Michael Hedges, American acoustic guitarist (d. 1997)

I have been listening to Temur tonight, courtesy of YouTube. Anyone that Allan Holdsworth says is amazing is worthy of note, believe me.

[Embedded video from YouTube: Temur Kvitelashvili - 21 Guitars]

He’s about my age, and he is clearly influenced by Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, George Benson, and possibly Al di Meola (as well as a few other maybes — who knows, say  Larry Carlton, or Lee Ritenour — anyway, you get the picture; that’s the genre).

Temur Kvitelashvili is an excellent Jazz Fusion guitarist — but we have loads of them already. He’s not big on effects or trickery, and I have not seen him tap like Malmsteen or Van Halen, but he’s not entirely old school. He can shred a bit — but these days who doesn’t do that?

What makes him different? well, does a bit of singing  — that’s pretty unusual (although he’s no George Benson). I think the main thing he does is traditional Georgian folk music for the electric guitar — that’s different, isn’t it?

The technique is fast — gypsy-like, Django evoked, it can remind you, at times, of di Meola or McLaughlin, but it is not Indian or Mexican/ Spanish/ Moorish; it is more Russian, and possibly more (if I can say this), “Jewish”.

“Tbiliso” is a song about the city, and it is superb as an example of Temur’s work. I like his Hava Nagila..

[Embedded video from YouTube.com]

If you want more, search YouTube or check out his website here: www.temurkvitelashvili.com

§

Top 10 Rock Concerts Of All Time | Guitarist Rock.

Saturday, December 26, 2009
A tone monster is born!
In the beginning, Clinton and I set out to build a cabinet as an addition to my setup. I was interested in adding a cabinet to use with several of my amps, as well as a “tag-along” to use with several trendy low-watt tube heads. Personally, experimentation has always yielded the best results and I mod. anything music related that I can get my hands on so it only seemed natural to step out of the vinyl covered plywood box (no pun intended) and try something unique. Okay….so I know this has been done before by damn near everybody under the sun, but I’m in love. What started out as a weekend project has spawned into a full on venture. http://www.murphycabs.com We’ve spent many late nights discussing, researching, and getting our hands dirty in the shop and we’ve created something that anyone would be proud to show off on stage, in the studio or in their bedroom.

To date, we’ve used everything from Cedar to Walnut to Cherry and the results are more appealing as each build is complete. http://www.murphycabs.com/gallery.htm

Clinton has added his expertise in the woodshop to help create a, not only unique in appearance, but a sound like nothing I’ve heard before. From the dovetailed joints to the inset handles, his attention to detail is everywhere and it shows.
These cabinets provide the mids that I’ve always sought and added depth and a crisp (but not obnoxious) high to my repertoire, and I couldn’t be more pleased. I hope that you’ll find them as entertaining as I have!

Starting with rough stock we cut each board to length and run them through our planner. After planning, the slats are glued together and left to cure (6-8 hours) in a controlled environment. Once dry, the pieces are planned again to uniform thickness and precision dovetailed to ensure the highest and tightest quality jointing possible. Once the joints have dried, any excess glue is sanded free. A completed grill assembly is installed and mounting hardware fixed to the inside of the cabinet. Next, a baffle is cut and speaker mounted and installed into the cabinet. Backs are then fixed and the entire piece is finely sanded. Using proven techniques, the entire work is finished in a controlled environment, free of dust and particulate. After finishing, handles are finished in a separate process, cab-feet, speaker jacks and wiring is installed. All products are tested and carefully prepared for shipping.

We’re slowly but surely stepping away from proper “grill cloth” It’s ugly and useless. We’ve been using designer material from a textiles merchant. To be honest, I’ll never go back to grill cloth. It adds a classy touch to the cabinets while still providing the functionality required.

We offer cabinets in any configuration you can imagine. Get ahold of us, http://www.murphycabs.com/contact.htm, we’ll make whatever you have your heart set on.

We offer free shipping. Order today and you could receive your order for free! Every 100th order is free of charge!

Respectfully,

Kevin Murphy
Owner

jack pryor image

Jack Pryor – Take Me Over – Indie New Musician – Idea Girl Consulting – Linda Randall

Jack Pryor performing Take Me Over at Cosmos Coffee Cafe in La Mesa, CA.

JackPryorMusic youtube channel

I’m enjoying listening to a new artist named Jack Pryor.

This is Jack’s first time being featured on my Entertainment site.

Please visit his youtube channel and leave a comment that you discovered him here on my site.

jack pryor guitar indie music

On December 7, 2009, five guys named Miguel, Clayton, Brandon, Kelvin and Josh, better known as the VIRTUAL FREAKOES, released their debut single, “I Can’t Wait”, a song originally performed by Hilary Duff who actually covered it from Brooke McClymont. The song was recorded in a rush and the video came out on the 10th; it was a moderate hit!

Now is the time for something new, a Christmas song maybe? A Christmas song for sure!

“Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas” – Official Cover
“Have Yourself A Very Merry Christmas”, written by Clayton, the band’s DJ, was only recorded TODAY and its music video took only one take! Another “I Can’t Wait”? Nah! The boys prove they have talent as the song has a dance feel to it and its simple lyrics are all about positivity and the joy of Christmas…

To see the video:

Enjoy and happy holidays everyone!

Sean Buban – Inspiration Emma Watson Is So Beautiful

Here is another lovely song by Sean Buban about Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter Movies.

I love how she takes pictures, she’s a natural model in them.

She should start her own line of lingerie though, it would sell like hotcakes to all ages!

The innocent girl next door look, no wonder all the boys are crazy about her!

emma-watson-underwear

emma-watson-sexy

I think I posted this video on one of my other blogs.

Linda Randall from Idea Girl Consulting would like to present an amazing singer/songwriter – Sean Buban.

She’s Gotta Be Mine Emma Song Written For Emma Watson by Sean Buban

Here’s a cool video by guitarist Sean Buban who wrote this song, and is unsigned.

Lovely pictures of Emma Watson, Hermoine Granger from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter Movies.

I found Sean Buban through youtube and twitter.

svhrcks5150 – Sean’s Youtube channel id.

Johnny Beane – Rockin – New ROCK MUSIC – Linda Randall.

I loved the photos of Johnny playing while this rock n roll guitar solo with drums.

I wish there was a wee bit more bass in it though, then I would have had some binaural beats with it, and that makes people feel good when they listen to your music!

Sean Buban (Emma’s Song) was the one that Tweeted this artist to me.

Thanks Sean for helping us discover yet another star in the making.

WWE RAW Dec 14, 2009

Mark Henry, John Morrison, The Miz, Drew MacIntyre, ECW, WWE Wrestlers at the Slammy Awards, Divas

Sean Buban on youtube (Emma’s Song) did me a favor when he tweeted that I should check out johnnybeane on youtube.

Amazing guitar instrumental here, loved the rich sound of each stroke.

Mark Tremonti

Mark Thomas Tremonti (born April 18, 1974) is an American musician and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist for the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge.

Mark Tremonti was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan. He listened to hard rock and metal like KISS, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Journey and Metallica. At the age of 11, he bought his first guitar. It was a Tara, which was a Gibson Les Paul copy and cost about 25 dollars. Mark then attended one music lesson but decided to quit because the teacher would not teach the style that he wanted, stating, “They were teaching me ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ or something, when I said I wanted to learn Metallica.” Instead, Tremonti learned guitar by ear, tab books, and instructional videos. At 16, Mark and his family moved to Florida, where he began attended high school at Lake Highland Preparatory school. Here, he first met future Creed bandmate Scott Stapp. One of the first songs Mark wrote was called “Yesterday”. Mark played in many bands before his venture into Creed, one of which was known as Night Stalker, and another one known as Wit’s End.

Creed (1995–2004, 2009–present)

After high school, Tremonti went to Clemson University. However, after his first year at Clemson, he transfered to Florida State University. At FSU, he met up with singer Scott Stapp and former guitar player Brian Brasher and started writing music. Contrary to the common belief, Tremonti and Stapp were not friends in high school, they knew of each other but hung out in different crowds. Together, Tremonti, Stapp and Brasher held auditions for a bassist and a drummer that resulted in the selection of Scott Phillips and Brian Marshall. They initially named themselves “Naked Toddler” (from an article title on a press clipping that Tremonti used to carry in his wallet). The band eventually settled on the name “Creed” at Marshall’s suggestion (having previously been in a band called “Maddox Creed”). Creed went on to sell over 30 million records worldwide in seven years. Due to personal issues between band members, Creed split and Alter Bridge was born in 2004.

However, on April 27, 2009, despite Tremonti’s statements that Creed would never reunite, Creed announced its reunion. The band toured in support of the album and released Full Circle on October 27, 2009. There are more solos on the album. Mark has stated that he is “very proud of the solos on the record” before-hand.

Alter Bridge (2004–present)

Since Creed split up, Tremonti has worked with many different guitarists and musicians such as Michael Angelo Batio, Thomas and Ethan Gospodareck, Zach Straley, the band Paradigm Shift, and Fozzy. He took extensive lessons from guitarist Troy Stetina. He stated, “After all Creed achieved professionally, I felt that I needed to refocus on the goals that I had personally. One of those goals was to get back to my rock and roll roots. After Creed took a break, band-mate Scott Phillips and I started to jam together again and realized that we both shared the same vision and were surprisingly anxious to get back out there and start doing it again. ” ^[1]. They reunited with ex-Creed bassist Brian Marshall and recruited former Mayfield Four vocalist Myles Kennedy to form Alter Bridge. The name symbolized going over and into the unknown, and while the new band mates decided collectively on the name for the new project, it was inspired by Tremonti’s youth in Detroit, and eventually, they settled on a moniker named after a real bridge in Detroit located near his childhood home on Alter Road. The children in the neighborhood weren’t allowed to cross the bridge as it led to a bad section of town, and thus to them what lay on the other side was unknown. Since Alter Bridge’s formation, the band has released two studio albums: One Day Remains in 2004 and Blackbird in 2007. A live DVD titled Live from Amsterdam is to be released early next year, as well as a currently untitled third album.

