GUITAR GODS: Nik West

Maybe you know her as a favorite of Prince...or her work with Dave Stewart...or from GLEE....or for her sizzling cover of "Back in Black"....or for that flaming, bass clef mohawk....or as the bassist on the cover of bass & guitar magazines or the AMS catalogue. Or maybe you saw her music video for her song (with Orianthi) "My Relationship"....or heard top-flight artists like Steven Tyler, Bootsy Collins, John Mayer, and Lenny Kravits singing her praises....or her new song "Bottom of the Bottle".

Or maybe you're only hearing of her now.

What is important, now that you know who she is, is that you get on that train and listen to her. Everything you can.

Nik West is an amazing bassist. One magazine said flatly, she is "bringing back the funk". But she is also an equally amazing vocalist and composer. Everything this young lady touches is gold.

But it doesn't stop there. Her stage presence is the stuff of legend. In fact, Prince himself said of her, "Great stage presence. She inspires me in the same way that Sheila E and Rosie did."

Her albums "Just in the Nik of Time" and "Say Somethin'" are stunning displays of the hardest rocking and heaviest funking available to mere mortals, with a depth of compositional agility and instrumental prowess not common in today's world. Simply put, you owe it to yourself to leap into this dense ocean of sound and...swim.

50 Years Ago Today: HENDRIX Changes the World

50 years ago today, the then-unknown guitarist Jimi Hendrix releases his debut album, "Are You Experienced?" (as The Jimi Hendrix Experience).

The world would never be the same.

The album is held in such high regard for a number of reasons: Its epic and fearless use of stereo imaging, its introduction to Jimi's other-worldly compositions, the (re)-invention of the rock guitar lexicon of techniques & licks, and so much more.

From the opening track "Purple Haze" (in the US - "Foxy Lady" was the opening track in the UK) to the over-the-edge psychedelia of "3rd Stone From the Sun" to the gorgeous "The Wind Cries Mary" to the closing title track, it was an 11-song game-changer; a veritable sonic & stylistic revolution.

Jimi Hendrix (guitar & vocals), Noel Redding (bass), and Mitch Mitchell (drums) created one of the most iconic rock albums in history, playing in a way few had even envisioned, much less attempted.

The album has since gone on to sell over 5 million copies in the US alone, and is a staple in the collections of all serious guitarists, as well as classic rock radio. In addition, it is listed on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" at number 15, with 4 of the songs on their "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" ( "Purple Haze" at 17, "Foxy Lady" at 153, "Hey Joe" at 201, and "The Wind Cries Mary" at 379), and the US Library of Congress added the album to their National Recording Registry in 2005, and it regularly tops lists of greatest guitar albums of all time (and has for over 30 years).

I could go on. And on. And on even more...but the best thing to do is stop reading right now, and go listen.

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GUITAR GODS: Adam Rafowitz

When guitar 10-time Grammy winning, #1 chart topping, platinum-selling guitar legend George Benson says "Listen to this", you stop what you are doing and you listen.

And then you listen again.

To quote Mr. Benson word for word: "Talk about fresh, energetic and exciting music, you have to experience Adam Rafowitz’s guitar playing. He is definitely worthy of your ears. His group “Arch Echo” will knock your socks off and make you glad at the same time. Trust me!"

There is no exaggeration in this quote.

Adam Rafowitz and his twin-guitar attack partner in the band Arch Echo, Adam Bentley (read his "Guitar Gods" interview HERE), are players of the highest order. Not just amazing, other-worldy chops, but amazing composers and players who demonstrate knowledge, depth, and passion.

Mr. Rafowitz attended Berklee College of Music (graduating in 2015) and first got national attention when he won the the first Strandberg Guitarworks competition with his song "Perpetual Motion" (a song then recorded by his band Sound Struggle).

GUITAR GODS: Eric Krasno

Eric Krasno is a name I've just stumbled upon, but the guy has been around the block more than once. Taking a look at his accomplishments I'm scratching my head and asking "How did I not already know this guy by name?"....though we've ALL heard his work in one way or another.

He's been on stages and studios around the world and worked with the likes of Lettuce (a band he co-founded), Norah Jones, 50 Cent, Aaron Neville, and so many more, and winning Grammy Awards and other honors as a sideman, songwriter, and producer.

Now he has released his new solo album, "Blood from a Stone", where he not only writes and plays guitar, but for the first time is featured vocalist.

Born & raised in the New York area, Krasno attended Berklee College of Music, then later transferred to Hampshire College, and very quickly found himself on the road and recording for Soulive, and shortly thereafter making his debut as a producer with Talib Kweli's 2002 debut record "Quality".

Eric is a fantastic songwriter, a soulful player, a great singer, and his production skills are top-flight. Time to dig into this guy's sonic history if you haven;t already!

You can learn more about this amazing musician at his web-site.

I had a chance to chat with Eric recently. Check it out!

