This is a follow-up to yesterdays post about the new album coming from Slash.

Check out these 2 videos – 12 minutes of studio footage:

Slash

Slash is widely considered one of the greatest rock guitar players of all time. He has received countless accolades and awards including a 2007 star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside his idols Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix.

“SLASH”, his new self-titled album, is scheduled for release in April and will feature Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Rocco DeLuca, Fergie, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Kid Rock, Lemmy Kilmeister, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Duff McKagan, M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop and Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother.

How’s that for a list of jam buddies to call on!

“The idea was really simple in the beginning,” said Slash. “These are all artists I wanted to work with – that I thought it would be amazing to do something creative and collaborative. And I was so impressed with what everyone brought to the table for the project. They were all so committed to doing a good job. And we had a lot of fun making these songs.” Slash did the bulk of the songwriting and handpicked the guest artist for each track.

“Slash” was produced by Eric Valentine and was completed with the rhythm section of bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails).

The album will be released through EMI Label Services.

Track Listing:

01. Ghost (with Ian Astbury)
02. Beautiful Dangerous (with Fergie)
03. Nothing To Say (with M Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold)
04. Crucify The Dead (with Ozzy Osbourne)
05. Promise (with Chris Cornell)
06. By The Sword (with Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother)
07. Doctor Alibi (with Lemmy Kilmeister)
08. Saint Is A Sinner Too (with Rocco De Luca)
09. Watch This (with Dave Grohl/Duff McKagan)
10. I Hold On (with Kid Rock)
11. Gotten (with Adam Levine)
12. We’re All Gonna Die (with Iggy Pop)
13. Starlight (with Myles Kennedy)

[Click the Arrow to play "Starlight" by Slash with Myles Kennedy"]

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The new release is available for pre-order now at Amazon.com and on iTunes.

OK, I admit it. I am certified Bona-holic.

Consider this my public admission that I have no control over my Bona-diction. That’s step one in the twelve-step program and I feel so much better now that the truth is out.

I have said it before and I will say it again: Joe Bonamassa is the King of modern day blues.

Nobody can touch this guy live. Don’t misunderstand me – there are dozens of quality players in the “top 5 percent of modern day blues guitarists,” but Joe is in 1st position and he is starting to pull away.

Secretariat won the 1973 Belmont Stakes by 31 lengths over the best of the rest. I believe we are witnessing the same type of excellence…and separation.

Joe Bonamassa in Phoenix, 3-19-10, Photo by GuitarDaddy

I had the pleasure of being invited to meet Joe in person last Friday night before the show.

There were 6 of us in the private audience (just a few less than the 1,250 who attended the concert later that evening) including 3 guests of mine (2 who were seeing Joe live for the first time).

The meeting was arranged in the lobby of the Orpheum Theater. We spoke about the “BUZZ”, my review of Black Rock, how the Royal Albert Hall show came to be and how Joe pulled off the score-of-a-lifetime by having Eric Clapton join him on stage that night in London.

Our talk continued as Joe shared that $250,000 was on the line that night (to make the DVD) and the pressure he felt to not miss a note, his view on amps, watts and how he produces the ultimate tone. He surprised us by leaking some news about another new signature guitar that is coming very soon… (I will let Joe make that announcement himself). We covered a lot of ground in 25 minutes.

All in all, he was gracious and relaxed. I was in awe and humbled to have a private audience with the 2010 Blues God. I thanked Joe for taking time to meet and talk with us and for letting us get a little closer to the man with the golden GoldTop.

The concert started at EXACTLY 8:00pm as Joe walked out with the double neck strapped over his tailored suit (and sneakers). I took the picture you see from my front row seat in the Orpheum where the sound was dialed in at a perfect 10.

I was mesmerized for the entire 135 minute performance that included 9 guitar changes and enough electric guitar mastery to fill my hungry soul and yet still leave me craving for more — all because the taste was so good.