Tremonti’s brother, Michael, is Alter Bridge’s publicist and fan liaison.

In the late 2008, Tremonti released his very first guitar instructional DVD titled The Sound & The Story. The DVD included in-depth lessons by not only Tremonti, but also had guest appearances from Michael Angelo Batio, Rusty Cooley, Troy Stetina, Bill Peck, and Myles Kennedy. The DVD can be purchased through the Fret12 website.

Other work

Tremonti has worked with several artists over the years, since the beginning years with Creed. Most recently was his contribution to the Sevendust album Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow, to which he provided a guitar solo that can be heard on the song “Hope.” Alter Bridge vocalist Myles Kennedy also provided vocals to the song “Sorrow.” Tremonti and Kennedy also appeared on the Fozzy album All That Remains, performing on the songs “The Way I Am” and “Nameless Faceless,” respectively.

Tremonti has also collaborated with comedian Larry the Cable Guy and helped co-produce several songs the 2004 Submersed album In Due Time, including the song “Flicker,” which features Tremonti on guitar. In 2008 he also appeared on Bury Your Dead’s self-titled album, where he performed on the song “Year One,” and on Michael Angelo Batio’s album Hands Without Shadows, performing on the Deep Purple cover “Burn.” He will be appearing on Myles Kennedy’s upcoming solo album in 2010.

Influences

Mark Tremonti’s all time favorite blues player is Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, he has mentioned on several occasions that his favorite modern guitarists are Zakk Wylde and Joe Bonamassa. He is also influenced by Metallica, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Audley Freed, Neal Schon, Slash and other hard rock & metal guitarists and bands. He is known for being good friends with guitar virtuosos like Michael Angelo Batio, Bill Peck, and Rusty Cooley.

Guitars

Mark Tremonti plays his signature Paul Reed Smith Tremonti Model Guitar. For touring, he has 3 or 4 Black, 1 Tribal, and 1 Tiger Eye models that have fixed bridges, while his Charcoal Burst, Black Cherry (24 fret), Black Cherry (22 fret), Blue/White, and Platinum guitars have floating vibrato bridges. He has only one standard made 2007 Tremonti in black cherry. He also has one black model that has only three knobs. He also uses Taylor . acoustic guitars more specifically a 614CE.

He plays with Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks; he told Guitar One magazine,^{[citation needed]} “I decided to play with only that pick for a couple of days, and after that my 1-mm nylon pick felt like a paddle. Now I can’t go back.”

Rig

• Mesa Boogie 4×12 and 2×15 cabinets
• Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier
• Orange amplification has been added to Mark’s repertoire
• 1968 Marshall “Plexi” head
• Morley Mark Tremonti Power Wah
• TC Electronic G-Force effects processor
• Custom Audio Electronics Power Conditioner
• VooDoo Labs Ground Control Pro
• Dunlop EVH Phase 90 (Replaced by T-Rex Phase Shifter, Then replaced By His Signature Phaser from T-Rex)
• T-Rex Mark Tremonti Signature Phase Shifter
• Bogner Uberschall
• Behringer EQ
• Mackie Mixing Board
• Avalon Mic Preamp
• Fender Twin ‘65 Reissues
• Fender Tone King
• Occasionally uses Diezel amps
• Mark told Michael Angelo Batio that “The MAB Over Drive is the best sounding over drive pedal he has ever used, and the one he has got he stole from Michael Angelo and to this day hasnt given it back”^{[citation needed]}
• Klon Centaur overdrive pedal (Replaced by T-Rex MAB Overdrive)
• Planet Waves cables (on the road)

Personal life

• Mark Tremonti currently resides in Orlando, Florida with his wife, Victoria, and their two sons, Austen and Pearson.
• He is close friends with many respected shred guitarists, particularly Aric Town, Michael Angelo Batio, Rusty Cooley and Vinnie Moore.

Source: Wikipedia

Here are the cool scene of him:

This will be the first and last post I dedicate to you..
I’m posting anything and everything that is dedicated to you, or somehow refers to you, and anything I still have left to say. And then I’m done. I’m done whether or not you’ll ever see this. To be honest, I don’t really think I care whether or not you do. I just need to bring these words to life somehow, and I’m hoping they’ll leave me head, and stay out, so that maybe finally, I can let you go and move on. Because the last things you wrote to me, they really stung. I didn’t deserve those words. All I was doing, was trying to get you out of my head. And yes, that may have involved deleting you off of Facebook so that I wouldn’t be tempted to click through your pictures, and see how many stupid girls wrote on your wall.. And yes, I may have done some things that most definitely aren’t my style, but once again that’s your fault, and I hope that that’s the reason you scolded me. And you were absolutely right in doing so, because I think I was only hurting myself in the long run. But it was what I needed to do at the time, because all I wanted to do was stop thinking about you, and stop seeing you everywhere. I hate being up here at school. Anywhere I go I’m reminded of you. I do everything that I can to avoid the places where we would be. I can’t go into your apartment without shedding a tear. I miss you goddamnit. I miss you a lot. And 7 months later it hasn’t gotten any better. You’re also the reason why I’m struggling so much with my grades. I was doing anything possible to not think about you. I chose to party rather than sit home and study. That would mean I would be alone, like now. And being alone would result in my thoughts somehow coming back to you. It just doesn’t end, but you know what? It has to. I was fine without you before. And I’ll find a way to be fine now.

