I have been a Ronnie Earl fan for a long, long time.

I had the opportunity to meet him personally and hang out backstage before a concert a few years ago. He is a gracious man who understands the value of giving to others.

Ronnie Earl at The Narrows

For those who do not know, Ronnie is now in his mid-50s and has been part of the blues music scene for many years.

Deeply inspired by Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker and Otis Rush, he started to play guitar in the 1970′s. He left the first major group he worked with in 1988, and moved on to build a solo career with his own band, The Broadcasters.

Along the way, he went on to tour the world with Santana, sometimes playing for audiences of as many as 40,000 people.

Recent years, however, found his career sidelined by a variety of health problems, which are thankfully, today, under control. When he says he’s feeling fine, he is, thanks, but the idea of touring again is as far from his mind as it can be.

“I did that for more than 25 years,” he says, “and nothing is better than one’s own home and one’s own family and friends. It makes me feel grounded. I have a wonderful wife, I’m close to our church, I live in the country and I want to be in my own home, every day.”

These days Ronnie is healthy, happily married and playing with the Broadcasters in the New England area and if you are fortunate to live in that area you still have a chance to see one of the finest blues guitar players — ever.

Visit Ronnie’s web site and follow his tour schedule by CLICKING HERE.

The video below was posted a few days ago on YouTube (thank you ZigBlues) from a concert Ronnie played last month at The Narrows in Fall River, MA.

On that night, Ronnie invited 16 year old guitarist Julie Melucci to join him on stage for a blues jam she will never forget!

My favorite part of the video comes at 5:30 when Ronnie motions that he is going to step back and let Julie showcase her chops!

By the way, a new recording from the Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters titled: “Spread the Love” is set to be released on August 24th, 2010 by Stoney Plains Records. Stay tuned to TheGuitarBuzz.com for more details and a full review as soon as the CD becomes available.

T-Bone Walker (born Aaron Joseph Walker) was born on this day in 1910.

T-Bone was a blues guitarist and one of the pioneers of the electric guitar. His electric guitar solos were some of the first heard on blues recordings.

Most of T-Bone’s music was recorded from 1946–1948, including “Stormy Monday” which he recorded in 1947. He followed with “T-Bone Shuffle” and “Let Your Hair Down, Baby”, both considered blues classics.

Jimi Hendrix referred to T-Bone as his childhood hero.

T-Bone was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Happy 100th Birthday T-Bone!

A very wise man told me last week that “copying” is not “artistry” and I have not been able to get that thought out of my mind.

The context of our conversation was about photography and painting (not guitar playing).

He was making a reference to how he felt about someone who had the ability to look at a photograph of a famous painting and reproduce it on canvas with oil colors. It was a friendly and somewhat spirited discussion that left me thinking:

If I can “copy” Eric Clapton’s guitar licks, does that make me a “guitar artist”?

It’s certainly a debatable thought and one that we surely will not all agree on. There are thousands upon thousands of guitar “copiers” in the world. I am referring to those who have the ability to sound like their personal favorite guitar player as a result of studying, practicing and memorizing their licks.

They obviously have the ability…but does that make them an “artist”?

I am going to take the controversial position that artistry happens when someone creates a new sound, a new song, a new feeling, a new emotion, a new musical vibe or perhaps…in the case of the video below..a new way to play the guitar.

I realize that tapping and lap-style playing have been around for a long, long time but I must admit that I have not seen this level of acoustic mastery and artistry — ever.

Watch the Video:

 
Read more…

The world lost one of the all-time great bluesmen on December 21, 1992. He was born on April 25, 1923 (“Under a Bad Sign” of course!) and world have turned 87 today. Oh how I wish Albert was still with us!

Albert King Gravesite in Memphis

Albert was known as one of the “Three Kings of the Blues Guitar”, along with B. B. King and Freddie King. He was a large man, 6′ 4″, 250 lbs, with incredibly large hands that were perfect for playing the guitar.

Like so many other blues guitar players, Albert began singing with a family gospel group at a church when he was just a young boy. He was influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson.

