Artists

Kevin Kadish

Grammy nominated songwriter/producer/engineer/multi-instrumentalist, Kevin Kadish is a renaissance man for the iPod generation. He has written for such a wide range of projects that his resumé looks like the play list for the world’s most eclectic DJ, spanning the realms of pop, rock, hip-hop, country, and christian. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kevin began playing guitar at the age of 13. After graduating high school, he attended The Berklee College of Music in Boston, on a Professional Songwriting scholarship, and studied Film Scoring. After years of touring both solo acoustic and with his band, Stereolife, Kevin met producer Matt Serletic who brought him to Warner Chappell as his "staff-writer". While there, he co-wrote “Be There For You”, a standout track on Willie Nelson’s 2002 “comeback” album, The Great Divide. He co-wrote the songs, “(There's Gotta Be) More to Life” & "Stuck" for pop singer Stacie Orrico. “(There's Gotta Be) More to Life” & "Stuck" have had a significant life beyond just the album. The songs have appeared on the soundtrack to the television shows “The Simple Life” and “That’s So Raven,” the popular animated motion picture “Robots,” as well as on several compilations totaling nearly 11 million albums sold. Kadish has collaborated with the singer/songwriter Jason Mraz on his sophomore effort, Mr. A-Z, producing and writing both singles ("Wordplay" and "Geek In The Pink"). Other songwriting/production credits include work with Coldwater Jane (Universal Nashville), Taylor Hicks (Arista), Hayden Panetierre (Hollywood), Tal Bachman (Sony), Bif Naked (Lava/Atlantic), Lucy Woodward (Atlantic), el Pus (Virgin), legendary Motley Crue bassist, Nikki Sixx among others. Kadish’s, a multi-instrumentalist, has played guitar on platinum-selling artist Rob Thomas’ 2005 release Something To Be, contributed guitars, vocals, bass, keys, and programming to a number of projects including work on the aforementioned releases by Jason Mraz, Taylor Hicks, Stacie Orrico, el Pus and Bif Naked.

James Dean Bradfield - Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers are an alternative rock band from Blackwood, Wales, formed in 1986. They are James Dean Bradfield (vocals, guitars), Nicky Wire (bass, occasional vocals) and Sean Moore (drums, backing vocals, occasional trumpet). The band is part of the Cardiff music scene, most prominently during the 1990s. The Manics released their debut album Generation Terrorists in 1992. Their combination of androgynous glam punk imagery, outspoken invective and songs about "culture, alienation, boredom and despair" soon gained them a loyal following and cult status. The band's later albums retained a politicized and intellectual lyrical style, while adopting a broader alternative rock sound. The Manic Street Preachers and went on to gain critical and commercial success, becoming one of Britain's premier rock bands.[11] They have had eight top ten albums and fifteen top ten singles. They have reached number one three times, with their 1998 album This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours and the singles "If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next" (1998) and "The Masses Against The Classes" (2000). They have also won the Best British Album and Best British Group accolades at the BRIT Awards in 1997 and 1999, and were lauded by the NME for their lifetime achievements in 2008. Their ninth studio album, Journal For Plague Lovers, was released on 18 May 2009.

Joris De Ceuster - Dogwalker

Five old-time friends haling from Deerlijk, a small town in West-Flanders, formed Dogwalker in 2005. Although not really living in the center of the world they broke through the curtains of small town village life with their melodic and melancholic rock songs to fall into the hands of producer David Poltrock (Hooverphonic, Savalas, Tom Helsen, Lemon). David was impressed by the distinct voice of singer (and main songwriter) Nikolaas Debusschere and proposed to guide them through the pitfalls of the music industry. This led to the production of their first single ‘Summer Has Gone’, recorded by Staf Verbeeck at the Jet Studios, Brussels. Dogwalker has convinced many with their enthusiastic live performances leading them to play Rock Waregem in 2006 (sharing the bill with Praga Khan, a.o.) Getting invited to support Sarah Bettens and De Kreuners led them to believe in their own strength to aim for a higher level. The result is the recording of a full album being produced as we speak, due to be released early 2010! Are you in for some cranking guitar tunes guided by synthsounds and some pumping’ bass? Meet Dogwalker!

Estecho

J.F. Verreault and Rumi Aoyagi are ESTECHO, an analog electronic music project currently based in Tokyo. Their music relies mainly on vintage equipment such as tape echos, analog synths & drum machines, electric pianos and an assortment of analog effects. Although the songs comprise many genres; psychedelic, progressive house, minimal techno, chill out, jazzy grooves, leftfield, downtempo ESTECHOs very distinct sound & production brings them all together as a coherent entity. It is a fully analog, unquantized, warm and human sound, applied to contemporary electronic music styles and compositions through the use of digital editing and a modern musical sensibility. This recipe is what makes ESTECHO unique. Check them out here.