Joe mixed up the set by playing many of his classic staples like “If Heartaches Were Nickles,” “Blues Deluxe” and “Slow Gin” while also introducing the audience to a taste of the new Black Rock CD with “Blue and Evil” and “Bird on a Wire.” The guy sitting next to me screamed “Mountain Time!” after every song until Joe finally looked at him and said, “Be patient!” Those close enough to catch it had a good laugh. Mountain Time came along 30 minutes later.

Joe’s band was spot-on the entire night. Bogie Bowles is one of the most under-rated drummers on tour. He understands the dynamics of every song and ripped it all night long. Carmine Rojas sported an eye-patch from his recent eye-surgery and played his amazing bass staying seated in front of Bogie. Great to see the recovery is going well and he has not had to miss the tour. Rick Melick adds the keyboard flair that fills, rounds and compliments each track. While the rumors are all true about Joe and the “new band,” I certainly hope he does not abandon these guys. They are a tight group and as a quad, they are capable of creating consistent blues magic.

The lone acoustic song of the evening, “Woke up Dreaming,” gave the band members a rest while Joe showed that his skills go far beyond playing electric riffs. Playing completely alone, Joe showcased his ability to combine a myriad of complicated scale patterns and arpeggios at warp speed all while simulating the percussive beat on the bass strings. It is something every guitar player needs to see — even if only once. I have seen it a dozen times and am still blown away that the human fingers can move that fast.

When the “Flying V” came out I knew I was in for a full dose of Bona-Rock as Joe blasted out his rendition of the solo from Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed & Confused,” perfectly integrated into his own wicked version of “Just Got Paid”. He raised the “V” high in the air at the end – reminiscent of the conclusion at Royal Albert Hall.

While I realized that the night was over, I knew the memories would be eternal.

If Joe Bonamassa is within 3-States of where you live, DON’T MISS THE SHOW.

Check out his tour schedule by CLICKING HERE.

Joe Bonamassa With Some Of His Guitars

Joe Bonamassa (photo courtesy of Robert Knight)

There’s no way else to say it: The man and his music are explosive.

Joe Bonamassa can make his guitar scream and then weep like none other I have ever heard.

Joe will be playing in Phoenix Friday night and I was lucky enough to score front row seats as well as an invite to a pre-show “meet and greet”. Can you say pumped-up?

I have been following the set lists for Joe’s recent tour stops and (as expected) he is incorporating several songs from the brand new “Black Rock” album that officially releases next week. 

I am looking forward to hearing the live rendition of one of my new favorites “Blue and Evil” – a track destined to be a mega-hit.

[Click the Arrow to play the Studio Version of "Blue and Evil"]

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While I love the new stuff, I also hope Joe takes 8 minutes and 31 seconds to treat us to the same wicked version of “Blues Deluxe” that he did in Portland 2 weeks ago.

Check out the blues master himself at work in this VIDEO:

It’s St. Patricks Day and my daughter has already pinched me because I forgot to wear something green. So I promised her I would add something green to TheGuitarBuzz.

Grant Green, "The Complete Quartets" Album Cover

Rather than re-posting a picture of one of the million green guitar photos on the web, I thought it would be more appropriate to honor the late Grant Green, who was a jazz guitarist and composer. The world lost Grant in 1979 when he was only 43.

Grant’s extensive foundation in R&B was combined with a mastery of bebop and simplicity that put expressiveness ahead of technical expertise. He was a superb blues interpreter, and his later material was predominantly blues and R&B, though he was also a wondrous ballad and standards soloist as well.

Recording prolifically and almost exclusively for Blue Note Records, Green performed well in “Soul Jazz” and “Latin Jazz” genres throughout his career.

Critics Michael Erlewine and Ron Wynn wrote that Green was “a severely underrated player during his lifetime and one of the great unsung heroes of jazz guitar…Green’s playing is immediately recognizable — perhaps more than any other guitarist.”

Critic Dave Hunter described his sound as “loose, slightly bluesy and righteously groovy”.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio

Congratulations to ABBA, Jimmy Cliff, Genesis, The Hollies and the Stooges who will be all be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

This honor is given out each year to inductees selected by a voting committee from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.

