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 w/ Keith Carlock at the Mercury Lounge, NYC Photo: Unknown |
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April 22nd ~ This month for my Guitar Player magazine sponsored clinic series at the First Act Guitar Studio I'll be dropping the skinny on the many whammy bar tricks I employ in my playing, as well as some insight into other notable player's techniques. The bar drops at precisely 7:00 in the evening and goes for an hour. May 20th ~ Finish up the aformetioned clinic series (see April 22nd date above) I will divulge my highly top secret techniques for playing all-things-harmonics. From harp harmonics to Jeff Beck-like harmonic-laden melodies with the infamous whammy bar, I go deep--be there. *** Stay tuned for more dates on upcoming gigs with Graham Haynes including the Blue Note (NYC), as well as European dates in support of his new CD, Full Circle on RKM Music. |
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Dateline April 2nd, 2008: Some big news and some updates ... M-Audio Guide for the Recording Guitarist One massive (if not all encompassing) reason why I have been a little under the radar lately is because I was writing my first text book! While I was at the 2007 NAMM convention in Anaheim, Ca. where I was recruited by M-Audio to demo several pieces of their amazing guitar-centric recording gear, my good friend Steve Nalepa hooked me up with Mark Garvey, a senior editor at Course Technolgy PTR. After some quick NAMM style conversations (talking loud even though the person is right next to you) about possibly doing a book for Course, the next thing I know, I was elected by the top brass at M-Audio to write the official-fully-endorsed word on recording your guitar in this modern world we live in through the eyes of M-Audio!! "Holy shit" is an understatement to say the least--I was floored and very pysched to do it. And do it I did: click here to check it out!! It was a enormous endeavor for sure, but it was worth it--I came out with even more sonic/technological tricks than ever! More on the book and the results of my digital transformation soon ... keep your pants on, I didn't sell any of my pedals for a MIDI controller. But, I have one now ;). Watch out. Guitar Player Following the killer piece I did in the Dec. '07 issue--a 'Woodshed' lesson on my MA buddies, Shadows Fall--I somehow managed to squeeze in a project for the GP crew during the writing on the M-Audio Guide for the Recording Guitarist. And, lemme tell ya, it's a mother! In the April '08 issue you will find a 'Master Class' lesson on one of my favorite humans on this planet, Bumblefoot, entitled Tapping Into Genius. It's all that and more so be sure to check it out while it's on the shelves and get your ass in front of your computer to check out the video footage on GP's video site, GuitarPlayer.tv. Click on the April Lessons link, then the link titled Bumblefoot Lessons and prepare for devastation ... and some ha ha's at the same time! Truefire.com It's on. Got my first assignment from the powers that be at Truefire.com and away-we-go. So after a little camera hiatus, I'll be back in from of the lense playing anything and everything. More info soon ... Just Jazz Guitar magazine column on vacation As of the November 2007 issue of Just Jazz Guitar, my Tools of the Trade column I started back in the August 2005 issue is taking a break--gotta sleep some time you know. I owe much to Ed Benson (the publisher and mastermind behind JJG) and the readers of this fine publication as this was my introduction into writing in the magazine scene to which I owe a lot of what I'm doing today. Maybe it will re-surface in the future, but for now my hollow body escapades will be reserved for my Truefire missions. I thought I saw you on Ultimate-Guitar.tv? You did for one hot minute. After dropping a self-made video series called In the Element on Ultimate-Guitar.tv (the sister site to the mighty Ultimate-Guitar.com), which featured a three part series of hilarious interviews with Matt Bachand and Jon Donais of Shadows Fall, again, I had to sleep at some point. With the text book kicking my arse all over the place, I barely got these vids delivered to the UG headquarters. WE plan to re-luanch my presence on UG and there's more In the Element footage in the vaults (my drawer full of Mini-DV tapes), but in the meantime, here's the links to all three parts from the SF interviews: Part 1: The Drive Part 2: the Bus and Matt Bachand Part 3: The Jon Donais Show It was a blast doing this with Matt and Jon and thanks goes to Atlantic Records for allowing me to use the song Redemption from SF's latest release, Threads of Life. Some other notable news from the past ... GuitarOne magazine ... may you rest in peace ... Well, if you don't already know Guitar One Magazine is dead-as-a-door nail as they say. While we were in the midst of the July 2007 issue cycle (at the end actually), Future, the parent company to both G1 and Guitar World; pulled the plug as the full-timers were making there way back in from lunch--nice. What a bummer to say the least. This magazine stems back to the legendary Guitar For The Practicing Musician--a mag I spent much time learning from. We were doing a killer Tele issue with pieces on Danny Gatton, Andy Summers, Steve Cropper, and good 'ol Keif. The 'stunt guitar' footage was to be the premiere of my new Tele that Fender was nice enough to hook me up with too--sorry guys! Also sorry to say, my column on effects, Pedal Points , bit the dust along with it. Guitar Teacher Due to the recent slayings of many guitar magazines, some of them went to on-line only format including Guitar Teacher magazine. I did my second piece for them recently on the subject of teaching 30-minute lessons more effeciently--something I spent MANY years doing in the past. You check it by clicking on this link. Guitar Sessions Hope you've been checking out my submissions to the Mel Bay on-line magazine Guitar Sessions where I've dropped an insane three-part series on sus triads called Sus Chord Symposium which concludes with the Jan. '07 issue. No sweat if you missed any of the previous articles because there's a drop down menu at the top right-hand corner with links to back issues. Trust me, you'll need the Oct. and Nov. '06 articles to hang with Part III. While you're there go to July '06 for my piece on my pal David Fiuczynski and his ridiculous double neck in the Rock/Blues