Ed Oleszko - Queensbury

Young Welsh songwriter/guitarist Ed Oleszko has written/recorded and performed in many successful bands who have toured across the Uk and Europe. Many of his songs have received multiple airplay on BBC Radio 1,Kerrang Radio,numerous internet radio stations, as well as performing on BBC, ITV and S4C TV. Ed is now part of the awesome Queensbury a hard rocking quartet whose powerful melodies and crushing riffs have gained them much critical and public acclaim and who are surely destined for the top. Ed has an absolute ear for the purest in crushing rock tone and Effectrode pedals are simply the best there is. Road tough and uncompromising not only do Effectrode pedals provide the purest warm vintage tones but also can push the boundaries in sonic experimentation to develop a range of new classic tones for the 21st century. Queensbury love Effectrode pedals!

Wayne Eagles

A musician for 30 years and a professional guitar instructor for 20 years, Wayne Eagles performs and records both as leader and sideman in a variety of musical styles and ensembles. Based in Ottawa, Canada's national capital, he has music-related BA, BA Hons, and MA degrees. Although currently instructing a wide-range of styles, Wayne was the first person to teach rock guitar in a Canadian University. He has been a Guitar Performance Instructor at Carleton University's School for Studies in Art and Culture (SSAC: Music) since September 1992. Wayne's performance history includes appearances at various Canadian Jazz and Blues Festivals, University music showcases, numerous radio/television broadcasts, and extensive club work. His most recent release - Milligan-Eagles Project - is a jazz/rock trio recording with double-bassist Mike Milligan and drummer Billy Kilson. You can check out Wayne's excellent website here.

Kid Dakota

With their 2008 release, A Winner’s Shadow, Jackson leaves behind the dusty, windswept panorama of the prairie and trades it for an urban landscape that crackles and pulses with electric life. Against this backdrop, we experience the awe and terror of the songs' narrators as they navigate loneliness, loss and love. Shadow takes the edge off these weighty themes with the gorgeous melodies, pop sensibilities and dynamic percussion that characterize the band’s acclaimed live performances. Even more readily than their 2001 release So Pretty or 2004’s The West is the Future, the songs of Shadow retain their warmth amidst their darkest moments. It’s this unique balance of complexity and accessibility, light and dark, that makes Shadow an equally appropriate soundtrack for either the lost soul wandering the streets of NYC or the free spirit cruising the open prairie. Kid Dakota

Daryl Buckley

Daryl Buckley is the Artistic Director of ELISION Ensemble, Australia's premier contemporary music group. In this capacity, Daryl has been responsible for the development of innovative projects in the domains of contemporary opera, site-specific installation, improvisation and large-scale electro-acoustic music. As the Artistic Director for the nationally-based twenty members of ELISION, Daryl has developed a broad experience of national and international cultural infrastructure, the handling of international collaborations involving participants from several different countries, and a practical understanding of the need for funding diversification and inter-arts collaborations in the practice of contemporary arts companies. He has organised twenty-two international tours to over fourteen different countries with highlights including performances at the Hebbel Theater of Berlin, the Berlin Philharmonie and Konzerthaus, the Berlinerfestspiele, Wien Modern Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio Bremen, Festival Ars Musica of Brussels, the Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Saitama Arts Theatre, IRCAM as part of the Agora festival in Paris and the Ultima Festival of Oslo. Yuè Lìng Jié (Moon Spirit Feasting) a Ritual Street Opera by Liza Lim (music) and Beth Yahp (libretto) was premiered at the Adelaide and Melbourne festivals, and in 2002 toured to Berlin, Zürich and Japan for the Saitama Arts Centre. Daryl has also managed a large number of international composer commissions and cross-artform projects collaborating with visual artists from Indonesia, Thailand, the United States, Finland, and Norway and has instigated the visits of over one hundred and fifty composers, performers, conductors, singers, visual, new media and sound artists to Australia to work with ELISION. Daryl’s recording of Richard Barrett's transmission for electric guitar and electronics released on NMC records was recently critically received in the UK’s Gramophone Magazine as a ‘tour de force’.

Glenn Webster - Fraid Knot

Fraid Knot is a technically driving, high energy group of musicians who embrace elements from the Canadian East Coast and Celtic Genres, as well as Irish, Scottish, and North American traditional/rock in their covers tunes and original music. Their guitarist, Glenn was born in Lahr, Germany in the summer of 1969 and soon began his musical development on the piano at the age of 4. Influenced by a family of musicians, he quickly decided to have a go at the guitar and has never looked back. Glenn began teaching several musical instruments and playing professionally in his early teens. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed a great deal of success performing solo, as well as, being a big part of many different types of bands. Glenn's strong lead work has brought a true rock presence to Fraid Knot. This combined with the bands east coast roots provides a truly unique sound, with an electric edge.

