2026 Artists

Frank Vignola is one of the most extraordinary guitarists performing before the public today. His stunning virtuosity has made him the guitarist of choice for many of the world’s top musicians, including Ringo Starr, Madonna, Donald Fagen, John Lewis, Lionel Hampton, the Boston Pops, the New York Pops, and guitar legend Les Paul, who named…

The TransAtlantic Guitar Trio brings together three world-class virtuosos from three distinct musical traditions to form one of the most exhilarating acoustic ensembles performing today. Comprising UK fingerstyle guitar champion Richard Smith, German gypsy jazz titan Joscho Stephan, and the extraordinary Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist Rory Hoffman, this acoustic powerhouse seamlessly welds blazing gypsy swing standards, intricate…

Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation. Haque has toured and recorded with Joe Zawinul, Billy Cobham, Dave Holland, Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, Zakir Hussain, Bob James, Joe Henderson and many…

Born in Italy and now based in New York City, Pasquale Grasso has developed an astounding technique and concept informed not by jazz guitarists so much as by bebop pioneers like Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie and the classical-guitar tradition. His new digital-only EP series, available beginning in June from Sony Masterworks, showcases Grasso…

Hailed by The New Yorker as “a shining light” among modern jazz guitarists, Austrian virtuoso Wolfgang Muthspiel is widely recognized as one of the most influential and intelligent voices of his generation. Meticulously bridging his rigorous classical roots with the adventurous spirit of contemporary jazz, Muthspiel first gained international acclaim in the late 1980s when…

Swedish guitar virtuoso Ulf Wakenius commands a legendary status in the global jazz landscape, most famously cemented by his decade-long tenure holding down the guitar chair in the final Oscar Peterson Quartet—stepping into a lineage of royalty previously occupied by Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, and Joe Pass. Boasting an astonishingly fluent technique and deeply expressive,…

World renowned guitarist educator and Emmy award winning composer, Tim is a member of the legendary Northwest Gypsy Jazz Group Pearl Django and popular duo with Jamie Findlay. In between gigs with PD and Jamie, Tim tries to play as many Solo Guitar performance as he can fit into the schedule. In addition to his…

Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, and soon began working professionally around Los Angeles. In 1979, Alden went east, for a summer in Atlantic City with Red Norvo, and continued to perform with him frequently for several years. Upon moving to New York City in 1982, Alden’s skills,…

Internationally acclaimed as both a premier guitarist and one of the most influential guitar historians of our time, Wolf Marshall has shaped the education of generations of players. For over two decades, his monthly columns in Vintage Guitar magazine and his tenure as the founder of GuitarOne have made his name synonymous with elite musical…

A premier guitarist, bandleader, and historian based in Los Angeles, Jonathan Stout is internationally recognized as the foremost modern champion of pre-war Swing-era archtop guitar. For over 25 years, Stout has dedicated himself to preserving and performing the distinct pre-bop disciplines of the 1930s and ’40s, brilliantly channeling the acoustic block-chord virtuosity of Allan Reuss,…

For more than four decades, Grammy- and Emmy-nominated guitarist, composer, and producer David Becker has stood as one of the most unique and cinematic voices in contemporary jazz. Leading the critically acclaimed David Becker Tribune alongside his brother, drummer Bruce Becker, he has captured a global audience across more than 40 countries, sharing stages with…

A hectic touring schedule; eighteen recordings as a leader, including his newest release, Junkyard Duo; countless sideman recordings including Ray Brown, Bobby Hutcherson, Roger Kellaway; soundtrack performances on three of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films-most notably Academy Award-winning Million Dollar Baby; producer, arranger, acclaimed educator, in residence at USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Dept., when does Bruce Forman…

Rodney started playing the guitar at age 6. He has recorded two records for the Blue Note label, “The Undiscovered Few” and “Soul Manifesto”. He has toured worldwide, performed and recorded with a who’s who of music including Dizzy Gillespie, James Brown, Lena Horne, Quincy Jones, Christian McBride, Stevie Wonder, Elvin Jones, Kenny Burrell, Stan…

