Category: Guitar World Interviews

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Never Too Late: Erik Martensson Discusses Jimi Jamison, Eclipse Albums

erik_kramerGuitarist Erik Martensson once aspired to have a career in motocross. But after being involved in a crash and during his subsequent recovery, he began focusing his time on guitar and soon discovered his true calling.

Today, Martensson not only splits his time between his own hard rock band Eclipse and the “super-group” W.E.T; a project which also features Robert Säll (Work of Art) and Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman), but he’s also written and produced songs for a variety of artists.

After providing material for a Jimi Jamison (Survivor) and Bobby Kimball (Toto) project, Martensson was asked to write songs for a Jamison solo album. The result of which, “Never Too Late” has received critical acclaim both here and abroad. With catchy hooks and melodies that not only emphasize Jamison’s vocal prowess, it’s also an album that sounds fresh and new.

I spoke with Martensson from his home in Sweden about “Never Too Late” as well as his guitar laden new Eclipse album, “Bleed and Scream”.

How did this collaboration with Jamison take place?

I had originally written a few songs for the Bobby Kimball / Jimi Jamison duet album. Following the success of that, Frontiers records asked me to work on a solo record with Jimi.

NeverTooLate

When you approach a project with Jimi Jamison, what kind of writing process do you go through?

I had Jimi’s vocal range in mind when we started. I knew the sound that would fit him and also suit the fans. That was something that was really important to me.  I have the Survivor ‘Vital Signs’ and ‘Too Hot To Sleep’ albums so I know the style. But I didn’t want to just re-make an album from the 80’s. I wanted it to sound fresh. I wanted it to have one foot in the 80’s and one foot in the now.

 

Read the rest of my Guitar World Interview with Erik by clicking here.

Guitar World Interviews, Interview

Guitar World Interview:Adler’s Jacob Bunton and Lonny Paul Discuss New Album, ‘Back From the Dead’

adler

Steven Adler has battled many demons over the course of his tenure with Guns N’ Roses and the various versions of Adler’s Appetite.

Now the author and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has finally put the past behind him. Together with Jacob Bunton (vocals/guitars), Lonny Paul (guitars) and Johnny Martin (bass), the new project Adler has released what is easily one of the best hard rock albums in years: Back From The Dead.

Produced by Jeff Pilson (T&N, Foreigner, Dokken) and mixed by Jay Ruston, the new album features guest appearances by Adler’s fellow GnR band mate Slash as well as a blistering solo by John 5.

You can check out my Guitar World interview with Jacob Bunton and Lonny Paul by clicking here.

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitar World Interview: Bassist Nathan East Discusses New Album and Days With Eric Clapton

With more than twenty years together and a dozen records under their belts, Nathan East and the members of Fourplay show no signs of slowing down.

The quartet’s latest release, ‘Esprit De Four’ continues the trend of exceptional musicianship and songwriting prowess that’s become a staple of the smooth jazz super group. With amazing groves and melodies from songs like ‘Firefly’, ‘All I Wanna Do’ and the beautiful track, ‘Put Our Hearts Together’; a song written as a tribute for the people of Japan following the devastating Tsunami. Alongside Chuck Loeb (guitar), Bob James (keyboards) and Harvey Mason (drums), East shows why he’s one of the most in demand bassists in music today.

East is also no stranger to music royalty. He’s performed alongside Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Barry White, and Kenny Loggins among many others. He was part of the “Bad” sessions with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, played for presidents and the Pope, performed at Live Aid, toured all over the world dozens of times and even co-wrote the #1 song “Easy Lover” with Phillip Bailey and Phil Collins. Not bad for a guy who started out playing cello in the orchestra.

I had the pleasure of speaking with East about ‘Esprit De Four’ as well as his early years and tenure with Slowhand. We also discuss an encounter with the divine and more in this exclusive interview. His life and journey in music is a story worth telling.

You can read my complete Guitar World interview with Nathan East by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitar World Interview Rising of the S.U.N. – Brian Tichy Discusses New Project With Sass Jordan

Brian Tichy has built an impressive resume of recording, touring and/or writing with artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Lynch Mob and T&N. Known for his phenomenal drumming, Tichy now showcases his equally versatile guitar prowess in S.U.N (Something Unto Nothing), his new project with amazing vocalist, Sass Jordan. S.U.N.’s debut album is reminiscent of the classic big album sounds of the 1970′s. Raw, real music from the days when records were played on a turntable and cranked up to ten.

Proving the old addage that birds of a feather flock together, Tichy and the band were recently joined onstage by guitar god Jake E. Lee for a rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic, ‘Rock and Roll’.  How apropos.

I spoke with Tichy and got the inside scoop on the new S.U.N album and tour plans as well as his dual role as drummer and guitarist.

You can read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Brian Tichy by clicking here!

Guitar World Interviews, Interview, Music

Guitar World Interview: Chuck Loeb Discusses New Fourplay Album and The Allure of Smooth Jazz

Chuck Loeb is more than just a guitarist, he’s the consummate musician. In a career that spans four decades, he’s proven himself to be a versatile composer, arranger and producer in a wide range of musical styles. In 2010, Loeb joined the smooth jazz super-group, Fourplay where he joined other musical giants Nathan East (bass), Bob James (keyboards) and Harvey Mason (drums). Fourplay’s latest release, ‘Esprit De Four’ continues the trend of beautiful arrangements and tasty guitar licks that has made the smooth jazz super group world renowned.