New Music - Chuck Berry!

Hot on the heels of the new release by Prince (despite the fact that the courts have delayed it) is new music from Chuck Berry, who died ealier this year (March 18).

Featured on the video below is "Wonderful Woman". The song features not only Chuck Berry (guitar & vocals) but son and 2 grand-children (who also played in his band for years), as well as Texas blues player Guy Clark, Jr.

The song is from his new album "Chuck", which can be pre-ordered from his website. Also available on video (and his web-site) is the lead single, "Big Boys"....also featured below!

April 24...Goodbye to Lila.

1184 BC - Traditional date of the fall of Troy.

1800 - The United States Library of Congress is established.

1895 - Joshua Slocum becomes the first man to solo sail around the world.

2017 - The world loses one of the greatest minds in history when Robert M. Pirsig - author of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "Lila" - dies at his home in South Berwick, Maine (USA). He was 88.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC.....

753 BC - Romulus founds Rome....

1947 - Birthday of Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop.

1967 - The Beatles complete the recordings for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

1982 - Joe Strummer of the Clash disappeared for three weeks...until he was found in Paris. After the tour was cancelled.

1990 - Paul McCartney sets new world record - largest paying stadium audience in history - when he plays for 184,000 in a stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

1990 - In the US, Sinead O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince) goes to number 1 on the charts and stays there for 4 weeks, making her a superstar.

2013 - Calvin Harris makes history by becoming the first artist to have eight top 10 hits from a single album (the former record of 7 was held by Michael Jackson).

2016 - The world loses 2 music legends: blues master Lonnie Mack and pop icon & musical genius Prince.

GUITAR GODS: Ottmar Liebert

Ottmar Liebert - This man is a stunning player and an incredible composer. I heard him on a compilation album with players like Paco de Lucia, Jesse Cook, Strunz & Farah, Al DiMeola, and others. I immediately ran out and bought what was, at the time, his only album.

It was called "Nouveau Flamenco" (released 1990) and featured his unique fusion of flamenco-influenced instrumental music.

That album went double platinum in the US and garnered gold & platinum status from Canada to Australia to Mexico and more.

By the next year, he had released "Borrasca", which immediately went gold in the US and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album....his first of FIVE such Grammy nominations.

27 years and as many albums later, the German-born guitarist & composer is still selling out concert halls around the world and making incredible music.

His current Luna Negra tour will take him all over Europe and North America, and I know that I, for one, am eagerly awaiting his next album!

Learn more about this gifted performer at his WEBSITE.

I had a chance to chat with Ottmar recently - check it out!

GUITAR GODS: Jesse Cook

I first heard Jesse Cook years ago on some Narada sampler CD. Jesse Cook was among the players, and a real standout for me. I ran out and looked him up and have been a fan of his music ever since.

Apparently I'm not alone!

A dozen solo albums (and a new one on the way), twice as many guest appearances & compilations, 4 DVDs, multiple gold & platinum certifications, world tours, 8 Juno Award nominations (with one win, for Best Instrumental Album for his record "Free Fall"), and more, and Jesse hasn't slowed one bit.

You may have heard his music on various TV shows (like "Sex and the City") or at the Olympics (figure skater Irina Slutskaya of Russia won a bronze medal skating to Jesse's "Mario Takes a Walk" at the 2006 Winter Olympics) or on late night (performing with Charlotte Church on the Tonight Show). Or you might, though Cook is usually the headliner, have seen him opening for legends like Diane Krall or B.B. King or Ray Charles.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

PRINCE - New Album & Websites

As being reported by USA Today, Billboard, and others, the estate of Prince has released the song "Deliverance" and will release (4-21-2017) a 6 song EP of previously unreleased material.

It will be available on iTunes.

Prince died last year (2016) - read the essay on Prince's path & passing HERE at SD Magazine.

To keep track of Prince news, visit the official Prince web-site for Paisley Park. His Online Museum shoul dbe back on-line soon, though their Facebook Page continues to be active, as is Warner's official Prince page at facebook as well as its dedicated page.

You can also join the mailing list at the last website Prince had before his passing.

Hear the new song at the official Soundcloud page HERE or watch the video from one of the official Youtube channels below.

UP-DATE: Reuters is reporting:

NEW YORK — A U.S. judge has blocked a planned release of new Prince music on the anniversary of his death this week.

The Minnesota district court on Wednesday issued a temporary injunction barring the release of the six-song EP “Deliverance” after Prince’s estate argued that the recordings breached a confidentiality agreement between Prince and his former sound engineer.

According to court documents, Judge Wilhelmina Wright also ordered engineer Ian Boxhill to hand over all “original recordings, analog and digital copies, and any derivative works” to Prince’s estate.

“Deliverance” was due to go on sale on Friday and would have marked the first in a series of planned posthumous releases of material by Prince from the huge vault of discarded or unfinished material he reportedly left behind.....