By George Cole
3.5
88 ratings
The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.
Great Podcast with my friend Johnny. For those who aren't familiar, Johnny Beane is a versatile guitarist, musician, talk show host, guitar gear reviewer, and IRL streamer known for his passion for music. As a podcaster, YouTuber, and Twitch gamer, Johnny combines his love for music and gaming, creating engaging content for fans of guitar, gear, and gaming alike. Whether he’s breaking down legendary riffs, exploring iconic gear, or connecting with fans on live streams, Johnny brings energy and expertise to every platform.
David "Dawg" Grisman: Stéphane Grappelli told me that, when he and Django first met and started playing together in between sets at a big hotel in Paris, he said they were basically trying to imitate Eddie Lang and Joe Venuti.
George Cole: Thank you. Thank you for saying that. Listeners out there in podcast land, that is a very important piece of information, because if you read the books, people will try to tell you that Django was mostly influenced by Duke Ellington, who's great, and Louis Armstrong, who's great. We love all that. But I've always thought the same thing as you just mentioned.
Welcome, welcome to the Hot Jazz Network Podcast. I'm your host, George Cole. On our show today, we have one of the most important musicians in American history. He's a legendary mandolinist and composer, but more important, he's also my friend. He's the creator of Dawg Music, has recorded with Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, Doc Watson, Del McCoury, and countless others.
Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only David Grisman, the man we call Dawg.
Today on the Hot Jazz Network Podcast, Dave Lopez and George Cole announced an important benefit/fundraiser for the Jason Becker Creative Care Project. Jason Becker's story, if you haven't heard it, is one you'll never forget—a tale of brilliance, talent, determination, adversity, and ultimate triumph. A child prodigy on guitar, Jason rose to prominence as a teenager when he was one half of the legendary rock guitar duo Cacophony (with his great friend Marty Friedman). After wowing audiences worldwide with his amazing guitar skills and deep compositions, Jason auditioned for—and secured—the coveted position with David Lee Roth, following in the footsteps of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai. He wrote and recorded the DLR album "A Little Ain't Enough" and was poised to take over the rock guitar world when a nagging pain in his leg was diagnosed as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, a debilitating and fatal condition with a life expectancy of approximately five years.
Jason did indeed lose the ability to play guitar, walk, talk, and breathe on his own. However, he never lost his will to live or his desire to create music. Communicating through a series of eye movements with a system developed by his father, Jason spells out words as well as musical notes and chords. He imparts his musical vision to his team, who then input the notes into a computer, edit the parts to his exacting standards, and generate charts for session musicians. Through this remarkable process, Jason composes his profoundly beautiful music, rich in melody and counterpoint, brimming with emotion. His inspiring music and life story have been the subject of countless news articles, magazine cover stories, and an award-winning documentary, "Jason Becker: Not Dead Yet."
Not only is Jason still alive, but he's busier and more prolific than ever. His release, "Triumphant Hearts," showcases his gift for melody and deep knowledge of classical composition and orchestral arrangement. The album features Jason's signature, amazing guitar playing (recorded in the '80s and '90s) as well as performances by a who's-who of guitar virtuosos, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Neal Schon, Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Joe Bonamassa, and many others.
Jason Becker isn't just an extraordinary musician; he's also one of the most positive, upbeat, and inspiring individuals alive. "I really feel lucky," says Jason. "I am surrounded by loving people, and I can still make music."
DAVE LOPEZ Born in Chile, David Lopez's musical journey began when his brother introduced him to the world of guitar, rock, and Latin music. Growing up in Richmond, CA, Dave developed a passion for the diverse sounds of hip hop and heavy metal. Learning from the legendary musician and composer Jason Becker, Dave further honed his skills and later worked in studio management at the renowned Jackson St. Studios and Sound Wave Studios with artists ranging from 2Pac to Metallica. In 2003, he formed Flipsyde and toured worldwide with acts such as Snoop Dogg, Black Eyed Peas, and Busta Rhymes. Flipsyde's success included platinum and gold records, such as their 2005 debut album, "We the People" (Interscope). Their song "Someday" was chosen as a theme song by NBC for the 2006 Winter Olympic Games and appeared on the soundtrack for the 2008 film "Never Back Down."
Jason Becker Creative Care Project Launch Party Fundraiser Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM Baltic Kiss, 135 Park Place, Point Richmond, CA 510-260-0571 https://www.baltickiss.com/ https://jasonbecker.com/
Today's Hot Jazz Network Podcast finds host George Cole delving into the intricate mastery of expert luthier, RYAN THORELL, of Thorell Guitars.
