Matthew Grasso, V.M. Bhatt, Debashish Bhattacharya, Arjun Verma, Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Kahn, Bob Brozman, Davka, Miles Davis, John Scofield, John Abercrombie, Ralph Towner, Bill Frisell, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Son House....
My interest in North Indian Classical music started years ago when my Guru, Matthew Grasso (www.cambium.com/matthewgrasso), first began attending classes at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael. The melodies were more beautiful and complex than I had heard, and the sound and style grabbed me. Now, years later, after gigging on the upright bass and 8 string guitar in jazz and latin settings, I stumbled upon an old guitar that was too warped to play in the traditional style, so I modified it for lap slide playing. After raising the nut and adding some drone strings, I have a new means of expression. I am now able to study this music much more in depth, which I am doing at the Ali Akbar College. This new guitar allows me to be able to play relaxed, intriguing music for your listening pleasure, that is available for your eatery or vineyard and everything in between.....
My new live album "Tempo, musique pour calcaire et guitares" (music for limestone and guitars from a live concert in duet with Franck Kernel, stone carver) will be available for may 2009. I'm really happy with this project. You can watch a video (the last song of this 6 hours long work with interview) from this show here
if you're in los angeles tonight (wednesday) i will be playing at the standard hotel downtown around 10- and i would love to see you there! (info is on my space)
JFJO's last trip to the West Coast in 2008 includes a stop in Berkeley,CA on Thursday, September 4th! Be sure not to miss it! Bring a Tshirt because our friends from PMP will be out screenprinting!!
I had no idea there was a hindustani slide guitarist in the Bay area. We should definitely jam. I'm really busy for the rest of this month, but let's set up a Jugalbandi in April with a tabla player
