Adam Miller
‘it takes an impossibly gifted player to improvise independent melodies, harmonies, and bass lines all at the same time – while maintaining an impeccable groove. Australia’s Adam Miller is one such rare phenomenon’ – Premier Guitar Magazine.
With a unique approach to the guitar, Adam Miller’s music is groovy and familiar, whilst having a melodic sophistication that only comes from years of cross genre hopping. His inclusion of complex rhythms and dissonant haunting phrases, combined with breathtaking riffs and melodies are his signature. His jazz influenced style with finger-picking mastery creates a improvisation filled live performance that is beautifully unpredictable. Adam is being presented by Michael Greenfield of Greenfield Guitars.
Alex de Grassi
Alex de Grassi has been a unique voice in the world of acoustic guitar for more than 40 years. His innovative approach to composing and arranging for solo steel-string guitar has influenced a generation of younger players. From his first solo performances in university coffeehouses and as a street musician to his engagements at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Montreux Jazz Festival, Alex has followed his own vision and helped lay the foundation for contemporary fingerstyle guitar. His musical pursuits encompass classical, jazz, and world music. Alex is known for his evocative compositions and arrangements, and for his sheer virtuosity.
http://www.degrassi.com/
Darrell Jennings
American Music Furniture Company was founded in 2013 by Darrell Jennings and partners Roger Horneff and John Farrell. All the owners are multi-instrumentalists, and have backgrounds in technology, furniture and insurance. AMF focuses on humidity control for guitar collections, with a strong commitment to quality and reliability. AMF is the only manufacturer offering active humidification and dehumidification in their cabinets. The AMF team is a dedicated group of artists in wood, metal, leather and electronics working together to preserve and protect all wooden instruments including guitars, mandolin family instruments, violins, cellos, and woodwinds. The Artisan Guitar Show welcomes Darrell Jennings and American Music Furniture to its Master Class schedule.
www.americanmusicfurniture.com
Dick Boak
Illustrator, recording artist, luthier, woodworker, author and lecturer Dick Boak has had the distinct honor of managing the Museum and Historic Archives for The Martin Guitar Company, where he has enjoyed working ever since 1976. Dick also founded Martin’s Advertising Department and initiated the Limited Edition guitar program that produced signature models for more than one hundred legendary artists including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty, Steve Miller, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Sting and Crosby, Stills & Nash. After 41 years, Boak announced his retirement in January of 2018 and is immersing himself in art, music, writing, travel and speaking engagements.
Paul Heumiller
The world of high-end guitars can be confusing. The owner of Dream Guitars, Paul Heumiller has learned a few things about buying and selling fine instruments. This Master class will be driven by audience participation. Topics may include the marketplace, the instruments and the humans in today’s custom guitar world. Builders, players, everyone is welcome.
Frank Sole
and Henry Nerenberg
“Frank and Hank”
The Artisan Guitar Show Concert Series is pleased to welcome the guitar duo of Frank Sole and Henry Nerenberg”. Known as “Frank and Hank”, these guitarists have explored the breadth and depth of American and world music. If the duet is the most intimate form of artistic collaborations, these two share it, in its most precious form, a musical conversation between two longtime friends who have mastered their craft and passion for their music. Frank and Hank’s arrangements are interesting and intricate, their song selections eclectic, their shows entertaining and their manner engaging and warm. Frank and Hank are being presented by Jay Rosenblatt of Jay Rosenblatt Guitars.
https://jayrosenblattguitars.com/
Jeffrey Gaines
Jeffrey Gaines is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He signed with Chrysalis Records in 1990 and released his debut album, Jeffrey Gaines, in 1992. Jeffrey has been heralded for his soul-searching lyrics and his powerful live performances. With only his voice and a guitar for accompaniment, Jeffrey Gaines has earned a reputation as a captivating performer, entertaining audiences everywhere he goes. Throughout his career, Gaines has built a rapport with his fans unlike any other in popular music today.
https://www.jeffreygaines.com/
Jimmy Bruno
Philadelphia native Jimmy Bruno is a master jazz guitarist and jazz educator. Jimmy is one of the most critically acclaimed jazz guitarists performing today. He came to prominence as a jazz musician in the 1990s after a successful twenty-year career as a sought-after commercial guitarist and session musician. Jimmy grew up in a musical household and playing guitar eight to ten hours a day was normal for this south Philly kid. He studied jazz improvisation with local Philly bass legend Al Stauffer and to develop technique, taught himself to play the rigorous and exacting classical violin etudes of Wohlfahrt and Paganini. Jimmy Bruno is truly American jazz history.
