In pursuit and appreciation of guitar excellence — Pronounced “Guitar-eh-tay”
Latest posts
- Jeff Beck 1944-2023
Jeff Beck 1944-2023–Jeff Beck was an avatar of devotion to the electric guitar. He was a unique stylist and constant explorer who transformed the music of his collaborators and inspired younger generations of guitarists. - Julian Lage plays “Seven Come Eleven” on Charlie Christian’s guitar
Julian Lage offers a fun and deep jazz-guitar-trio rendition of Charlie Christian’s classic “Seven Come Eleven.” - Update: The surprise Steve Vai album is for real, and maybe not such a surprise, but also, yeah, a surprise
Steve Vai’s November 10, 2022 release will be called Vai/Gash, and it will feature vocalist John “Gash” Sombrotto. Vai describes the 1991 recording as “straight-ahead” and “rockin’.” - Is Steve Vai about to drop a surprise new album?
A Tweet from Steve Vai suggests he is about to drop a surprise new album made up of music written in 1991 and inspired by riding his motorcycle. - Remembering the 55 Bar, an NYC jazz oasis
Some thoughts about the 55 Bar and its closing, with a gallery of pictures. - Insight into John Frusciante’s practice and process on the RA Exchange podcast
The announcement of John Frusciante rejoining the Red Hot Chili Peppers was one of the more interesting guitar universe surprises … Read more - Pearl Jam—“Quick Escape”
The release of Pearl Jam’s Gigaton is right around the corner (March 27, 2020), and they have now dropped a … Read more - Los Bitchos’s “instrumental psychedelic sunshine Cumbia”
The London-based instrumental quintet Los Bitchos–the name sounds like mangled Spanglish, and subtracting one letter turns it into a decidedly … Read more - Russian Circles, Blood Year (2019)–Preview Review
Are you lost on a howling, desolate, icy tundra, not knowing where you are, or even if you’re near anywhere, … Read more - Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny, “Furry Sings the Blues,” from Shadows and Light (1980)–Part 2
Pat Metheny’s presence in Joni Mitchell’s touring band is one among his rare appearances as a sideman to an artist … Read more - Joni Mitchell and Pat Metheny, “Furry Sings the Blues,” from Shadows and Light (1980)–Part 1
Joni Mitchell’s “Shadows and Light” is a brilliant performance document that brings together stage translations of the singer/songwriter/guitarist’s mid-70s period. … Read more - Jefferson Starship’s “Jane,” from Freedom at Point Zero” (1979)
Say what you must about the group that shapeshifted from the band that made “Somebody to Love” to the band … Read more - 5 Scott Henderson Tracks That Are Really, Really Good
Ahead of the release of People Mover, I listened to a lot of Scott Henderson’s earlier music, getting excited to … Read more - New info on upcoming Scott Henderson album, People Mover!
On June 19, Glass Onyon PR issued a press release giving details of People Mover, Scott Henderson’s soon-to-be-released follow up … Read more - Middle Kids–“Real Thing, from New Songs for Old Problems (2019)
“Real Thing” is the super-hooky single from the latest EP by Australian band Middle Kids. Released a couple of months … Read more - Baroness Plays Small Gigs Ahead of Gold & Grey
In the week before Gold & Grey dropped, on June 14, Baroness played a series of small gigs, including an … Read more - 2019 Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit Was a Pedal Fiend’s Delight
At the June 8th and 9th 2019 Brooklyn Stompbox Exhibit, musicians of all types who are pedal enthusiasts found a … Read more - Allan Holdsworth—Warsaw Summer Jazz Days ‘98
Don’t let the wAcka-jaWaKa lettering on the cover throw you off! Warsaw Summer Jazz Days ’98 (Manifesto, 2019) is a … Read more - Gilad Hekselman—“Stumble,” from Ask for Chaos (2018)
In under one year, New York-based jazz guitarist Gilad Hekselman has released two strong collections as the primary artist: Ask … Read more - Baroness–“Seasons,” from Gold & Grey (2019)
The music of Baroness centers on guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/visual artist John Baizley, who is one of those people who can smile and … Read more - Stray Cats–“Rock This Town,” from Built for Speed (1982)
The Stray Cats breakout track and video hit may well be the defining track of the first wave of retro … Read more - Typical Sisters — Hungry Ghost
On Hungry Ghost, released March 2019, Typical Sisters explores avenues for creating urgency beyond of the borders of well-defined genres. … Read more - Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival returns in 2019!
With the announcement that Eric Clapton is again firing up the Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019, it’s worth taking a … Read more - Play It Loud @ the Met! 4/8/2019 to 10/1/2019
Happily and unsurprisingly, there will be plenty on display to fascinate and inspire guitarists and fellow travelers at the Metropolitan … Read more - Afro-Polka All-Stars—55 Bar, December 30, 2018
Featuring guitarists Sheryl Bailey and Anders Nilsson Drummer/composer/world-music explorer Maciek Schejbal’s Afro-Polka project is based on the inspired, if unlikely, … Read more - Oz Noy Quartet – 55 Bar, December 25, 2018
Oz Noy has said of his music, “It’s jazz, it just doesn’t sound like it.” On his recent quartet gig … Read more - Jacky Vincent–Life Imitating Art: High-Speed Guitar Engine Meets Synths & Beats
Times not recommended for listening to Jacky Vincent’s Life Imitating Art: basically anytime you want to chill. It’s not that … Read more - The Posies–Solid States
Someone once told me a story about a bunch of college friends who had an inside joke around the line … Read more - Harriet Tubman, featuring Brandon Ross, at the Jazz-Rock-Funk Throwdown, June 2018
Harriet Tubman’s music was nearly entirely new to me. Before the Alternative Guitar Summit, I checked out a few tracks … Read more - Adam Rogers at the Jazz-Rock-Funk Throwdown, June 2018
Leading the trio known as DICE, guitarist Adam Rogers drew material from the group’s eponymous album for the second set … Read more