The Guitar Hero Series: Chris Standring

Written by Ava

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!

Chris Standring has a guitar style all his own. And it's a mix of jazz and soul. Called "one of contemporary jazz's most dynamic and in-demand guitarists", Chris sticks out as a dedicated, introspective jazz guitarist who tries to enhance the mood he creates with his soulful guitar picking. Pushing for an original sound, this British-born player will never allow himself to get bored with his own music! And why would he? It's too good.

But there's more. Besides playing up his own guitar and sound, Chris pushes to encourage youth musicians to find their own path through guitar and music. With educational websites that offer great tools for upcoming musicians to learn about the music business, Chris strives to help others perfect what he already knows.

And that's what makes him this week's Guitar Hero!

How does a boy growing up on a farm in Buckinghamshire end up playing the guitar?

Like any other boy or girl I guess. Even though we were out in the sticks, we still had tv and radio and all the cultural surroundings that any other person has. I remember I wanted a guitar from a very early age and in fact had many toy guitars until I was big enough to hold a real one, on my 6th birthday. That was quite a birthday present I can tell you. I remember seeing Glenn Campbell on the tv playing solo guitar when I was a kid and I didn’t really know what it was he was playing but I was pretty much hooked from then on. Not sure I ever heard Glen Campbell again mind you but he certainly gave me some inspiration at a very young age.

Why the decision to move to Los Angeles? What happened there in terms of your guitar career?

I was making a meager living in the UK as a freelance guitarist during the 80’s. I would sit in West End theatre orchestra pits playing shows, and work from time to time delivering live radio broadcasts for the BBC with a band, and of course learning how to write and arrange and do live gigs. But my aspirations were greater than London and I saw the writing on the wall and wanted much more. So after one or two reconnaissance trips I finally took the plunge and moved to LA in 1991.

Why the decision to move into jazz and soul when you originally started with classical guitar?

I started with classical guitar because that’s how we all learned when we were kids. As far as I knew there was no other option. You couldn’t get rock n roll guitar lessons, certainly not where I lived. It was considered the right way to learn. As I got older I became more and more drawn to harmony and its possibilities. So jazz was inevitable. The soul thing came about after I moved to LA and met musicians here. I was always into bands like Steely Dan, Earth Wind and Fire and Johnny Guitar Watson growing up so I guess it was sort of in me anyway and just needed to be allowed out.

Tell us the story behind the title of your newest album, Love & Paragraphs.

I have an old friend in the UK who got back in touch with me via the internet some time ago and started sending me lengthy emails. My responses were mostly one liners but I would always respond to each paragraph. Whern I bumped into her at one of my shows in the UK she said “you owe me more paragraphs!!” So I grabbed her CD and signed it ‘...with much love and Paragraphs – Chris!” And I thought that might make a nice title for an album.

What kind of songs can you find on this album?

Really good ones! But really…Guitar driven jazz influenced, groove oriented hypnotic sounding mood enhancing….need I go on?

How would you describe your style of guitar playing and your sound?

A hybrid of jazz and soul with probably more emphasis on the jazz.

Who are your musical influences?

In the early days I listened to guitarists like Jan Akkerman, Jeff Beck, Larry Carlton and Robben Ford. Later I got heavily into Pat Metheny and Pat Martino along with a good dose of other instrumentalists like Miles davis, Cannonball Adderly, Keith Jarett, Chet Baker, Charlie Parker and so on.

In your bio on your official website, it reads, “While many artists in his genre are content to find a certain formula and stick with it, Standring likes to start from scratch each time out and let the vibe of the project emerge spontaneously from the writing process.” Explain what this means.

I get bored with my own music! I have to stretch myself and push myself all the time otherwise I go nuts. I have to be stimulated musically. I am working on a new album right now and it is very orchestral, very cinematic. I still need to put my stamp on it and everyone will know it’s me, but I just have to move on musically everytime. I need to keep me on my toes as well as the audience.

What do you do to help young musicians? Tell me about A&R Online, your websites, and your CD-Rom educational guitar courses.

I try to encourage young musicians even though the business is no place for slouches now. To be successful now I think you need a massive inner drive. I have some educational websites that are great resources for budding musicians where they can learn about the business (A&R Online) and learn how to play the guitar (GuitarMadeSimple.com and PlayJazzGuitar.com)

What words of wisdom would you give to a young musician who would like to follow in your footsteps?

Really learn to play your instrument but understand music more than just guitar. Writing and composition is my driving force, not guitar playing, so to follow in MY footsteps would require a young musician to transcribe a lot of different music to get harmony under their belt. Other than that, do it because you need to, not because you want to. Otherwise it really should be a hobby. Pearls of wisdom? Hmmmm how about this…”Success begins to happen when mediocrity becomes unacceptable”.