Have a while?.... When I was about nine years old I would sneak into the basement where my older sister would be listening to music. She was down there listening to The Beatles, Aerosmith, Peter Frampton, David Bowie and the like. I imagine this is where the whole problem started. By the time I started playing guitar at twelve I wanted to be Jimmy Page and was crazy about Led Zeppelin. I also got hooked on Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush's live record and his incredible guitar playing got me hooked on psychedelic guitar. He in turn got me interested in Jimi Hendrix who led me to Robin Trower and Uli Roth. When I finally got a Univibe I was in heaven. I also discovered Jeff Beck around this time and he would remain one of my biggest influences to date. After touring the states for a few years, in order to escape getting a real job between gigs, I enrolled in college and started studying classical music. I fell in love with Bach's counterpoint and the complex harmony of Stravinsky and Bela Bartok, especially "Symphony of Psalms" and "Concerto for Orchestra." The guys in college made me play in the Big Band and this would spark another interest for me; Jazz. The first Jazz tune I played was "Footprints" and Miles Davis would become a major influence. His band during the "Miles Smiles" period would stir my imagination and Wayne Shorter's compositional techniques are still a major influence. Coltranes "Giant Steps" CD also left a big impression on me as well as the work and musical sense of humor of Thelonious Monk. Guitarists that had a major impact on me regarding Jazz and Fusion are Mike Stern, John Scofield and Alan Holdsworth. I've always had a thing for the Blues and Albert King, Johnny Winter and Albert Collins are still part of my genetic musical makeup. It still is not unusual for me to listen to something like Weather Report, Muddy Waters and Stravinsky all during the same day.
I first picked up the guitar at twelve after goofin' around with the clarinet, which I was forced into against my will. The first thing I ever played on the guitar was a Blues in G and that is what I still like to play although I'll play anything for about ten bucks or so. After all, lunch is lunch.
I do recording work and also have three CDs released on the independent label Abiku Records. I spend half my time in LA and the other half in Tokyo so I get a lot of frequent flier miliage which is cool because the only time I get to watch a movie or two is on an airplane flying over the Pacific Ocean.
I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a long career as a guitarist and like spreading around my musical knowledge and that is one reason why I also teach music. To my surprise, the mayor of New Orleans made me an honorary citizen around ten years ago for my efforts in promoting international music education.
This year I also had a guitar intructional book called "The Infinite Guitar" published and it is selling around the world.
Hi Kuri-chan! Thanks very much for accepting me for the second time! :) It is a sub page of mine which I did for my band :) Hope our music didn't bother your ears ;) I'm sending you lots of greetings from this side as well :)
Hey Chris Juergensen, we recently got out of the studio with Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction.. check out what we came up with and if you're in LA come to the Roxy June 20th or the Bordello July 5th -- Thanks!!
Aven Romale: 'Come On Gipsies' - that's the name of our song at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, which takes place in Moscow. Come on board! Come on Gipsies!
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John Kitchen wants you to join their band in Rockstars, a game where you can form bands with your friends and play gigs, battle rival bands, and become famous on MySpace!
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Hi Chris, your album prospects is a real treasure, I'm very happy to own it! The melodies are very nice, strong and memorable, and the overall sound and tone is just wonderful. all the best
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