Jaz Zucker

Jack Zucker has an impressive resume having played, performed and studied jazz guitar for over 30 years. He obtained a Studio Music/Guitar Major at the University of Miami and has taught at Universities and privately for over 20 years and lectured on improvisation at jazz festivals. He has also studied with Bill Biesecker, Dennis Sandole, Pat Martino, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel, Andrew White, Marc Copeland, Rick Whitehead, Randall Dollahan, Stan Samole, Larry Wooldridge.

He's been involved in numerous live broadcasts for the Today Show, numerous other television and radio broadcasts and performed with Steve Abshire, Eddie Baccus, Greg Bandy, Keter Betts, Paul Bollenback, Dr. Glenn Cashman, Marc Copeland, Danny Gatton, Ellory Eskelin, Shannon Ford, Kathy Lee Gifford, Drew Gress, Jamey Haddad, Paul Horn, Bruce Hornsby, Randy Johnston, Greg Karukas, T. Lavitz, Mike Lee, Hank Levy, Joe Lovano, Rich Madison, Terry Plumeri, John Previti, Dianne Reeves, Howard Roberts, Jim Roberts, Dan Wall, Rick Whitehead, and many others.

Finally, he is author of: Sheets of Sound for Guitar , which is a unique jazz guitar melodic/harmonic technique book. The book is endorsed by Henry Johnson, Jimmy Bruno, John Pisano, Paul Horn and T. Lavitz.

Phil Capone

Phil is a graduate of Newcastle College and a postgraduate of the prestigious Guildhall School Of Music, London. Originally self-taught, his professional career began in the early 80s. He is fluent in a wide range of styles and has worked with many artists including Maggie Bell, Beverly Martin, Jason Bonham, Wilko Johnson, The Mobiles and Jim Mullen. He frequently performs in and around the capital with a variety of artists and also enjoys a popular residency with his own quintet in London’s East End. Phil teaches at the acclaimed Guitar Institute and is a regular contributor for Total Guitar magazine. He is also a successful author with titles including 501 Guitar Chords, The Guitar Chord Bible, How To Play Guitar and more recently the well-received Exploring Jazz Guitar.

Jimmy Edgar

Jimmy Edgar is one of the most talented artists to have emerged from the new worldwide wave of electronic producers - 22 years old and based in Detroit, Jimmy has been making music since a very young age, and was playing Detroit raves alongside the motor city techno royalty by the time he was 15. His music contains elements of Detroits'Techno and soul heritage, combined with a modern minimalist aesthetic and some devastating programming skills.

Jimmy has already had releases under different names on the Merck label (the amazing "my mines i" by Kristuit Salut vs. morris Nightingale) and Audio.nl (Michaus "%20"). His first release from Warp Records is the slamming four track EP "Access Rhythm", out now and new album "Bounce, Make, Model" on Warp early November. To find out more, check out his website.

David Lee

"Reverend" David Lee is a guitarist with 40 years plus experience and has worked in numerous bands for over 26 years. His current band, River City Rockets came second in 2005's Best of Des Moines (Best Local Band) Competition in CityView's Readers Poll. David has also earned the title "Reverend" because he's been preaching about tone for most of his adult life. He has an excellent website resource where music gear is thoroughly evaluated to ensure it lives up to claims made by the manufacturers. Pedals are thoroughly road trialed, in real world live performance conditions to prove their road-worthiness and also tested in various guitar/amplifier setups to determine their versatility. "Only pedals made by the very best Master Builders on the planet are reviewed!"

Deano George Project

Deano George Project is a tight threesome of talented, accomplished, award-winning rock professionals: Deano George - songwriter, lead guitarist, and lead singer who unleashes deeply passionate vocal work and exciting guitar mastery throughout the album; Ed De Four - drummer who infuses every song with controlled force and a dynamic sensitivity; and Michael Paige - bassist who grooves his lines to the max.

Deano has won several awards for his work, including a "Billboard Songwriting Achievement" award, and he's developed a solid reputation as an amazingly versatile guitarist.

Eric Shoaf

Eric Shoaf writes for Vintage Guitar Magazine where he reviews guitar related books, contributes interviews, feature stories, dealer profiles and a variety of other articles. He maintains a collection of classic Gibson archtops, a profusion of acoustic flat-tops, and about 30 lapsteel guitars of pre-war vintage.

He came of age in the 1970s where his playing was fueled by popular music of the time, early and contempory blues. "I guess it was Johnny Winter more than anyone else that started me looking to find original blues recordings," he said recently. "I was into Clapton, Santana, Beck, all those monster guitarists, but blues music moved me more than anything." Not surprisingly his own playing is steeped in blues and he has cultivated a fine ear for tone over the years.

Sparkie

"The King of California". Sparky is not only a talented rock & blues player but also, "the best bartender from San Francisco Bay to Portland, Oregon." and a good friend. He shows no fear or trepidation when it comes to launching off into and extended ten minute guitar solo and there's no doubt that we need more of that kind of sheer guts and bravado in the age of the 3 minute and 23 second long pop song! Sparky is currently test driving a new prototype "Tube Drive" pedal for me.