“I gave my phone number to a guy at work today just because he reminded me of you. Every time you cross my mind I think of how different this summer was supposed to be.”

“I try to talk to you, but I don’t know what to say. I am afraid you don’t want me to say anything. So I don’t. But inside of me there are words waiting to come out.And tell you how I feel-like how I miss you. And how I love you despite my broken heart.And how I need you in my life. And especially how much I want you.But those words may forver stay in my heart-locked inside.Sometimes I wonder if there are words locked inside you too… but I’ll never know.”

I feel like I might never stop missing that, or you, or anything about you. Sometimes if I try hard enough, I can still smell you in my clothes. After 7 months, I feel like that’s nearly impossible, but I swear to you that I do. And you know what, I did write pages upon pages to get you out. I sent some of these and you didn’t even acknowledge them. Then again, you never did. You never seemed to appreciate any of my work. I wrote a beautiful story about our first encounter and I had to pry and question you in order to get any sort of feedback. When I was bored and took pictures, you didn’t say anything about those either. But that’s just you. You only said something if it was your own decision. When I came back from a tournament and told you that I needed you to talk to me and fix me, you claimed in a text that you would as soon as I got back home. Did you? Of course not! And rarely were you capable of being cute and adorable. I can about name two! 1. When you shouted down your staircase that you loved me. And I literally thought my knees would buckle from the joy. And 2. When we saw each other for the last time, and you saw how hard I was crying. And about 5 minutes after we said our goodbyes, you texted me to tell me to have a safe drive and that you already missed me. That only made me sob harder. I wanted nothing more than to hate you. And I couldn’t then, and I still can’t now. Even though you told me in that awful message that you’re “glad that that chapter of your life is over.” I still can’t speak poorly of you. Whenever I talk to someone about you, I tell them that you’re a great guy, but that maybe we just weren’t meant to be.

“I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible, and how it can actually ache in places that you didn’t know you had inside you, and it doesn’t matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends, you still go to bed every night going over every detail, and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell, for that brief moment, you could think that you were that happy? And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he’ll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you’ll go somewhere new, and you’ll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again, and little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade.”
- The Holiday

But the thing was, I missed him. Even though I’d never admit it to anyone, even though I was really, really, really trying to go from heartache to happiness, but all I hoped every morning when I arrived at school was that he would be waiting at my locker, ready to fall to his knees and beg to for me to take him back. And I didn’t want that to happen so I could tell him to go to hell. I didn’t want it to happen so I could tell him I wouldn’t take him back if he were the last man on Earth. I wanted it to happen so he would be my boyfriend again.
-The Breakup Bible

And you know what? I absolutely dread the week that you come to visit in Jan/Feb. When Max told me about it, I think my heart stopped beating. I had no idea how to respond. I know that if I can barely handle this all with you across the ocean, that I’ll be a wreck if I happen to see you. I just keep replaying the one night that I sobbed all the way home after we won NCAAs because all I wanted was to have you back, and instead you yelled at me. Luckily enough, I was in no state to have an actual memory of this, but all I know is that I sobbed all the way home, and cried myself to sleep that night. And I cried myself to sleep that whole month that we were apart. I hated my life then. I couldn’t bear seeing you. I pretended to be OK. But no one knows that during practice I would have to run into the bathroom and cry for 5 minutes before I could put a smile back on.  And it hurt so much more that you never even once came to see any of my bouts at NCAAs. When I stop to think about that, I hope that you wear that ring and you think about me. I hope that that sweater I got you for Christmas that became your favorite sweater, and  I saw in your pictures that you still wear, I hope you think about me. And I hope your insides just as much as mine do right now. Because I can’t even look at the things that you gave me without hurting. I packed them all away in a box and put them in my attic at home. I tried bringing your sweatshirt, that I brought with me everywhere last year, to a tournament, but I just couldn’t do it. A big part of me just wanted to leave it in the hotel room and not bring it back with me. But then I knew that along the road I would end up deeply regretting that. So I brought it back with me, that stupid sweatshirt that you gave me, after the first weekend I spent with you. The sweatshirt that will always remind of probably the happiest weekend of my life…

You’re absoltely right blue sign... I just need to remind myself of that..and not forget.

And you magnets/pieces of paper are right too..

