Month: May 2011

  • Billy Gibbons Named Official Texas Musician

     

    The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) has announced the state legislature’s appointments to the positions of State Poet Laureate, State Musician, State Two-Dimensional Artist, and State Three-Dimensional Artist. The 2011 appointees, who fill the positions for one-year terms. include State Musician Lyle Lovett, Poet Laureate David M. Parsons, Two-Dimensional Artist Melissa Miller, and Three-Dimensional Artist Jesus Moroles of Rockport. The 2012 appointees include State Musician Billy F Gibbons of Houston, Poet Laureate Jan Seale, Two-Dimensional Artist Karl Umlauf , and Three-Dimensional Artist Bill FitzGibbons. 

    The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) promotes the state economically and culturally. Learn more at arts.state.tx.us.

     

     

     

  • Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto

    Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto

    Larry Carlton and Tak MatsumotoLarry Carlton teams with veteran studio guitarist (in his home country of Japan) Tak Matsumoto, who achieved international recognition in a rock band called TMG. A jazz disc, most of the tunes here feature them playing the melody together before each takes a solo.

     Matsumoto tips his cap to his partner on “Jazzy Bullets,” a fullout stomper with changes and parts borrowed from older Carlton tunes. Both rip through the changes with ease. There’s also a reworking of his classic instrumental “Nite Crawler.” This time, “Nite Crawler 2010” has a nice exchange between the two and a biting solo by Carlton with his trademark sweet, bluesy feel.

    The record delves into smooth jazz with airy ballads and light funk, always with hook-laden melodies, and gets stronger down the stretch, with “side two” supplying some of the strongest material. There’s nothing earth-shattering here, but Carlton fans will appreciate the songs and approach.

    This article originally appeared in VG‘s Nov. ’10 issue. All copyrights are by the author and Vintage Guitar magazine. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.

  • Book Binder to Host at Big Sky Rockin’ Rendezvous

    Big Sky Rockin’ Rendezvous, a multi-genre guitar workshop series organized by Chris Gray and Dave Goodwin in Bozeman, Montana, will welcome guitarist/singer/songwriter Roy Book Binder as an instructor at its next event, July 6-9. Past instructors at the Rendezvous include John Jorgenson, John Bohlinger, and others. Learn more at bigskyrr.com/.

     

  • Book Binder to Host Big Sky Rockin’ Rendezvous

    Big Sky Rockin’ Rendezvous, a multi-genre guitar workshop series organized by  Chris Gray with Dave Goodwin in Bozeman, Montana.  Instructors include guitarist/singer/songwriter Roy Book Binder, John Jorgenson, John Bohlinger, and others. Book Binder will conduct the next event , July 6-9. Learn more at http://www.bigskyrr.com/.

  • Reverend Guitars Launches New Basses

    Reverend Guitars has launched a line of basses that use Joe-Naylor-designed pickups, a Korina body, string-through bridge with a top-load option, a five-piece neck and pan-control. The Thundergun is a set-neck with the Thick Brick pickup at the bridge and the Split Brick pickup at the neck. The body has a raised center ridge. For more, visit reverendguitars.com.

     

  • Los Angeles & Orange County Musician’s Swap Meet

    5/1/2011

    at the Old World Village, 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Show hours 9:30-3:30. For more info, contact musiciansswapmeet.net.