ABOUT Ryan Thorell:
Ryan Thorell is known for worldclass original guitars collected and coveted by some of the best musicians around the planet including Frank Vignola, John Pizzarelli, Tommy Emmanuel and many others. Thorell guitars are all built one at a time by luthier Ryan Thorell in Logan Utah. Ryan built his first guitar in 1994 and opened his shop and started selling fine handmade instruments in 2003. He has averaged 10 guitars a year ever since putting around two hundred Thorell guitars all around the world where they are collected and valued among the best instruments available.
LINKS:
Website: https://www.thorellguitars.com/
Great balls of fire! On this VERY Hot Jazz Network Podcast, host George Cole talks with international Rockabilly star, Darrel Higham. Endorsed by Gretsch Guitars and Peavey Amps, Darrel Higham has worked with Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Jools Holland, Imelda May, Billy Lee Riley, Rocky Burnett, and more. Listen to George and Darrel wind their way through the intersecting paths of musical interests and discuss guitars, great guitarists, and the music that makes them "tick"!
ABOUT Darrel Higham: Born in Bedford, England in 1970, Higham grew up listening to the music of Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran. Through the influence of these artists, Higham took up the guitar in his early teens and joined his first band whilst still at school.
In 1992 he spent 6 months living in the USA; touring and recording with Eddie Cochran’s original backing band, The Kelly Four. His first solo album was released in 1995 on Nervous Records, entitled Mobile Corrosion. Higham played lead guitar in the West End production of Elvis: The Musical in 1996. He co-wrote the first biography on his musical hero, Eddie Cochran for Mainstream Publishing in 2000. Along with solo albums and records released with his Rockabilly band, The Enforcers, throughout the 90s and 00s, Higham also played lead guitar and produced many other artists. He co-owns Embassy Studio in Hampshire and oversees a great many sessions there. In 2007, Higham started work with Stray Cats drummer, Slim Jim Phantom. Together they recorded 2 albums and toured Europe, even making an appearance on BBC’s Later With Jools in 2012. In 2011 he shared the lead vocal duties with Imelda May on the Jeff Beck DVD and subsequent CD, A Rock 'n' Roll Party. He has played guitar for Robert Plant, Jools Holland, Imelda May, Sharon Shannon, Shakin’ Stevens, Jeff Beck, Billy Lee Riley, Rocky Burnette, Bono, Paul McCartney, to name but a few. Darrel is endorsed by Gretsch guitars, Peavey amplifiers and TV Jones pick-ups. Darrel also helped design The Rockingham semi-acoustic guitar for Peavey.
LINKS
Website: darrelhigham.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Darrel-Higham/100044555554168/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrelhighammusic/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/DCHigham
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/darrelhighammusic
Strings Darrel Higham Rockabilly Signature Strings newtonestrings.com
Latest Recording: Darrel Higham, a Tribute to Gene Vincent. https://www.musicking.co.uk/collections/foot-tapping-records/products/darrel-higham-a-tribute-to-gene-vincent-cd A Superb salute to the great Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps. The vast majority of the songs included here are from the glorious 1956 to early '57 period, they capture the spirit of these monumental recordings, all the instruments recorded by Darrel himself.
Darrel Higham PERFORMANCES:
November 2, 2024; Spain. Gene & Eddie Show with Cliff Edmonds.
November 16, 2024; France. Rockin' Gone Party, RockaRocky. Near Lyon.
Interesting episode of the Hot Jazz Network Podcast with host George Cole picking the brains of a musically dynamic duo, Miss Maybell (Lauren Sansaricq) and Charlie Judkins.
Currently engrossed in a fun project researching unrecorded songs from 1899-1929, working with the Library of Congress and sourcing sheet music from antique shops or relatives of songwriters. They'll be recording a selection of these songs on an album with Rivermont Records. Lauren and Charlie perform as Miss Maybell & The Jazz Age Artistes playing a large repertoire of early Jazz and Blues from the 1910’s - 30’s. They source their tunes from dusty old 78 records and antique sheet music and give new life to songs from bygone eras. Miss Maybell sings (beautifully!), plays the washboard, banjo, and the guitar. Charlie Judkins plays piano.
WEBSITE: https://www.missmaybell.com/
LATEST RELEASE: https://rivermontrecords.com/collections/new-releases/products/102?variant=41457771282493
UPCOMING APPEARANCES: Sept. 22; Birdland Jazz Theater, 315 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/miss-maybell-the-jazz-age-artistes/
https://www.birdlandjazz.com/tm-event/miss-maybell-the-jazz-age-artistes-2/
Great episode of the Hot Jazz Network Podcast with host George Cole taking time to converse with Kurt Ribak and learning a lot about him and his musical universe.