And this is goodbye…

Thursday, December 17, 2009

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Petra van Nuis / Andy Brown  voice/guitar duo

Gaetano’s

7637 Madison St.  Forest Park, IL

708-366-4010    No cover, no minimum.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

7:30 pm

Petra van Nuis / Andy Brown  voice/guitar duo

Holiday Jazz Vespers Concert

Lutheran Church of The Resurrection

8450 N. Shermer Rd.  Niles, IL

847-965-8210

Free will offering benefits severely handicapped children at 

Augustana Orphanage . This yearly Christmas Vespers Concert is

always a special event! It is non-denominational and they’ll be playing

a mix of holiday music & jazz. Pastor Bruce Anderson is a

world-class bassist!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Petra van Nuis / Andy Brown Voice/Guitar duo

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Marion Street Grille

189 Marion St.  Oak Park, IL

708-383-1551   No cover, no minimum.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Petra van Nuis Quartet with guitarist Andy Brown,

bassist Doug Hayes and drummer Joe Adamik.

8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

Katerina’s

1920 W. Irving Park Rd.

Chicago, IL   773-348-7592

$8 cover, 2 drink minimum.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Petra van Nuis / Andy Brown Voice/Guitar duo

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Marion Street Grille

189 Marion St.   Oak Park, IL

708-383-1551  No cover, no minimum.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

NEW YEARS EVE!

Petra van Nuis Quartet

with guitarist Andy Brown,

bassist Doug Hayes,

and trumpeter Art Davis

9:00 pm – 1:00 am

Va Pensiero

1566 Oak Ave.  Evanston, IL

847-475-7779   Make reservations early!

 If you are looking for a last minute gift idea with a

personal touch, Petra and Andy’s CD:

 "Far Away Places"

is available for sale at

their gigs and also through CD Baby:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/PetraVanNuis1

1267890-=

The Heroic One "Steve Lukather"

Steve “Luke” Lukather (lahir sebagai Steven Lee Lukather, 21 Oktober 1957 di San Fernando Valley, California, Amerika Serikat) adalah gitaris sekaligus penyanyi, penulis lagu, penulis aransemen, dan produser yang pernah menerima penghargaan Grammy Award. Selain dikenal dengan karyanya sebagai anggota Toto, ia juga bekerja di studio rekaman sebagai gitaris, menulis lagu dan aransemen, serta membantu proses rekaman ratusan album milik berbagai musisi lain.

Sepanjang dekade 1970-an dan 1980-an, Steve Lukather bersama Michael Landau, bekas teman sekolahnya di SMA merupakan gitaris yang paling banyak dicari di kawasan Los Angeles untuk dipekerjakan sebagai musisi studio. Alasannya, Lukather mampu meniru gaya permainan berbagai gitaris sesuai permintaan pihak studio.

Di antara artis-artis yang pernah menggunakan jasa Steve Lukather, adalah: Michael Jackson (“Beat It” dan “Human Nature” yang ditulis dengan bantuan Steve Porcaro dari Toto), Don Henley (“Dirty Laundry“), Lionel Richie (“Running with the Night“), Randy Crawford (“You Might Need Somebody“),

dan Richard Marx (Repeat Offender). Selain bekerja di studio, Lukather juga menulis lagu-lagu untuk penyanyi seperti Olivia Newton-John (Physical), George Benson (“Turn Your Love Around“), dan The Tubes (“She’s A Beauty” serta “Talk To Ya Later”).

Ketika tidak sedang bekerja untuk Toto, Lukather sering bermain dalam jam session bersama musisi studio lain di El Grupo, ikut pertunjukan keliling dengan berbagai musisi seperti Edgar Winter dan Larry Carlton.

Pada tahun 1981, Lukather mengisi posisi Larry Carlton dan tampil dalam rekaman album Live at the Baked Potatoe bersama Greg Matheison. Album tersebut dibuat dengan teknik rekaman 8 trek dan mengetengahkan Jeff Porcaro pada drum serta Pops Powell pada bass.

Pada tahun 1985, Steve Lukather merilisi video pelajaran bermain gitar berjudul “Star Licks”. Di dalamnya berisi berbagai teknik dan permainan gitar solo dengan mengambil lagu-lagu dari kelima album studio Toto yang

pertama sebagai contoh. Di tahun 2005, video tersebut dirilis kembali dalam bentuk DVD.

Selanjutnya pada tahun 1989, Lukather membantu rekaman album berirama fusion berjudul Los Lobotomys. Album ini direkam secara live dan

menampilkan rekan-rekan sesama musisi studio seperti Joe Sample (The Crusaders), Vinnie Colauita (Sting), dan David Garfield pada kibor.

Pada tahun 1997, Lukather ikut serta dalam proyek pimpinan David Garfield yang diberi nama Tribute To Jeff. Album ini secara khusus dibuat untuk mengenang pemain drum Toto, Jeffrey Porcaro yang telah meninggal dunia.

Semua musisi rekan Jeff Porcaro ikut serta dalam proyek album ini, termasuk Eddie Van Halen dan Boz Scaggs. Album Tribute To Jeff dirilis kembali tahun 2005 dengan bonus 2 lagu ekstra.

