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More artists may be announced so check back often
Past Guest Artists include:
Alex Lifeson, Rik Emmett, Billy Sheehan, John Jorgenson, Randy Bachman, Joe Satriani, Robben Ford, John Abercrombie, Peppino D'Agostino, John Knowles, Wayne Krantz, Orin Isaacs, Vito Rezza, Lorne Lofsky and more...
Our guest artists share their knowledge and experiences with our students while visiting classes, conducting clinics, and performing concerts.
John Scofield (Toronto - Session 1)
John Scofield is considered one of the “big three” of current jazz guitarists - along with Pat Metheny and Bill Frisell.
His influence began in the late 70’s and continues to go strong today.
Possessor of a very distinctive sound and stylistic diversity,
Scofield is a masterful jazz improviser whose music generally falls somewhere between post-bop, funk edged jazz, and R & B.
After a debut recording with Gerry Mulligan and Chet Baker, John went on to work with Billy Cobham, George Duke, Charles Mingus, Gary Burton and Miles Davis.
His Davis stint placed him firmly in the foreground of jazz consciousness as a player and composer.
Since that time he has prominently led his own groups in the international Jazz scene, recorded over 30 albums as a leader (many already classics) including collaborations with contemporary favourites like Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, Eddie Harris, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Bill Frisell, Brad Mehldau, Mavis Staples, Government Mule, Jack DeJohnette, Joe Lovano and Phil Lesh.
He’s played and recorded with Tony Williams, Jim Hall, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Dave Holland and Terumasa Hino among many jazz legends.
Throughout his career, Scofield has punctuated his traditional jazz offerings with funk-oriented electric music.
All along, the guitarist has kept an open musical mind.
Paul Gilbert (Toronto - Session 2)
Paul was first spotlighted in Guitar Player Magazine alongside fellow up-and-comer Yngwie Malmsteen.
Although Paul composes music in a wide variety of styles including pop, rock, metal, blues, jazz, funk and classical, he is perhaps best known for his versatility and speed, which helped him be named as one of the “Top 10 Shredders Of All Time”.
He is also considered to be one of the best proponents of alternate picking and string skipping.
Paul Gilbert gained recognition as one of the fastest guitar players in the world when he formed the band Racer X displaying fast-driven solos with extreme-level technique.
He then joined with Billy Sheehan and they founded the band Mr. Big.
The band was a huge success and became famous in 1991, with ‘Lean Into It’, their second album, which featured the ballad “To Be With You”, which received strong media play and reached #1 on the Billboard charts.
Paul left the band in 1997 to pursue a solo career and was part of the 2007 G3 tour with Joe Satriani and John Pettrucci.
Sue Foley (Toronto - Session 2)
Powerhouse guitarist/singer/songwriter Sue Foley has solidified her place as one of the leading lights of the contemporary blues scene.
She is internationally known as one of the best and most original artists in her field.
She has won a Juno Award for Best Blues Album, has received a record-setting 17 Maple Blues Awards (including Recording of The Year, Songwriter of The Year, Entertainer of The Year, Guitarist of The Year, and Female Vocalist of The Year), 3 Trophee de Blues in France, and was nominated for a prestigious W.C. Handy Award for Best Contemporary Female Artist.
Having shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, BB King, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, and Jimmy Vaughan among others, Sue Foley is considered one of the finest blues/roots artists working today.
Billy Sheehan (Toronto - Session 2)
Billy Sheehan has changed the way bass guitar is played.
From his work with Talas, David Lee Roth (two platinum selling albums), Mr. Big (#1 song "To Be With You"), Steve Vai, and his solo work, he has developed a trademark style of playing and has performed over 4000 live gigs worldwide.
Voted "Best Rock Bass Player" 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honour which placed him in their "Gallery of Greats" (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name but a few), he has also won readers polls in Germany, Japan ('Best Bass Player' 14 consecutive times!), Korea, Italy, and many other countries.
Billy's handprints and signature were preserved in cement on the Hollywood Rockwalk, an honour attributed to those artists who have made a significant contribution to Rock and Roll.
Gary Hoey (Toronto - Session 1)
World-renowned instrumental rock guitarist Gary Hoey has 13 albums under his belt, dating back to 1993 when he launched his career with the hit song "Hocus Pocus."
His fiery technique helped to send it to the top 5 on Billboard’s charts.
Ozzy Osbourne liked the Boston raised guitarist’s playing enough to fly him to LA for an audition.
Gary’s soundtrack to the surf saga Endless Summer II cemented his status as a demi-god among surfers.
Even Dick Dale, the surf-guitar king, proclaimed Gary his favourite modern guitarist.
He has maintained that status with several top rock radio hits that are heavy on riffs, melodies, hooks, and heart.
He has toured and traded licks with the likes of Brian May (Queen), Ted Nugent, Foreigner, Joe Satriani, The Doobie Bros, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, and Peter Frampton, to name a few.
Rick Gratton (Toronto - Session 1)
Rick is a grammy-nominated drummer who has worked with Marc Jordan, Michelle Wright, the late Long John Baldry and Ian Thomas to name a few.
He was also the original drummer for one of Canada’s notorious bands, Rough Trade.
He has produced his own educational books and videos and has worked on numerous other educational projects for other drummers including Virgil Donati and Carmine Appice.
Teacher to the stars, Rick has taught and inspired some high profile drummers including Anton Fig (David Letterman Show), Chester Thompson (Genesis, Phil Collins), and Marvin “Smithy” Smith (Jay Leno and the Tonight Show).
Rick has also recorded numerous jingles and recordings over the years.
Dave Martone (Vancouver - Weekend Session)
When it comes to guitar heros, Dave Martone is one of Canada’ best kept secrets ... but not for long!
Dave has worked with 3 Doors Down, Steve Morse, Jennifer Batten, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, Seymour Duncan, Greg Howe, Joe Satriani and drum greats Chester Thompson, Mike Portnoy, and Greg Bissionet.
In addition to his five solo releases and live DVD, Dave was also credited on Joe Satriani’s album Super Colossal.
He has been featured on the cover of Muzik Etc and also in Guitar One Magazine as one of the top four underground shredders in North America. An incredible instructor, Dave is a popular teacher and clinician.
David Gogo (Vancouver - Weekend Session)
David Gogo has had a guitar in his hands since the age of five and has been a professional musician since the age of sixteen.
In 2004 he received the “Great Canadian Blues Award“ for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award for “Blues Album of The Year’ and he’s a two-time winner of the Maple Blues “Guitarist of the Year” Award.
He has performed with Little Feat, Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, The Tragically Hip, B.B. King, Otis Rush, Blues Traveler, George Thorogood and ZZ Top.
David has also played the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
Don Alder (Vancouver - Weekend Session)
Canada’s own Don Alder is one of the best acoustic guitarists in the world, and one of Canada’s premiere harp guitarists.
His unique style and energetic performances have been called intense, passionate and awe-inspiring and he is often referred to as the acoustic Hendrix. He plays to audiences around the world, writes and performs all of his own music, and has released five albums.
He has received many awards including first place in the prestigious International Fingerstyle Championships.
Don has been featured on the cover of Acoustic Guitar Magazine as well as Fingerstyle magazine
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