ABOUT KURT RIBAK:
Kurt describes his music as “Charles Mingus meets The Meters. They go to Duke Ellington’s house to jam, and Cachao and Thelonious Monk sit in.” Kurt has three albums as the Kurt Ribak Trio, and two more as Kurt Ribak. The albums feature his own compositions, which are original yet accessible.
Kurt grew up singing and playing classical music. He began playing jazz while attending UC Berkeley. After a battle with tendinitis, Kurt won scholarships to Berklee College of Music. He graduated with top honors and spent many hours mastering the styles of bassists Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, and Charles Mingus and discovering his love of composition and songwriting.
Kurt has shared the stage with circus performers, preachers and fire-breathing strippers, but never all three at once. He has performed in venues ranging from SFJAZZ and Yoshi’s to a club where someone surreptitiously stashed a loaded .45 in his bass bag while Kurt was playing .
In June 2012 Kurt was in an auto accident, seriously injuring his left hand and forearm. Thirteen operations and six years later he resumed playing full-time, much to the surprise of many surgeons. Kurt notes, “When I was hurt I learned how many people loved me, cared about me. That really helped me get back to playing."
Kurt's recordings are played on KCSM-FM, KPFA, KZFR, KKUP, San Diego's Jazz 88, PRI and other jazz stations. His band has sold out Yoshi’s and SFJAZZ. They have also performed at Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, San Francisco Jazz Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, Nor-Cal Jazz Festival, Fillmore Street Jazz Festival, and Blue Note Napa.
LINKS:
Website http://www.ribak.com/
Recordings https://songwhip.com/artist/kurt-ribak, https://songwhip.com/artist/kurt-ribak-trio
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kurt.ribak.music/
SF Jazz Profile: https://www.sfjazz.org/onthecorner/kurt-ribak-interview/
Spotify Artist Page https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SiI0WuOSFkkWdfp8LuTpw?si=PFZTcsrASma7FnDqdzKWGw
KURT RIBAK PERFORMANCES:
Dec. 24, 2024 (a Jazz Service) 7 PM at First United Methodist Church in the Point Richmond District of Richmond, 201 Martina St., Richmond, CA.
May 17, 2025 - Show at SFJAZZ in the Joe Henderson Lab.
Keep up on all things KURT RIBAK... go to http://www.ribak.com/gigs.html or email him at [email protected]
TEJA GERKEN
GUITAR WIZARD / ENTERPRENUER
In this most recent episode of the Hot Jazz Network podcast, I had the distinct pleasure of conversing with Teja Gerken. He is a fount of information and our talk is well worth the listen. Teja is, among other things, the co-founder, video producer, and host of the Advanced Fingerstyle Workshop at Peghead Nation https://pegheadnation.com/string-school/courses/advanced-fingerstyle-workshop . He is also a guitar aficionado, and recording/performing artist. Please check out the links below to find out more about Teja his work and his music.
WEBSITE: https://www.tejagerken.com/
ABOUT:https://www.tejagerken.com/about/
RECORDINGS: https://www.tejagerken.com/albums/
WRITINGS: https://www.tejagerken.com/writing/
PEGHEAD NATION: https://pegheadnation.com/
ADVANCED FINGERSTYLE WORKSHOP: https://pegheadnation.com/string-school/courses/advanced-fingerstyle-workshop
SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0JmQtr8P3IKwP9rUA3BUd4
LATEST RELEASE - "TEST OF TIME": https://open.spotify.com/album/2E85aDIsPGWUGOUWkhVydu?si=C8aBO_dCQuS3IKLYAhMHVg
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/people/Teja-Gerken-Music/100061781719527/?fref=ts
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/tejaguitar
REVIEW - LASTEST RELEASE: https://acousticguitar.com/review-teja-gerkens-test-of-time-is-a-sonic-marvel-from-top-to-bottom/
A Few Facts About Teja Gerken:
– Born in Essen, Germany, in 1970.
– Got his first guitar at the age of six and learned his first chords from his dad.
– First formal lessons at the Freies Musikzentrum München, in Munich, Germany.
– Moved to California in 1986.
– Lived in the guitar-making town of Paracho, Mexico, where he built a classical guitar.
– Private studies with George Quirin, Peter Greenwood, Jim Fletcher, Peppino D’Agostino, Jeff Massanari, and Duck Baker.
– Has managed a guitar shop (Tall Toad Music, in Petaluma, California).
– Was the Gear Editor, then Senior Editor for Acoustic Guitar magazine from 1997 – 2013.
