Our guest artists share their knowledge and experiences with our students while visiting classes, conducting clinics, and performing concerts. Past Guest Artists include: Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Robben Ford, John Scofield, Steve Vai, Randy Bachman, Paul Gilbert, Andy Summers (The Police), Billy Sheehan, Pierre Bensusan, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), John Abercrombie, Duke Robillard, Andy Timmons, Brent Mason, Mike Stern, John Knowles, Rik Emmett, John Jorgenson, Sue Foley, Jennifer Batten, Andy McKee, Orianthi, Paul DeLong, Tommy Emmanuel, Rhonda Smith, Guthrie Govan, Albert Lee, Eric Gales, and many more!
Our 2024 Guest Artists include:
Eric Gales (Nashville Session)
Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of who learned to play the guitar upside down and left-handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric released his first record at age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996. Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his guitar and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. He recorded seven more critically acclaimed records over the years and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. Eric signed with Mascot Label Group in 2017. He has released two albums on this label, 2018’s “Middle of the Road” and 2019’s “The Bookends” both deeply personal and introspective works which have catapulted him into the guitar stratosphere. As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix. However, Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Frank Gambale. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.
Andy Timmons (Fort Lauderdale Session)
Andy sol
d over a million records worldwide as a guitarist for the pop-metal band Danger Danger. He toured the world and had two #1 videos on MTV. His discography includes 9 solo releases ranging from blazing guitar instrumentals to blues, to pop. As a session player, he’s been featured on recordings by drumming legend Simon Phillips, Kip Winger, Paula Abdul, Paul Stanley, and countless radio and television jingles. Andy has been a musical director/guitarist for several U.S. tours. He has also played alongside Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Steve Morse, Mike Stern, Ace Frehley, Ted Nugent, and Pierre Bensusan. In magazine readers polls, Andy has been consistently voted a “Top 20 Favorite Guitarist” as well as being voted “Musician of the Year” four years in a row. He has also become one of the most respected and sought-after clinicians. This is an amazing opportunity to study, jam, and hang out with a true guitar hero for a few days!
Andy McKee (Toronto Session)
Andy McKee is one of the world’s finest acoustic guitarists and it’s evident from the accolades he has received throughout his career. It’s his youthful energy, attention to song structure and melodic content that elevates him above the rest. After nearly a decade without releasing new studio recordings, McKee returns with his six-track EP, Symbol. Andy entertains both the eye and the ear as he magically transforms the steel string guitar into a full orchestra via his use of altered tunings, tapping, partial capos, percussive hits and a signature two-handed technique. McKee’s crossover success has helped him to achieve millions upon millions of YouTube viewers, underscoring his emergence as one of today’s most unique and influential artists. His song “Drifting” became one of the first YouTube viral videos with almost 60 million views. He has been featured as a cover story in both Acoustic Guitar Magazine in the U.S. and Acoustic Magazine in the UK. McKee’s tour dates have taken him through Europe, Asia, Australia and North America, including tours with legendary acts from Dream Theater to Tommy Emmanuel.
David Grissom (San Diego Session)
David Gris
som has toured and recorded with artists such as John Mellencamp, Joe Ely, Storyville, The Allman Brothers Band, The Dixie Chicks, Chris Isaak, Robben Ford, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Ringo Starr, Buddy Guy, and John Mayall. His songs have been recorded by Trisha Yearwood, Lee Ann Womack, Rita Coolidge, John Mayall, Shannon Curfman and Storyville among others. David has released 5 CDs under his name and continues to do sessions, gigs, and songwriting, as well as collaborating with Paul Reed Smith on the DGT guitars and amplifiers.
Matt Schofield (Fort Lauderdale Session)
Matt Schofield continues to push the frontiers and reshape the boundaries of the British Blues tradition. Guitar virtuoso, singer, songwriter, producer and band leader. After 29 years of performing, and 15 years into his solo career, Schofield’s impact as one of the most influential and distinctive guitarists of his generation is unquestionable. Along with his ever growing fan base from performances around the globe comes awards, industry, peer and critical acclaim – three time “British Blues Guitarist of the Year,” “British Blues Album of the Year,” induction into the “British Blues Awards Hall of Fame,” “Blues Album of the Year” and “Top Ten British Blues Guitarist of All Time” alongside Eric Clapton and Peter Green. Schofield’s inimitable playing and tone has inspired legions of guitarists. His authenticity, mastery of guitar, emotive vocals, and improvisational brilliance are brought to life with innovative original compositions. A renowned musical educator, Matt released “Blues Speak”, his highly acclaimed instructional series. As a clinician he has taught from Tokyo to Texas and all points in between. Don’t miss your chance to learn from this master first hand and have the opportunity to jam with him in this setting!