I spoke with Loeb about the new album and his creative process as well as what he thinks makes smooth jazz so appealing. He also gives advice on the best way to approach the instrument when it comes to improvisation.
You can read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Chuck Loeb by Clicking Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: Trey Bruce Discusses King’s Bullet
Trey Bruce and Billy Gibbons

Since moving to Nashville in the 1990’s, producer and Emmy Award winning songwriter Trey Bruce has written multiple hit singles (five of them #1) and has collected more than a dozen ASCAP awards. He’s also written songs with a variety of artists that include bassist Duff McKagan and guitarist Billy Gibbons.

Now, Bruce is stepping out of his “comfort zone” and becoming the artist himself; teaming up with singer/songwriter Loni Rose to form King’s Bullet. The duo’s self-titled debut EP is filled with nothing short of straight from the heart songwriting.

I had the chance to speak with Bruce and discuss the new album, his songwriting prowess as well as his affection for vintage guitars and gear.

Read the rest of my Guitar World interview with Trey Bruce by Clicking Here

A Conversation With, Guitar World Interviews

Guitar World Interview Russ Freeman and The Rippingtons Are ‘Built To Last’

In the early 1980s, a few years before Russ Freeman gathered a bunch of his L.A. musician friends together to create the groundbreaking Rippingtons debut Moonlighting, the multi-talented guitarist and composer spent time on TV sound stages listening to orchestras play. On the band’s new album Built To Last,  Freeman pays homage to those days, working with orchestral textures for the first time in addition to opening up new realms of creativity that transcend expectation.

Built To Last also celebrates one of contemporary jazz’s most enduring legacies; a twenty-five year journey that spans nearly twenty albums. The album has universal appeal, with elements of jazz, rock, pop and country combined into one eclectic mix of sonic art.

But Freeman and the Ripps really go for broke on the metal world with the music mash “Monument Monolith,” a freewheeling blast of intensity on which Freeman complements his acoustic guitar with a little of everything you’ve never heard before: “angry cannibals with boiling pots” on percussion, orchestra, solo violin and a blistering solo by heavy metal great Zakk Wylde for good measure!

I spoke with Freeman to get his thoughts on the new Rippingtons album and on celebrating a quarter century of great music!

Read the rest of my article and interview with Russ Freeman by clicking here.

Album Reviews, Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: Guitarist Lee Ritenour Delivers ‘Rhythm Sessions’

In a career that spans five decades and more than forty albums, guitarist Lee Ritenour has developed a unique balance between the wisdom of experience and the enthusiasm of youth. Ritenour’s 2010 album, “6 String Theory” focused primarily on guitar and featured the winners of his 2009 guitar competition alongside guest appearances by guitar greats BB King, Steve Lukather and Slash among others.

For his new album, “Rhythm Sessions” Ritenour has added the winners of his 2012 Rhythm Section Competition which includes aspiring keyboardists, bassists and percussionists as well. The result is an album of sonic euphoria. From catchy songs like “The Village” and “LA By Bike” to the hypnotic vocal of Zamajobe on a remake of Stereophonics “Maybe Tomorrow”, there are elements that will appeal to both guitar and jazz fans alike.

I had the chance to speak with Ritenour about Rhythm Sessions, the competition and a really cool story about his days as a session player.

Check out the rest of my Guitar World interview with Lee Ritneour Here!

Guitar World Interviews, Music

Guitar World Interview: George Lynch Discusses T&N: Slave to The Empire

After tracking songs for what was once to become a new Lynch Mob album, it was drummer Brian Tichy who proposed the idea of bringing together George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown (The “Big 3″ of Dokken) for a project similar to what Heaven & Hell was to Black Sabbath. The result is T&N and a brand new album, Slave to the Empire.

The new album is both melodic and thought provoking music with a purpose. The message being, you don’t have to be a slave to the empire. Featuring seven original songs (with Pilson on vocals) as well as five re-recorded Dokken classics with vocal performances by Tim“Ripper” Owens, Doug Pinnick (Kings X), Sebastian Bach, and Robert Mason (Warrant). Slave To The Empire also adds to the mix the hard hitting, multi-talented drumming of Tichy as well.

A second album of new material and classic remakes of Dokken material is slated for next year that will also coincide with a tour.

I spoke with George Lynch to get his thoughts on Slave to The Empire as well as his other passion: the documentary “Shadow Train”.

Read the rest of my Guitar World interview with George Lynch Here.

Guitar World Interviews

Guitar World Interview Dokken Guitarist Jon Levin Discusses New Album, “Broken Bones”

Broken Bones is the eleventh studio album from the band Dokken and one that features a refreshing return to the signature sound reminiscent of such albums as “Under Lock and Key” and “Back For The Attack”. With songs like “Empire”, the title-track and “Burning Tears”, Don Dokken’s vocals are stronger than ever and guitarist Jon Levin, now entering his second decade with the band, continues to unleash guitar fury solidifying his place as one of the true metal greats.

I spoke with Jon about the different approaches he used for recording guitars on “Broken Bones” as well as his long-standing relationship with Charvel. He also shares the story of why he decided to become an attorney and how he landed the role of a lifetime with Dokken.

Read more of my Guitar World  article and interview with Jon Levin here.