2021 JUNO Award winner Jocelyn Gould has been called “a leader in the next generation of great mainstream jazz guitarists.” Jocelyn has performed and recorded internationally as a leader and with GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, JUNO-winning trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg, DownBeat Trombonist of the Year Michael Dease, Etienne Charles, Jon Gordon, Rodney Whitaker, Randy…

For over two decades, New York-based guitarist and educator Grant Gordy has emerged as a major, genre-defying voice on the American acoustic music scene. Famously handpicked by mandolin icon David Grisman to hold down the guitar chair in the legendary David Grisman Quintet for six years—a prestigious slot previously occupied by titans like Tony Rice…

Sean McGowan is an award winning fingerstyle jazz guitarist who combines many diverse musical influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar. Originally from Maine, Sean studied at Berklee earned a DMA in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California. Sean is a…

Revered by the legendary Pat Martino as “a world-class musician—one of the best, not only as a player, but also as a writer and a teacher,” Barry Greene is a foundational anchor of the modern jazz guitar landscape. Blending a warm, rich tone with a profoundly swinging time feel and flawless execution, Greene’s playing reflects…

Corey Christiansen is becoming recognized as one of the world’s preeminent guitarists and educators. A recording artist, writer, educator and performer, he has played and taught in literally every type of situation around the globe for the last decade. He has played with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Vic Juris, Danny Gottlieb, Jeff Coffin, James Moody, Steve…

The love affair began early, which may very well explain how Taylor Roberts’ professional career is well into its third decade. Spanning as wide a range of influences as there are genres of music, Taylor Roberts has earned a reputation that is continuously expanding. Although his heart is deeply steeped in Jazz, Roberts does not…

John Storie is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, arranger, and composer.  As a headliner for major international festivals and venues, he performs with the world-renown Mildred Snitzer Orchestra with actor/pianist Jeff Goldblum, and the award-winning New West Guitar Group. The Jeff Goldblum/Mildred Snitzer Orchestra’s debut album on Decca Records, “Capitol Studio’s Sessions”, topped #16…

Guitarist Perry Smith combines the tradition of Jazz with broad influences from contemporary music to create his signature style. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Smith is now based in Brooklyn where he performs as a bandleader and as a sideman for local and touring artists. Smith’s extensive performance resume includes notable stages such…

A prominent voice in the American acoustic jazz scene, Seattle-based guitarist, composer, and music historian Greg Ruby is celebrated for his deep immersion in vintage swing and the Hot Club tradition. Ruby first captured national attention during his multi-year tenure with the pioneering gypsy jazz ensemble Pearl Django, touring across the US and Europe and…

Beth is a music industry leader, veteran world touring performer, champion of music education and trailblazer who has carved out an important path in the guitar world. As an educator, she has risen from GIT faculty member to serving as Guitar Department Chair, on to Assistant Dean, and now to Vice President at Musicians Institute….

Alicyn Yaffee is a New York City-based guitarist and vocalist, by way of Kelseyville, California. An artist of wide range and depth, she earned her BM in Jazz Studies, with a Double Major of Guitar and Vocals, at Cal State University in Sacramento an her Masters degree in Jazz performance under the instruction of Dave…

Since arriving in 2012, guitarist Ricardo Grilli has been rising through the ranks and making quite an impression in New York’s Jazz scene. He has played with world renowned artists such as Chris Potter, Chris Cheek, Mark Turner, Aaron Parks, Joe Martin, Eric Harland, Kendrick Scott, Kevin Hays, Taylor Eigsti among others. He’s also headlined…

Shawn Purcell is a DC based jazz guitarist known for his distinctive blend of traditional and contemporary styles. His playing is marked by virtuosic technique and a deep understanding of jazz language. Purcell has collaborated with a wide range of musicians, showcasing his ability to adapt and innovate within the jazz genre. With his “take…

Canadian born, Brooklyn based guitarist David Blake recently released “Fun House” on CellarLive. The quintet album features 8 originals and 1 standard, performed by Brad Turner, Thad Bailey-Mai, Conrad Good and Bernie Arai. David is currently working a trio album featuring bassist Drew Gress and drummer Ari Hoenig, to be released in 2023. David is…

