News & Updates — guitar

Here's a crazy version of "Hey Joe" from Niger that was brought to my attention via the new Agrim Agadez comp on the Sahel Sounds label. The record gathers raw recordings of guitar music from the Sahelian region of Niger, showcasing folks we'd likely never get to hear, playing entrancing and often gritty sounds. Led by guitarist Abdoulaye Bouzou (better known as Mona), Anza de L'Ader are a top act of Niger, formed in the 1970s. They are one of the heaviest psychedelic orchestras in West Africa. Many Muslims in the region were not accustomed to producing music in the '70s,...

Happy birthday to the legendary Romani-gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, one of the most influential musicians to come out of 20th century Europe. Django made the guitar the star before the amplified era, with melodies to delicately massage the toughest of ears. Often in partnership with French violinist Stephane Grappelli & their Quintette du Hot Club de France, the 1930's recordings stand as standard-bearers for some of the most advanced harmonic runs of the day and jazz on the whole were given legitimacy in Europe by the time Django went electric in '46. His fast fingers (even if he could...

One of my favorite 60s pop heroes, the NYC-born (Blackfoot Indian & Afro-Caribbean heritage) Richie Havens brought a rhythmic flair to folk guitar and with his searing vocals combined to bring new life to both classic & popular material, as well as his own tunes. His style melded urban doo-wop and gospel influence, 60s rock/pop, Indian music, Greenwich Village lefty folk, R&B, spirituals and protest blues. He was a mesmerizing solo performer deep into his years.

After checking out the mighty Brown Sabbath show, a side project of Grupo Fantasma side project Brownout (with Brownout side project Money Chicha opening the bill - that's a lot of side projects!), I remembered that amazing clave-rock version of the Led Zeppelin banger "Immigrant Song" that Grupo played on a live video session for KUTX. These Texas badboys rip and shred on anything they want! One of our favorite group of musicians here at Peace & Rhythm. Check 'em out! http://grupofantasma.com/ http://kutx.org/ TWISTED features left-field cover versions of popular songs.

Multi-instrumentalist Huddie Ledbetter was especially noted for his playing of the 12-string guitar and soulful delivery of topical lyrics. He did four stints in prison (including one for murder) and even broke out of jail once. Twice he was pardoned for his talents. He became a popular figure on the lefty folk scene ("Bourgeois Blues") and was one of the first folk-blues artists to tour Europe. Songs like "Goodnight Irene", "Midnight Special", "Black Betty", "I Got Stripes", "Boll Weavil" and others are still often covered by a variety of bands to this day.