. Scott Henderson's current, more blues-oriented approach gives the band a different flavor than it had in the old days.

Wayne Krantz - Howie 61

This won't be released until mid-April but I had the honor of writing the press release for it so I've been digging the tracks for awhile. Krantz, once again, strikes out in a new direction here with fresh take on composition and production. Line-up includes Vinnie Colaiuta, Tal Wilkenfeld, Keith Carlock, Pino Palladino, David Binney, John Patitucci, Anton Fig and many others.

Video: Mike Miller at NAMM

The always great Mike Miller jamming at the TC Electronic booth at NAMM this year with bassist Max Bennett.

Current Listening

Some of the stuff I've been listening to / watching lately...

Charlie Hunter - Public Domain

Completely solo guitar album in which Hunter performs classic songs that are all in the public domain (and all chosen by his Grandfather!). Amazing stuff. "Danny Boy" alone is worth the price of admission.

Tetsuo Sakurai - Vital World (Review)

Awesome heavy fusion album with Greg Howe on guitar, and Dennis Chambers on drums. Incredible playing from everyone.

Tomo Fujita - Pure

Great jazz/blues album from the Berklee faculty member. Includes Will Lee, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie and Steve Jordan.

Black Country Communion

Killer super-group rock album with Joe Bonamassa on guitar, Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals, Derek Sherinian on keys, and Jason Bonham on drums.

Dann Glenn - Eleven Eleven Orchestra

Eclectic fusion album with cool writing. Bassist Jeff Berlin guests on one track.

Chad Wackerman Trio - Hits Live DVD

Excellent live-in-the-studio style DVD from Chad Wackerman's Trio. Includes Mike Miller on guitar and Doug Linn on bass. Can't get enough of this one.

 

 

 

 

Sneak Peek Part Deux: Photos from Day Two of the Baked Potato Jazz Festival

 

   

Here's a preview of my pics from day two of the Baked Potato 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival. As with my day one preview pics, you can mouse over the thumbnails to see the captions. Highlight of the day for me was seeing Michael Landau jam with Larry Carlton for the first time ever (!). Overall, it was an amazing two days of incredible music. Look for a proper review of the festival with a full photo gallery sometime this week.

Heading to the Baked Potato 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival!

Tomorrow morning, I'm heading out to California for The Baked Potato 40th Anniversary Jazz Festival. This is sure to be an epic two-days of killer jazz and fusion music. So many great musicians will be there. From a guitar perspective alone it's an unbelievable lineup - Day one will include performances by Jeff Richman, Chris Poland, Scott Henderson, Jeff Kollman, Steve Lukather, Michael Landau, and Allan Holdsworth. The guitarists for day two include Mike Miller, Lee Ritenour, Michael Landau (again!), and Larry Carlton. Whew! Check out this post for a detailed lineup that includes all the musicians. Chances are, the only posting I'll be doing over the weekend will be on Twitter, so be sure to follow me there for any updates. Next week, I'll try to post some wrap-up stuff about the festival including some pics. I believe there are still some tickets left for the fest too, so come on out!

Current Listening

Here are some of the albums I've been listening to over the last couple of months.

MSM Schmidt - Destination

High-quality jazz fusion recording featuring an all-star cast of LA's finest players. Includes Alex Machacek and Mike Miller on guitar.

The Code - Mianca

Great modern fusion band from Canada. Guitarist John Pelosi is a killer player in the Holdsworth vein. 

Charlie Hunter - Gentlemen, I Neglected To Inform You You Will Not Be Getting Paid

More of a throwback slow-jazz feel than Hunter's previous work. The fact that it was recorded in "Glorious Mono" really adds to the retro vibe.

Amit Heri Group - Elephant Walk

I met and hung out with Amit a bit during my NAMM trip. Great guy, and a great guitarist. This album is a re-issue of one of his older releases. A very lyrical jazz recording with an occasional Indian influence. Includes Matt Garrison on bass. 

 Steve Morse and Sarah Spencer - Angelfire

New vocal project pairing Morse's compositions and Spencer's gorgeous vocals. Mostly acoustic-based, with an almost Enya-like feel. This album has not been released yet, but I picked up the "Tour Edition" at their first live performance last month. Turns out I was the first person to ever buy this album!

Favorite albums of 2008

2008 was another great year for jazz rock fusion progressive whateveryoucallit guitar music. Here are my favorite albums of the year, in order of their release.

Tim Miller - Trio Vol. 2

Fantastic Holdsworthian fusion. Great acoustic/electric tones.

John McLaughlin - Floating Point (Review)

Western jazz fusion played with Eastern musicians. McLaughlin's best album in years.

Greg Howe - Sound Proof (Review)

Outstanding writing and playing. True heavy fusion.

Alex Machacek/Jeff Sipe/Neal Fountain - The Official Triangle Sessions (LIVE)

An Abstract Logix exclusive. Awesome live recording featuring tracks from the Improvision album.

OHM - Circus of Sound (Review)

Highly creative heavy fusion from Chris Poland and co.

 

Jimmy Herring - Lifeboat (Review)

Remarkable writing and playing. My favorite album of the year.

Jeff Beck - Performing this week...Live at Ronnie Scott's

Great live album featuring all of Beck's classics. Look for my review soon.

Other favorites from 2008:

Paul Gilbert - Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar (Review)
Charlie Hunter - Baboon Strength
Mike Miller Quintet - World Goes Round
McCoy Tyner - Guitars
Claude Pauly - Mind Meets Matter
Tadashi Goto - Innervisions
CAB - Theatre De Marionnettes

Mike Miller to appear on Tony Palkovic's KSPC show tonight

Another favorite guitarist of mine from way back, Mike Miller (The Outsidemen, Chick Corea) will be the guest on Tony Palkovic's Jazz-Fusion radio show on KSPC 88.7FM (L.A. area) tonight from 12am-2am Pacific, with a rebroadcast tomorrow at 4am. You can listen online at http://216.235.81.103:15302. The show can also be heard on Pulsar Radio starting at 12am Pacific on Friday 11/28, with a repeat every 3hrs for 24hrs (got all that?). Miller will be discussing his new album World Goes Round.