John Thomas
John is a fingerstyle guitar player who has been playing solo, acoustic music for more than 40 years. His live performances and recordings feature music that ranges from the compositions of classic blues guitarists like Blind Lemon Jefferson and Rev. Gary Davis to the classic ragtime tunes of Scott Joplin to the Nashville playing of Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. John’s original compositions echo those influences. He is a professor of law at Quinnipiac University School of Law. In addition to law-related publications, he has written a number of articles on guitars, lutherie, and music as well as his recent book “Kalamazoo Gals: A Story of Extraordinary Women and Gibson’s ‘Banner’ Guitars of WWII.”
https://www.johnthomasguitar.com/
Dustin Furlow and Matt Thomas
Dustin Furlow is an award-winning songwriter/guitarist whose songs reflect a marriage of modern techniques found in progressive-fingerstyle playing with the familiar warmth of traditional thumb-picking. He is widely considered an ambassador of dynamic and control on stage and in 2019 he played over 200 shows, many with Harp-guitarist and International Fingerstyle-Guitar Champion Matt Thomas. His album “Woodscapes” recently caught the attention of CandyRat Records and his tune “The Elder Tree” was featured by them. Dustin is now at work with Kim Person (Tommy Emmanuel, Stephen Bennett) on his fourth album “Shelter”.
The Artisan Guitar Show Concert Series is pleased to welcome Multi-award winning guitar champion Matt Thomas. With over a decade of multiple 1st place championship wins, Matt finds a way of blending some of the most technical guitar techniques into beautiful melodic compositions. With a very diverse fingerstyle background, Matt has also been a large advocate for the Harp Guitar Community. “I know the harp guitar’s future is in good hands when I hear Matt play and write with the sensitivity and passion that he has. He’s got terrific chops on a regular six string too!” – Stephen Bennett
Matt and Dustin are being presented by Michael O’Brien of MKO guitars.
https://www.dustinfurlow.com/
https://themattthomas.com/home
https://www.mkoguitars.com/
Kinloch Nelson
Kinloch Nelson’s 50-year career has run the gamut from Classical guitar recitals and Folk concerts to club, festival, and recording dates playing Country, Jazz, Rock, Rockabilly, R&B, Blues and New Age. His catalogue of original compositions is extensive. He has contributed to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, been reviewed in Rolling Stone, Mojo Magazine, and Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, interviewed by Fretboard Journal, featured in concert on PBS TV and Radio, and performed around the US and the UK. Kinloch is being presented by Bernie Lehmann of Lehmann Strings.
https://www.kinlochnelson.com/
http://lehmannstrings.com/
Patty Larkin
Patty Larkin redefines the boundaries of folk-urban pop music with her inventive guitar wizardry and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Acoustic Guitar hails her “soundscape experiments” while Rolling Stone praises her “evocative and sonic shading.” She has been described as “riveting” (Chicago Tribune), “hypnotic” (Entertainment Weekly) and a “drop-dead brilliant” performer (Performing Songwriter). Patty Larkin grew up in a musical and artistic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Descended from a long line of Irish American singers and taletellers, her mother was a painter, her sisters both musicians. She learned at a young age to appreciate the beauty of the arts. She began classical piano studies at age 7, and became swept up in the sounds of pop and folk in the 60s, teaching herself the guitar and experimenting with songwriting in high school. An English major, Larkin sang throughout her high school and college career, starting out in coffeehouses in Oregon and San Francisco. Upon graduation from the University of Oregon, she moved to Boston and devoted herself to music, busking on the streets of Cambridge and studying jazz guitar at Berklee College of Music and with Boston area jazz guitarists. Patty is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music, where she is now an Artist in Residence. Patty has earned eleven Boston Music Awards and has been honored by Boston’s Mayor Thomas Menino with “Patty Larkin Appreciation Day” in recognition of her philanthropic contributions to non-profit organizations. The Artisan Guitar Show is pleased to welcome Patty Larkin to both its VIP Concert Series and Master Class stage.
https://pattylarkin.com/
Richard Hoover
Santa Cruz Guitar Company was founded in 1976 by industry-icon Richard Hoover. SCGC has established a legacy of creating truly wonderful acoustic guitars in a creative environment that focuses on tone and playability merged with aesthetically beautiful design. Santa Cruz Guitar Company is known and respected for quality, innovation, its close-knit work group, and a focus on environmental responsibility. The Artisan Guitar Show welcomes Richard Hoover and Santa Cruz Guitar Company to its Master Class schedule.
https://santacruzguitar.com/
Robin Bullock
Robin Bullock has been hailed as “one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business” by Sing Out! Magazine, “breathtaking” by Guitar Player Magazine and a “Celtic guitar god” by Baltimore City Paper. He has won Editor’s Pick and Player’s Choice Awards from Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and is ranked among DigitalDreamDoor’s “100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists.” Robin is being presented by Dave MacCubbin of MacCubbin Guitars.
