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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Tom Ribbecke was born in Brookyln, New York Tom attended NYU Syracuse University Newhouse School of Communications and earned a BFA in Music and a BA in communications. He relocated to San Francisco in the early 70’s and opened his first lutherie shop in the Mission district. He is one of the premier archtop builders…
Philadelphia-based luthier Bill Comins began playing guitar at an early age, eventually going on to study jazz guitar at Temple University. His initial career as a working guitarist and private instructor led to a lifelong pursuit of exploring the intricacies of designing and building guitars with a special interest in archtop guitars. Guided by the…
Over the last 30 years, I’ve built my fair share of instruments. Each instrument has given me an opportunity to hone my craft and expand my skillset. Building completely unique instruments without any set models or guidelines has been challenging, but it has allowed me to offer something that most other manufacturers cannot: complete control over…
I was given my first guitar at the age of 13, and eventually I needed it set up. I brought it to Doug Proper, who initiated my interest in the world of working on guitars, not just playing them. He advised me to look for a course if I was serious in my desire to…