– Wrote The Taylor Guitar Book, and has contributed to several other books.
– Has hosted two long-running monthly Acoustic Guitar Showcases at San Francisco’s Bazaar Cafe (2001 – 2013), and Fairfax’ Sleeping Lady (2009 – 2015).
– Is a former radio host/DJ for KUSF’s Guitar Journey’s program.
– Co-founded Peghead Nation in 2014, where he hosts the Advanced Fingerstyle Workshop, demos instruments, and is the company’s producer.
– Owns a lot of guitars, but you’re most-likely to see him with a Martin Custom Shop OM, a Lowden O10, a Taylor 355 12-string, a Kenny Hill classical, a Mario DeSio baritone, or a National Tricone.
Charlie 'Roman' Castelluzzo is a hot jazz guitarist based in NYC. Specializing in Django Reinhardt's early playing style, he leads his own hot string quintet drawing out the percussive rhythm style and magic sounds of those years. Additionally, Charlie leads a 10 piece jazz orchestra playing popular music from the 1920-30's where he showcases his innate crooning style of early jazz pioneers.
@charlieromanjazz - personal @charlieromanhotclub - django quintet @gladragsjazz - jazz orchestra
Website
www.charlieromanjazz.com
NEW EP- He recently made a trial EP to promote funding towards a new album, you can purchase/listen here:
https://charlieromanhotclub.bandcamp.com/album/la-prima-volta
FIRST CONCERT WITH 10 PIECE ORCHESTRA IN NYC JULY 16TH AT 54 BELOW, TICKETS AVAIL HERE:
https://54below.org/events/charlie-roman-and-the-glad-rags-orchestra-celebrate-the-1920s-and-1930s/
Versatile and sophisticated jazz guitarist Ron Jackson has performed, recorded and taught music in over 30 countries. With a varied career as a performer, composer and arranger, Highlights include shows and tours with artists such as Taj Mahal, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, Oliver Lake, Russell Malone and Mulgrew Miller. Ron has been featured as a leader in jazz festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festivals and Winter Jazzfest, NYC. Born in the Philippines, lived in many states as a kid, then settled in Harvard, Massachusetts, west of Boston, Ron was initially influenced by rock guitar greats like Jimmy Page, before falling under the spell of jazz and following the style and career of jazz guitar luminaries like Pat Metheny and George Benson. After attending Berklee School of Music on scholarship, studying jazz composition and arranging, Ron spent two formative years in the mid-1980’s living and playing guitar with the lively expat jazz community in Paris, France. Ron moved to New York City where he remains an active participant in Gotham’s always vibrant jazz scene. A master of the six, seven and twelve string guitars, Ron appeared on over 40 albums by such artists as Hal Singer, Graeme Norris, Ron Blake, Gisele Jackson and T.K. Blue, before founding the independent record label Roni Music in 2003 which has since released some of his eight of his albums as a leader including The Dream I Had (2003), Flubby Dubby (2008) and Akustik InventYours (2014). His latest project, Jazz Standards and Other Songs (2019) is an alluring mix of familiar jazz numbers and innovative adaptations of songs from other genre’s like his trendsetting arrangement for jazz trio of Drake’s “Passion Fruit.” Ron was grateful to be selected as the winner of the 1996 Heritage International Jazz Guitar Competition. He has also been a recipient of the 2012 Donald Knutson Memorial Development Fund and the 1991 and 2000 Meet the Composer Performance Fund. He endorses, Eastman Guitars, Kremona Guitars, Aria Classical Guitars, Paul Reed Smith Guitars and Godin Guitars. An acclaimed music educator, Ron currently teaches guitar at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New School, Midori and Friends, and is the founder and director of the website www.practicejazzguitar.com. Ron has held master classes, concerts and workshops at Jazz at Lincoln Center-Jazz in the Schools, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Escuela Creativa Musica in Madrid, Spain and California State University. Ron has made appearances in several major motion pictures including The Greatest Showman, Vulgar, and Fly by Night. He has also performed in pit orchestras on many Broadway and off-Broadway shows including Avenue Q, Fosse, Shuffle Along, and Bring In `Da Noise, Bring In `Da Funk. In recent years, Ron has also developed a side career as a freelance writer for Acoustic Guitar magazine where he’s published educational and guitar instructional articles.
WEBSITE: https://ronjacksonmusic.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ronjacksonmusic/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ronjacksonmusic/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fronjacksonmusic
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1KGaLagVXONmmBs0TVBzo7?si=-CdqkAbKSE6EgLchQyH8zw&nd=1&dlsi=284d982dded443ed
The podcast currently has 17 episodes available.