http://www.robinbullock.com/
https://www.maccubbinguitars.com
Sean McGowan
Sean McGowan is a fingerstyle jazz guitarist who combines many diverse musical influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar. Sean is an avid arts educator and teaches at the University of Colorado. He is also a strong advocate for injury prevention and health education for musicians, teaching a holistic approach to the instrument in workshops throughout the country. Sean is the author of several method books, as well as jazz guitar courses on TrueFire.com. Sean is hosted by Peter Henriksen of Henriksen Amplifiers
http://seanmcgowanguitar.com/
Steve Herberman
Steve Herberman is a graduate of Berklee College of Music majoring in Jazz guitar performance. He began playing a seven-string guitar in 1993. Steve has recorded numerous CD’s as both leader and sideman and is a respected jazz educator. Steve Herberman’s original composition “What We Do” won first place in the jazz category of the 2018 USA Songwriting Competition. Steve has over 50 video lessons published on Mike’s Masterclasses and has toured across the US and Europe playing and teaching. He is featured in the book The Great Jazz Guitarists by Scott Yanow. Steve is presented by Bill Comins of Comins Guitars.
Steve Lacey
Steve Lacey is a finger-style jazz guitarist, teacher and composer based in Gloucester, MA. Steve’s main focus has been creating artistic solo guitar arrangements. His repertoire comes from jazz, folk and popular music as well his own compositions. This wide range of repertoire is tied together through his unique approach to the guitar. His finger-style techniques create a variety of pianistic, harp-like and contrapuntal effects.
https://kenparkerarchtops.com/
https://www.stevelaceyguitar.com/
Ted Ludwig
Ted Ludwig is an acclaimed seven-string jazz guitarist who has been a part of the jazz scene in New Orleans since 1997. Throughout that time period, he has performed for numerous club performances, festivals, and recordings. He has released 4 albums as a leader and many more as a versatile sideman and co-leader. Ted earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies Program under the direction of the legendary pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. He received an ASCAP award, the Louis Armstrong award, and the Overture to the Cultural Season award for his outstanding musicianship and creativity. Inspired by the recordings of Joe Pass, Pat Martino, and Wes Montgomery, Ludwig soon became one of the most sought after guitarists in the New Orleans jazz scene working professionally as a soloist and accompanist. He continues to dazzle audiences from around the world.
Tim Farrell
Tim Farrell has the unique ability to inspire listeners to experience music on a multitude of levels. His mastery of the intricacies and melodic grace of fingerstyle guitar creates a sound that evokes emotion, a sound that is to be felt as well as heard. Tim is a rare kind of musician, with the ability to both entertain an audience and inspire future generations of players. Tim is being presented by Paul Woolson of Woolson Soundcraft.
www.timfarrellmusic.com
https://woolsonsoundcraft.com/
Tom Lagana
Tom Lagana has consistently garnered respect for his creativity, musical integrity, and devotion to his craft. His performances have ranged from jazz concerts with Joel Frahm, George Garzone, Red Rodney, and many others to formal appearances with the National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Wolf Trap Orchestras. Tom has also won strong praise for his recordings from both Jazz Times and Downbeat magazines. Tom is being presented by Tim Bram of Tim Bram Guitars.
www.timbramguitars.com
www.tomlagana.net
Trevor Gordon Hall
Trevor is a world touring instrumentalist whose style ranges from edgy driving rhythms to delicate melodic themes. Exploring the guitar’s full creative potential, his blending of sounds weave together textures into grand yet intimate and lyrical compositions leaving no physical aspect of the guitar untouched. Trevor navigates audiences through an igniting experience of music that isn’t just heard but felt, hailing praise from artists as diverse as John Mayer, Steve Miller, Pat Martino, Graham Nash, Will Ackerman and more. Trevor is being presented by Bourgeois Guitars.
https://www.trevorgordonhall.com/
https://bourgeoisguitars.net/
Walt Bibinger
The International Association of Jazz Record Collectors describes jazz guitarist Walt Bibinger’s playing as ” … rooted in the traditions of Tal Farlow, Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith, and Joe Pass, but with a sound and style all his own … ” He began playing the guitar at age 4, performing professionally at age 12 and began his teaching career at age 16. Walt’s primary musical influence and mentor was the late Grammy Award winning guitarist Harry Leahey. Walt studied intensely with Leahey from 1975 until the guitarist’s passing in 1990, and attended The Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. In addition to performing solo, duo, and leading his own trio, Walt is in demand as a sideman and has appeared live with Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Bob Dorough, Jimmy McGriff, and Phil Woods, among many others. Walt is also busy with freelance studio/session work, having performed on numerous CD’s by artists of all musical genres. Walt is being presented by Tyler and Dale Unger of American Archtop Guitars. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/waltbibinger
https://www.americanarchtop.com/