Bersama Larry Carlton, Lukather merekam album No Substitutions yang mendapat penghargaan Grammy. Pada tahun 2001, ia membantu pemain kibor Derek Sherinian sewaktu merekam album Inertia. Album-album

Sherinian selanjutnya, Black Utopia (2003) dan Mythology (2004) juga dibantu Steve Lukather.

Dipanggil akrab sebagai “Luke,” Steve Lukather masih meneruskan karier bermusik sebagai anggota Toto, sekaligus aktif sebagai musisi studio dan produser.

Daftar album

• 1989 Los Lobotomys
• 1989 Lukather
• 1994 Candyman
• 1996 Live Around the U.S.A bersama Meat Loaf (Tommy Gun)
• 1997 Luke
• 2001 No substitutions bersama Larry Carlton
• 2000 Doves of Fire live (bootleg)
• 2003 Santamental
• 2005 El Grupo Live

Penghargaan Grammy

• 1982 – Lagu R&B Terbaik: Steve Lukather, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin (untuk George Benson) – Turn your Love Around.
• 1982 – Produser Terbaik, kategori Non-Classical: Toto – Album Toto IV.
• 1982 – Album Terbaik: Toto – Toto IV.
• 1982 – Rekaman Terbaik: Toto – Rosanna.
• 2001 – Album Pop Instrumental Terbaik: Larry Carlton & Steve Lukather – No substitutions, live in Osaka.

Sumber: Wikipedia berbahasa Indonesia

Dari uraian dan ulasan diatas, tidak ada orang yang mampu menyangkal kehebatan Steve sebagai sosok gitaris yang dikultuskan menjadi kiblat para gitaris dunia. Maka pantaslah jika kita menyebutnya “Sang Pahlawan Gitar”.

Berikut cuplikan ketika Steve Lukather sedang bermain gitar:

Rock and Blues guitar master

Richie Kotzen (born February 3, 1970 in Reading, Pennsylvania) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by New York City band KISS to learn the electric guitar. Relentlessly developing chops and his own unique voice on the guitar, he started his career in a band named Arthurs Museum. Kotzen was eventually discovered by Shrapnel Records‘ Mike Varney, and he recorded his first album by the age of 19. He created the video Rock Chops for REH video in 1989, highlighting many of his formative techniques, including using wide-intervals and fluid sweeping.

In 1991, Kotzen made his big break when he joined the rock band Poison atage 21, co-writing and performing on the album Native Tongue. This album produced two top twenty singles which Richie co-wrote, “Stand” and “Until You Suffer Some (Fire & Ice)“. In 1999 Kotzen replaced Paul Gilbert as guitarist in the mainstream rock band Mr. Big. Kotzen maintained the band’s enormous success, performing on the Mr. Big record Get Over It, which sold more than 175,000 copies in its first two weeks in Japan, eventually reaching platinum status. Kotzen also contributed guitars to Mr. Big’s subsequent release Actual Size. The record included the Kotzen song Shine, which debuted at number one on Japanese radio charts. Following the disbanding of Mr. Big, Kotzen released the solo album Change, in 2003. The title track, and the song Get A Life were featured in TV commercials throughout Japan.

In 2002 Kotzen bought a commercial building in Los Angeles and established a recording Studio/Production company. He has since been producing acclaimed solo albums and

collaborating with various figures in rock, jazz, and fusion including jazz legend Stanley Clarke.

In mid 2006 Kotzen was the opening act in Japan for the Rolling Stones on their Bigger Bang tour.

He has also covered various songs from the Gundam franchise including Soldiers of Sorrow, The Beginning, The Winner, Blue Star, and Fly! Gundam.

Richie has a unique^{[citation needed]} style, which he has described as a mix of rock, blues, jazz, fusion, and soul music. Of his albums, he claims he is most proud of Vertú. Kotzen utilizes a heavy amount of legato and sweeping in his playing.

Richie Kotzen has used Fender electric guitars for most of his career. His most notable instruments are his signature model Telecasters and Stratocasters, as well as other custom made models. Currently, there are two Richie Kotzen signature models, made by Fender Japan – a Stratocaster (STR-145RK) and a Telecaster (TLR-155RK). Both guitars feature ash bodies with flame laminated maple caps, maple necks and one piece maple fretboards with abalone dot inlays and 22 super jumbo frets. The Telecaster model features a DiMarzio Chopper T pickup in the

bridge position (single spaced humbucker) and a DiMarzio Twang King in the neck position. The Stratocaster is fit with three custom made DiMarzio single coil pickups.

At the beginning of his career, Richie Kotzen used Ibanez guitars and Laney amplifiers, later moving on to Fender guitars and Marshall amplifiers in the early 1990s. He used Marshall Super Lead, JCM800 and JCM900 models.He also used Yamaha DG Series amps in the late 90’s.

Yamaha DG1000 preamp with Marshall EL34 100/100 poweramp, and Yamaha DG130H, Yamaha DG100 combo etc.

