The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status YET, but their current situations have shaped them to be who they are--determined, fond of their craft, and heroes in their own right.  Perhaps you'll see in these upcoming entries the next Jimi Hendrix, Melissa Etheridge, or Duane Allman.  Or perhaps they'll become household names by doing what they do best--ripping a mean riff!

While we here at Jemsite often hamper on the best Ibanez and JEM guitarists and the rock gods of our generation, we've realized that all guitar and music genres should be exemplified to the best of our ability.  After all, well all know it's not easy playing guitar, whether it's flamenco or rock, acoustic or rhythmic. 

So for that matter, we've gone ahead and featured some of our favorites in other categories--from blues to jazz One such performer is guitarist Mike Baggetta, who's been called this generation's most original jazz improvisers and composers.  He's received awards for his talent and is involved in more than one group including Mike Baggetta Quartet and a duo called Tin/Bag.  He's performed and recorded with countless great musicians and entertainers and currently lives in the self-proclaimed capital of great music: New York City! 

That's because Tim knows what he's talking about when it comes to modern classical music, including the presence of guitars in this genre.  His musical influences include everything from Miles Davis to Monteverdi, but just as well, he's also a passionate classical music aficionado, a freelance writer and editor, and a blogger.  He's putting together a manuscript for the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music and somehow manages to find time in his incredibly busy schedule to write for his blog, The Rambler, which he's had online since 2003.  

A guitar player, he's not, but he's surely a music expert.

The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status YET, but their current situations have shaped them to be who they are--determined, fond of their craft, and heroes in their own right.  Perhaps you'll see in these upcoming entries the next Jimi Hendrix, Melissa Etheridge, or Duane Allman.  Or perhaps they'll become household names by doing what they do best--ripping a mean riff!

It's hard enough moving music scenes from New York to Baltimore, but how does a guitar player deal with Berlin, Germany, and a long stint in Panama.  Ask Ernesto Schnack.  The versatile guitar player was born and raised in Panama, but opted to move to Berlin in hopes of finding a bigger audience for his music.  Of course, his father is German, so you'd think he'd have an easy time fitting in.

Garage bands from the 60s will always be in style! S  says Chris Bishop aka Chas Kit, creator of Garage Hangover, a funky blog devoted to showcasing bands and  providing all the goods on his favorite garage rock music from the 60s. He's so adamant about this fact, that not only has he created a blog dedicated to the ultra-specific music genre, but he's also dedicated to making the site the ultimate research center about 60s music scenes collecting archival materials like photos, records, news clippings, and more from the decade. Unfortunately, as any blogger who doesn't do it as any blogger with a full-time job knows, it isn't easy, and we sure wish he was doing his thing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week instead of when he gets home in the evenings!

We had the chance to talk to Chris about his favorite garage bands as well as how guitar has influenced the genre.  Read on to hear what this garage band expert has to say! 

Garage is a crude kind of rock music, usually with plenty of attitude. That sound originated with teenagers in the 60's. "Like the Stones but worse" is the best short definition I've ever seen. I don't take the term too seriously: on my site I cover both amateur and professional bands, some of whom never practiced in a garage and whose members often had years of experience playing.