section and then surf over to the Aug. '06 issue for my City Scene article on schmoozing in this business called The Art of Networking . Current Releases Graham Haynes Full Circle I appear on Graham's unbeliveable debut release on Ravi Coltrane's label RKM , which was released June 26th, 2007. Recorded at Bill Laswell's Orange, NJ studio the CD features some of NY's finest like Marcus Gilmore, Guy Licata, Shahzad Ismaily, Leon Gruenbaum, Adam Klipple, and James Hurt. As always, Graham gave me complete liberty to sonically demolish his music--be warned. I also got to contribute to some of the writing including an open-ended piece of my own called 'In The Cage of Grouis Banks'. Anyone who can nail down the meaning of the title gets a free CD, not to mention, I'll be totally freaked out by you if you can figure it out. Lumatic Swimming to the Hook I appear on the Jan. '07 release from one of my favorite independent artists, Katherine Miller and her band Lumatic. In addition to the stellar rhythm section of John Bollinger and Jason DiMatteo the CD also features Ty Citterman and Shazad Ismaily on guitar as well. All three of us came out swinging for sure. The Alchemists Vol. 2 This is a compilation CD that was released this past Feb. '07 of shred guitar heroes that paired up with a fellow speed freak for a collaborative onslaught of vicious fret burning. Myself and longtime shred pen pal Dave Martone co-wrote a cool-ass tune to not only blow over, but to make some music with too called "Fumble Fingers" which featues the incredible drum work of Gene Hoglan of Strapping Young Lad! Oh yeah, though I play a lot notes (no way) there's many sounds included. Dave Martone When The Aliens Come A long time ago myself, Martone, Terry Syrek , and James Hogan had a dream. We wanted to release a CD documenting our annual guitar manifesto faculty concerts at the National Guitar Workshop. The students called us the "The Four Horseman". Well, we never got around to the CD but we did manage to get one tune done called--you guessed it--The Four Horseman. A Martone compostion all the way, the tune ends with the four of us duking it out at the end while Daniel Adair of Nickelback hits his drums really hard. BTW, I won by a Ring Modulator ;) Rodney Holmes Twelve Months of October I had the honor and the pleasure to contribute some audio assault techniques to several tracks that appear on this CD. Ironically, a track called Sabertooth--the only track I actually played some notes--ended up on the Modern Drummer Festival 2005 DVD to which Rodney used as a backing track during his performance. Nice! Many bad mothers such as fellow guitar brethern David Gilmore and Steve Kimock also contributed to this incredible collection of great music. Chris Buono Solitaire This CD is DONE and is my first independent release. For those of you new to the site, here's the story behind this all. From late 2003 until the spring of 2004 I was doing solo performances one Sunday a month at the now defunct Goga Cafe in the Carroll Gardens section of Brooklyn. In front of the comical amount of gear I brought to serenade the afternoon diners, I had a Sharp MT877 mini disc recorder taking it all in and gathering material. The problem is I really stunk at recording with my mini-disc and I trashed half of the gigs! But with some expert help from a friend I was able to cull enough material to put out into the world. It is for sale for $10 through email request only at this point, sorry. Tony C. and the Truth Demonophonic Blues I can be heard flexing my rock chops and having a blast making some noise (not just some "additional solos" as I am wrongfully miscredited) on this Lava Records release by Tony C. and the Truth The CD was released on May 25th, 2004 and is incredibly still available EVERYWHERE. Check out the baby laughing on "Good Lookin' Out" ... it's my 4 year old son when he was only four months old! One of my own usual partners in crime, Tobias Ralph, joined me on these sessions and then proceeded to torture himself by touring with the bad--God bless his soul. Haale Se Back in 2000 I was ready to conquer the NYC freelance scene and show the planet I could play and that I had some sounds to boot. This was one of my first gigs and you'll never guess who had the gig on drums--Keith Carlock before he went onto Steely Dan and Sting. Also featuring the elusive Bill Foster on bass the four of us created a never before heard take on ancient Persian folk tunes and the poetry of Rumi. As a result of this EP we did in a couple of hours, the August issue of Global Rhythm Magazine awarded us best unsigned CD of the year! It was also included in their 2003 Essential World Music Guide as one of the top 15 CD's to watch out for. Good luck finding it though. My book for Alfred entitled "Jazz Lead Guitar Solos" is out and available all over the world. It's also part of the National Guitar Workshop's curriculum. The book is full of transcribed solos and explanations taken from the accompanying CD, which features Rodney Holmes on drums, Bill Foster on bass, Zen Zadravec on acoustic piano, and Arne Wendt on electric piano. Soon you'll be able to purchase the book on the new and improved Teaching page, but in the meantime you can run down to your local music store or go online for a copy. |
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 Photo: Alexa Williams |
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Lost in Space Free Improv Trio I'm sad to say this CD, though at its last stages, had to be shelved as well. We reviewed the last patch of sessions and were ready for editing and mixing but ... This group consists of myself and fellow guitarists Chris Parrello and Tony Romano. The group orginated through the combination of stress release from our teaching duties at the National Guitar Workshop and our mutual enjoyment for free and collective improvisation. We recorded three seperate sessions at Nate Shaw's studio in Brooklyn and we're very excited about the music, well, we were. We'll see. MPT: Music in the Present Tense Music in the Present Tense is the parent company I tried to start to house MPT RECORDS and MPT PUBLISHING for projects such as Solitaire. But, the Government decided to "change" my Federal Tax I.D. number somewhere along the line and I haven't recoverd since--it's been a real pleasure dealing with Uncle Sam and the labrynth of automated responces, lemme tell ya. |
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