In 2005, Cornford Amplification issued a Richie Kotzen signature model – RK100, a single channel tube amp head developed and designed in collaboration with Kotzen to suit his

expansive playing style. There is also a matching signature model speaker cabinet, equipped with four Celestion Vintage 30 12″ speakers. Both the amplifier head and the speaker cabinet are the only Cornford models fit with Kotzen-style black tolex covering.

Kotzen prefers not to use many pedals (effects in general) when playing live. However, when not playing with the Cornford, he’s been using over the years several versions of Sobbat Drivebraker and Glowvibe pedals on top of marshall amps. He also uses reverb and delay effects of his signature series Zoom G2R effects processor, which is connected in the effects loop of the

amplifier.

Solo Albums

• (1989) Richie Kotzen
• (1990) Fever Dream
• (1991) Electric Joy
• (1994) Mother Head’s Family Reunion
• (1995) The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
• (1996) Wave Of Emotion
• (1996) Times Gonna Tell (EP)
• (1997) Something To Say
• (1998) What Is
• (1999) Break It All Down
• (1999) Bi-Polar Blues
• (2001) Slow
• (2003) Change
• (2003) Acoustic Cuts
• (2004) Get Up
• (2004) The Best Of Richie Kotzen
• (2005) Ai Senshi ZxR (Music from the animation series Gundam)
• (2006) Into The Black
• (2006) Instrumental Collection: The Shrapnel Years
• (2007) Return Of The Mother Head’s Family Reunion (Japan & Europe)
• (2007) Go Faster (US only)
• (2008) Live In São Paulo
• (2009) Peace Sign

With Greg Howe

• (1995) Tilt
• (1997) Project

Poison

• (1993) Native Tongue

Mr. Big

• (1999) Get Over It
• (2000) Deep Cuts
• (2001) Actual Size
• (2002) In Japan
• (2004) Influences & Connections – Vol. 1

Vertú

• (1999) Vertú (project with Stanley Clarke and Lenny White)

Forty Deuce

• (2005) Nothing to Lose

Wilson Hawk

• (2009) The Road

Collaborations

• (1996) Sticky Wicked (with TM Stevens)
• (1996) Ground Zero (with TM Stevens)
• (1996) Only You (with TM Stevens)
• (1999) Not So Innocent (with Jesse’s Powertrip)
• (2000) Mikazuki in Rock (with Mikazuki Tekkodan)
• (2000) Submarine (with Gregg Bissonette)
• (2003) All That I’d Be (with Steve Saluto)
• (2004) Nowhere To Go (with Takayoshi Omura)
• (2006) Rough Beat (with Steve Saluto)
• (2006) Avalon (with Richie Zito)
• (2006) Erotic Cakes (with Guthrie Govan)
• (2007) Live For Tomorrow (with Marco Mendoza)

Various artists albums

• (1991) Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey: Music from the Motion Picture
• (1992) L.A. Blues Authority-”L.A. Blues Authority”
• (1992) The Guitars That Rule The World – Vol. 1
• (1994) L.A. Blues Authority Volume V: Cream Of The Crop
• (1996) Crossfire – (A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• (2000) Bat Head Soup: A Tribute to Ozzy
• (2001) Stone Cold Queen: A Tribute to Queen
• (2002) One Way Street: A Tribute To Aerosmith CD
• (2002) An All Star Lineup Performing The Songs Of Pink Floyd
• (2004) Spirit Lives On: The Music Of Jimi Hendrix Revisited Vol. 1
• (2005) Numbers From The Beast – An All Stars Salute To Iron Maiden

Videography

• (1989) Rock Chops
• (1993) 7 Days Live (Live shot concert with Poison)(re-released 2006)
• (1994) Mother Head’s family Reunion (Videoclip from the Mother Head’s family Reunion Album)
• (1996) Wave of Emotion (Videoclip from the Wave of Emotion Album)
• (1997) Something To Say (Videoclip from the Something To Say Album)
• (2001) Don’t Wanna Lie (Videoclip from the Slow Album)
• (2001) Shine (Videoclip from Mr. Big’s Actual Size Album)
• (2002) Hi-Tech Rock Guitar
• (2005) Live In South America
• (2008) Chase It (Videoclip from the R.O.T.M.F.R. Album)
• (2008) Bootlegged in Brazil
• (2009) Everything Good (Videoclip from Wilson Hawk ‘The Road’ Album)
• (2009) Paying Dues (Videoclip from ‘Peace Sign’ Album filmed by Kotzen’s daughter at home)

Source: Wikipedia

Nowadays, many people call him as the “Second” Jason Becker. Anyway, you may agree or disagree of the statement after watching these videos of his nice playing:

So, how do you think about his dancing finger? Can we call him as the “Second” Jason Becker? You decide…

Wow, it’s been awhile since my last post. I’ve been super busy with work lately and…..ehem….playing WOW

For some of you who’ve been following up with me on my blog, I apologize for the 1 month hiatus. I know it’s has been weeks passed my dateline, and my brother has been calling me up from back home, complaining my blog is not updated. Sweet of him to actually check my blog everyday..LOL…DumbASS!! and i love you for that BRO!

Well now! What is this post about this time?…READ ON!

I met up with Kuching local indie band Evenstarr last Saturday and hung out with them for the whole evening.

Got together with the guys at TRAXXfm’s studio in MaTic at Jalan Ampang as they were having an interview session on a show called ALTERNATION with DJ Fad Da Dilly ‘O. After the interview session, Gary suggested for all of us to go for a drinking session as all of us kept saying “Haus tok“.

With grinning faces, all of us agreed to Gary’s suggestion and head off to Changkat Bukit Bintang.

**”Haus” in Bahasa Malaysia means thirsty. In the Kuching (Sarawak) local slang of Bahasa Malaysia, “Haus tok” is a simplified form of statement from “Aku haus tok” which means “I am thirsty” and “Haus tok” is a common statement used to inform someone in a joking manner that you longed to quench your thirst with alcohol..the word “Sadong” in the title means “serving drinks” in the Iban language but in commonly used as a term for a drinking session by the locals so the title means SERVING DRINKS WITH EVENSTARR.. (Hope I got the explanation straight..forgive me if it’s not clear enough and please correct me if I’m wrong).

Well, after we ordered a few couple pints of beers,we were down chatting and cracking up jokes..

The guys (all hailing from Kuching in Sarawak) were in Kuala Lumpur for many different reasons. Sam (Drummer), was in KL to record some of his drum routines as a freelance. Silas (Vocals) was here working on big event for his fulltime job and as for Gary (Guitarist) and Clement (Guitarist), both are currently based in KL. Jaynsen (Bassist) couldn’t make it to KL with Silas and Sam due to personal reasons. I knew the guys from way back when the band was not yet known as Evenstarr. Back then I was a close friend to another band which Sam was previously in, so we got to hangout once or twice through the many gigs happening in Kuching back then. I also knew Evenstarr’s ex-drummer Melvin whom I used to do my internship training with during my college years.

It was great to have the guys from back home hanging out talking in our Kuching slangs. The guys were funny as usual (especially Silas) cracking up jokes every now and then. After the first round of beer and a meal, Silas and Gary decided to change our drinking session spot to another bar just around the corner.

The drinking session continued as jugs of beer kept coming to our table.

After an hour, both Gary and Clement invited their friends over to join us. One of Clement’s friend, Andreas, interestingly enough was an old ex-classmate of mine way back when I was still living in Miri, Sarawak. The world is a small place indeed.

After a few rounds of beer, we end up laughing our ass off playing silly card games. I left and retired home after checking the time on my handphone which was around 12.30am.

Anyways, I had a blast with the guys from Evenstarr and looking forward to catch up with them again. The guys had recently released their latest single “Lies – featuring Melina Wiliam“. Awesome song and great lyrics. No words of a complete new album as of yet but for all Evenstarr fans or if you never heard of them and is interested to find out, you can check out the band and listen to their new single at these links:

• Evenstarr on Facebook : EvenstarrKch
• Evestrarr on MySpace
• Evenstarr on ChannelV Amp

To Evenstarr…Guys, I owe you a few round of beers. :-p

Artist: Jeff Healey
Release: Mess of Blues
Year: 2008
Genre: Blues Rock
Chatham Connection: Guitarist Dan Noordermeer is from Chatham.

May 2009: Jeff Healey’s “Mess of Blues” wins Rock Blues Album Of The Year at the 30th Annual Blues Awards in Memphis, TN THE BLUES FOUNDATION.

2009 JUNO AWARDS : “Mess of Blues” Nominated for “Blues Album Of The Year”

  The band continues to perform and keeping Jeff’s music alive at festivals throughout the world.
Touring worldwide with Jeff Healey since 2002 Dave Murphy, Dan Nordermeer, Alec Fraser, & Al Webster recorded his final album in London England & Toronto Canada entitled “Mess of Blues”.

Tracks:
01. I’m Torn Down,  02. How Blue Can You Get  03. Sugar Sweet  04. Jambalaya  05. The Weight  06. Mess O’ Blues  07. It’s Only Money  08. Like A Hurricane  09. Sittin’ On Top Of The World 10. Shake, Ratte And Roll

About Dan: Guitarist extraordinaire Dan Noordermeer has also been performing in the “Dave Murphy Band” for almost a decade, and continues to dazzle audiences with his formidable talents. Originally from Chatham, Dan now resides in Hamilton. Dan is known for his Samson-like mane of hair and his wicked sense of humour. Unlikely as it seems, Dan was a full time country musician for many years before joining the band. But for those familiar with his playing it’s no surprise, since he has an uncanny ability to play every style of music with incredible authenticity, passion and virtuosity. www.davemurphyband.com

Notes: Mess of Blues contains ten cuts, all of them chosen by Healey from what he considered “audience favorites,” rather than his own or his fine band’s preferred tunes. Four of these were recorded in front of audiences at the Islington Academy in London and, appropriately enough, at Healey’s Roadhouse (his club) in Toronto. The other six were cut at Studio 92 in Canada by Norm Barker and Richard Uglow.

Click on video below to watch


If video does not appear, watch it here.

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