Laurence Juber (San Diego Session)
Laurence Juber is a solo performer, recording artist, composer and arranger. His playing fuses folk, jazz, blues, pop and classical styles, creating a multi-faceted performance that belies the use of only one instrument. First internationally recognized as lead guitarist in Paul McCartney’s Wings, with whom he won a Grammy, Juber has since established himself as a world-renowned guitar virtuoso and entertainer. Juber, known to his fans as LJ, has recorded more than two dozen albums which spotlight his unique touch and tone on acoustic guitar. His recent release, Touchstones, is an historic collection of the roots of fingerstyle guitar from the renaissance to the early 20th century. Downtown, a jazz-inflected collection of standard tunes is slated for release in April 2019. LJ Plays The Beatles was voted one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s all-time Top Ten albums. His solo arrangement and performance of The Pink Panther Theme earned him a second Grammy, while his arrangement of Stand By Me was heard nationally in a Diamonds Are Forever commercial. Juber’s DVD-Audio project Guitar Noir won a CES Demmy award for best surround-sound audio. As a studio musician, he can be heard on countless recordings from diverse artists plus he is featured on the soundtracks to hundreds of TV shows such as Home Improvement and movies including the academy award-winning Dirty Dancing, Good Will Hunting, Pocahontas and others.
Gary Hoey (Toronto Session)
World renowned blues/rock guitarist Gary Hoey’s first break came in 1987 when Ozzy Osbourne liked Hoey’s tape enough to fly him to LA for an audition. Zakk Wylde eventually wound up with the gig, however Ozzy recommended Hoey move to LA where he was certain he would get noticed, and so he did! In 1992 Gary’s cover of “Hocus Pocus” rocketed into Billboard’s Top 5. With a collection of 21 albums it’s no wonder Gary Hoey is listed as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. In 1994 Hoey scored the successful “Endless Summer II” soundtrack. In 2012, he produced and co-wrote Lita Ford’s release “Living Like A Runaway” to rave reviews. He’s worked with legends like Joe Perry, Roger Daltrey, blues icon Johnny Winter, Robben Ford, and Leslie West to name just a few. He has toured and traded licks with the likes of Jeff Beck, Brian May of Queen, Ted Nugent, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Peter Frampton, and Dick Dale. Hoey has explored many styles of music in his career, but in 2013, came home to the Blues with his release of “Deja Blues.” 2016’s “Dust & Bones,” is an exuberant fusion of blues and rock. His latest release, “Neon Highway Blues”, carries the confidence and assuredness of a veteran, and the freshness of someone who’s still in the process of discovery and refinement — with the help of famous friends such as Eric Gales, Lance Lopez, and Josh Smith. Whatever style he plays, Gary Hoey is a fiery, charismatic player. Whether he’s playing scorching bluesy originals or blues/rock covers, his solos are thrilling and, one thing that remains consistent is Hoey’s impassioned command of the guitar. He can attack his instrument with feral intensity and then play something very soft and achingly beautiful. This ability to mix feeling, phrasing, technique and tone is the true mark of a master guitarist.
Muriel Anderson (Nashville Session)
Guitarist, Harp-Guitarist and composer Muriel Anderson, embraces music from all over the world with a sense of grace, joy, and gentle humor. If you’re not already familiar with Muriel, you will find yourself smiling when you feel the joy of her music shining through a stunning array of styles. Muriel is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. Her CD, “Nightlight Daylight”, was chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of the decade by Guitar Player Magazine, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle. Muriel was also named one of the top 50 acoustic guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Recent works include “The Optimism Collection”, “Acoustic Chef” and “Sailing Dreams”. Muriel has learned from legendary musicians Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Christopher Parkening, and jammed with Jimmy Page among others. She hosts the famous Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night and founded the Music for Life Alliance charity.
Larry Mitchell (Toronto Session)
Larry Mitchell is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, composer and GRAMMY award winning producer/ engineer, who also holds twenty-seven New Mexico Music Awards, a San Diego Music Award, and his recent album “The Light Within” just earned the coveted 2022 “Best Instrumental” Global Music Award. Larry’s guitar textures demonstrate his abilities as a solo artist and as an ensemble player having toured as guitarist for folk pop artist Tracy Chapman, rock singer Billy Squier, pop rock singer of the Cars Ric Ocasek , Latin mega star Miguel Bosѐ, United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, and acclaimed Native American singer Robert Mirabal. He has co-written music for a Broadway children’s musical with World Music and Native American artist Dawn Avery, Indigie Femme and Shelley Morningsong as well as singer songwriters Randi Driscoll, Katie Martin and many others in various musical genres. In 2022, Larry opened shows for guitar great Steve Vai and 2023 saw Larry play many festivals in the US and Australia.