Lisa Liu is a guitarist based in Brooklyn, NY. She plays gypsy jazz, folk, rock, and solo guitar. Liu is an Artist Ambassador for Santa Cruz Guitar Company, Sadowsky Guitars, and Krivo Pickups. Liu has been published in Acoustic Guitar Magazine and has performed and taught alongside Mimi Fox, Martin Taylor and John Knowles CGP. She is a Teaching Artist at TrueFire and Django and June, and has also been an Artist…

An exceptionally tasteful, rhythmically adept guitarist, composer, and producer, Paul Ricci has spent decades weaving a sophisticated, multicultural sonic world. A graduate of the New England Conservatory under the influence of legends like Jaki Byard and Pat Martino, Ricci has performed globally alongside a “who’s who” of jazz icons, including saxophonist David Liebman, trumpeter Randy…

Pat Kelley was born in Tulsa Oklahoma and began playing the guitar at the age of five. Moving to California in the seventies, he worked many years as a Los Angeles studio guitarist, while also recording eleven albums as leader and touring the world with artists such as George Benson, Natalie Cole, Hubert Laws, Ronnie…

As the guitarist for the premier Air Force Jazz Ensembles  “The Airmen of Note” in Washington, D.C. and the “Falconaires” in Colorado Springs, Colorado, WAYNE WILKINSON performed for Presidents and other dignitaries at venues including the White House, Carnegie Hall as well as major jazz and music festivals. Wayne performs regularly and plays original compositions, traditional and…

Acclaimed seven-string jazz guitarist Ted Ludwig has been a part of the jazz scene in New Orleans since 1997.  Ted earned his Bachelor and Masters Degrees from the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies Program, under the direction of the legendary pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. He received an ASCAP award, the Louis Armstrong award, and…

An exceptionally expressive guitarist, composer, and bandleader based in New England, Mark Kleinhaut has built a distinguished career defined by his lyrical improvisational style and a sophisticated harmonic vocabulary. Known for a warm, fluid acoustic-electric tone that perfectly complements the nuanced voice of the archtop guitar, Kleinhaut has released a series of critically acclaimed albums…

From his early years, playing blues on Chicago’s South Side, to his present multi-faceted career based out of northern Vermont, Paul has earned an underground reputation as a true “musician’s musician”. He has played and recorded with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, Earl Hooker, Lightnin’ Slim, Paul Butterfield, Sam Lay,…

Dr. Wayne E. Goins, University Distinguished Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies at Kansas State University, has performed with such greats as legendary guitarist Kenny Burrell, alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, trumpeter Clark Terry, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, organist Jimmy McGriff and many others. Goins completed his PhD. at The Florida State University, with…

Guitarist Mason Razavi is a mainstay on the SF Bay Area jazz scene His recordings have often featured ambitious original music that has been warmly received, with albums peaking in the top 20 on the jazz radio charts. Razavi has been praised for his “top-tier guitarmanship” (Vintage Guitar Magazine), while his compositions offer “an introspective…

Brad grew up in Pasadena, Ca oblivious to the classic rock era of the 60s until one night  on TV catching Mason Williams playing his guitar instrumental “Classical Gas” on a guitar with fish swimming around inside of it! He then delved into playing, first mostly acoustic finger style and later getting into electric but…

Rafael has established himself as a premier guitarist and composer since his arrival in NYC in 2011. He has performed at renowned venues such as the Blue Note Jazz Club, ShapeShifter Lab, DROM, Shrine World Music, The Bitter End, The Rainbow Room, The Metropolitan Room, 54 Below, Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club, The 55 Bar, The…

Donovan Raitt incorporates percussive techniques, strong melodic hooks, live looping, and improvisation. His musical influences ranging from Rock and Pop to Jazz and Classical music, and his innovative performance techniques combined with an extensive background in improvisational music create a unique sound all his own.

Tim Farrell is a performer, composer, recording artist and educator whose fingerstyle playing and original compositions display an elegant simplicity that celebrates the purity of the acoustic guitar. Tim is a rare kind of musician, with the ability to both entertain an audience and inspire future generations of players. Tim Farrell is one of only…