King was a left-handed “upside-down/backwards” guitarist meaning that while he was left-handed, he usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. The electric guitar (specifically the Gibson Flying V, which he named “Lucy”) was his signature instrument. In later years he played a custom-made Flying V that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed. He also used very unorthodox tunings, often tuning as low as C — to allow him to make massive string bends.

This video is from a LIVE recording in the mid-1980′s titled “Blues Legends: Albert King, Live in Sweden” and the DVD can still found on eBay…usually under $10 bucks. If you love the blues, you should buy one of these while you can. What I LOVE about this clip is the interview and the open and candid answers that Albert gave. For a big man, he had an even bigger heart. He loved his fans and he loved the blues. His music lives on in me — which is the purest way to measure one’s impact on people’s lives.

I miss you Albert – Happy Birthday!

One more thing… You can download a BACKING TRACK to Albert King’s “Born Under A Bad Sign” by CLICKING HERE.

I didn’t say I could PLAY like Jeff Beck, but after reading some of his comments in a recent interview with the U.K.’s Daily Telegraph, I realized that I sure do THINK like Jeff Beck.

Jeff Beck (Getty Images)

“I don’t like over-the-top heavy metal. Can’t stand it. Too many amps, too much volume. It’s just flat-out ear assault. I’m sure there’s a lot of deaf people out there. Speedy guitars leave me not feeling detached but physically upset. When you think of all the subtleties that were built into the guitar and amps for you to discover, they completely cover the whole lot with a rack of effects. The guitar doesn’t need that.” — Jeff Beck

Right on, Brother Jeff!

I know this post will alienate a few of my metal friends, but as far as I am concerned God only made one thing on this earth more beautiful than the pure tonal sound of a guitar in the hands of a masterful musician.

Any guesses?

I watch a lot of YouTube videos — especially those of bands and artists that I have not had the opportunity to see perform live.  As a result, I have a much better understanding and appreciation of their true ability and talent.  I have also honed in to the styles and genres of music that resonate the most with my personal taste.  And while I love Rock-n-Roll, Smooth Jazz, Blues, Latin and New Age…I do not care for loud, screeching, shredding Metal at all.

I recognize the talent, but I do not enjoy the music.

Guitar music should be sensual, spiritual, uplifting and exciting — not “ear assault”.

So in that light, I admit that I am a lot like Jeff Beck and Jeff Beck is a lot like me!

Doyle Bramhall II is the son of (singer, songwriter and drummer) Doyle Bramhall, who grew up as a close friend of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan. At age 16, Doyle Bramhall II toured with Jimmie Vaughan’s band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, as second guitarist.

Some of Doyle’s influences include, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Donny Hathaway, Freddie King, Albert King, Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Sly & the Family Stone, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and Curtis Mayfield.

In 1992 Doyle formed Arc Angels with Charlie Sexton and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton (also known as Double Trouble).

Eric Clapton took an interest in Bramhall’s music and they have often toured and recorder together. Doyle co-wrote “Superman Inside” and played guitar on Eric’s 2001 solo album, Reptile. He occasionally joined Eric on stage.

Doyle became Clapton’s second guitarist after Andy Fairweather-Low backed out of the tour in 2004. He also toured with Eric Clapton as part of his 2006/2007 world tour along with slide guitarist Derek Trucks and he performed at the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival at Chicago’s Toyota Park.

While all of that is very interesting, the most amazing fact about Doyle is that he is left-handed and usually plays the right-handed model of a guitar upside-down! When he does play a left-handed model, the guitar is strung as if to be played by a right-handed player (as was the case with Albert King.)

In other words:

• The low E string is at the bottom of his guitar
• The high string at the top of his guitar.
• The pick-guard is on the top.
• Strings are bent DOWN, not UP.
• The most common pick motion is an “Up-Pick”.

Check out this video to see his most unusual style in action and up close.

Of course, a Flying V almost looks the same either way…Enjoy the VIDEO.

(Note: at :40, Clapton looks away from Doyle’s sharply as if to say “I can’t watch that!)

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.

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…