Artists are eligible to be inducted 25 years after their first recording is released, so it is easily explained why some of our favorite bands are not yet there.

But what is utterly inexcusable to me is the growing list of artists who get passed over each year, despite record sales, reputation in the industry and lobbying from fans around the world.

Here are some of the bands who are continually passed over:

• KISS
• The Cure
• Chicago
• Rush
• Alice Cooper
• The Moody Blues
• E.L.O.
• Cheap Trick
• Bad Company
• Peter Frampton
• Heart
• T-Rex
• Bon Jovi
• Journey
• Foreigner

In my opinion, the “voting committee” belongs in the “Hall of Shame” for these omissions…

The Experience Hendrix concert last Sunday night was off the charts!

Any time you can see Joe Satriani, Billy Cox, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ernie Isley, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rosas, Doyle Bramhall II, Hubert Sumlin and Jonny Lang for the price of one concert ticket – how can you lose?

I was a little too far from the stage to capture a quality video with my “Flip” camera but a quick search of YouTube allowed me to relive my personal favorite performance of the night. Check out Jonny Lang and his red-hot version of Jimi Hendrix’ FIRE.

Note: This video was from Las Vegas show which was a couple of days before the Phoenix show, but the quality and sound are very good — and this is exactly how I remember them performing it in Phoenix!

I already know what many of you are saying…”Who is Crystal Bowersox?”

Crystal Bowersox is one of American Idol’s Season #9 frontrunner girls. She is certainly my favorite.

One reviewer wrote : The 23-year-old former farmgirl and single mom has a headful of dreads, a chinful of facial piercings, and a mouthful of sandpaper-and-velvet.

She’s been strumming and singing since the age of 10 and cites trailblazing blues women like Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, and Sista Otis as her own musical influrnces. Her most notable “idol” might be Melissa Etheridge–as evidenced by the “Melissa” autograph on the body of her acoustic guitar.

She looks destined to make the “Top 12″ — especially after her soulful performance last night of “Give Me One Reason”.
(video below)

I noticed that her electric guitar has not been signed. Looks like a great place for a “GuitarDaddy” autograph! Hey Crystal, is that space for sale?

It’s being called “The Ultimate Jason Mraz Guitar Giveaway”

Taylor Guitars, Jason Mraz & Spin Magazine are giving you a chance to win Jason Mraz’s Signature Model guitar! The guitar was played and signed by Jason himself at the 2010 NAMM show. You can watch the video of the performance below or by CLICKING HERE.

The Grand Prize Winner will also receive a Taylor Guitars prize pack, which includes a t-shirt, hat, digital tuner and guitar strap, plus an autographed copy of Jason’s latest release, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., and a one-year subscription to SPIN magazine!

After you enter, you have the option to recruit three Facebook friends to get in on the prizes. If you win, each friend wins a Baby Taylor guitar signed by Jason and a Taylor Guitars prize pack!

Sounds Like nothing to lose on this one… like they say, “You can’t win if you don’t enter”. CLICK HERE for the entry form.

MUSIC LESSONS: Take guitar lessons to learn how to play guitar like a pro!

… And GuitarDaddy will be there (Thanks AndrewZ) !

The Experience Hendrix Tour opened on 3/4/2010 in Santa Barbara, Ca and stops in Phoenix on Sunday night.

It features Joe Satriani, Billy Cox of Gypsys and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sacred Steel featuring Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Ernie Isley, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas from Los Lobos, Doyle Bramhall II, Living Colour, Legendary Howlin’ Wolf guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble performing music written by and associated with Jimi Hendrix.

The Experience Hendrix Tour is presented by Experience Hendrix, LLC, the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. “Al” Hendrix, Jimi’s father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Earlier this year, Sony Music Entertainment’s Legacy Division and Experience Hendrix entered into a worldwide catalog licensing venture to make all of Jimi’s extraordinary music, including classic albums, never before heard archive recordings, and filmed concerts available through all forms of media.

Launching on the west coast, the month-long tour will bring the troupe of players, each a headliner in his or her own right, to concert venues in major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta.