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!

None of the Guitar players I've featured so far in this series are your typical guitarists.  But Carl Wilson completely deviates from the rest.  When I caught sight of Carl for the first time, it wasn't his playing that caught my attention (in fact, I didn't even know he played guitar), it was his recognition as a music critic for The Globe and Mail, who has critiqued singers, groups, and bands, had to know what he was talking about with musical sounds (including instruments) and had probably seen and heard a good many guitarists in his day.

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 ok to call him a Guitar Geek.  In fact, he allows it! He doesn't mind the stigma. After all, he does go by the name JP Stratoblogster.

But this Stratocaster fan is so much more then just a Strato geek.  He's also a pure Fender Stratocaster aficionado, a guitarist extraordinaire, and the creator of Strat-o-blogster Guitar Blog targeting all thing--yep, you guessed it!---Stratocaster! 

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!

Don't call him merely a guitar player.  Joe Vasconcellos won't just play one instrument, or put himself in one music genre.  Perhaps it's the fact that his family background is a plethora of cultures including Chilean and Brazilian.  Perhaps it's because he loves all people and all things and wants his music to say so.  Perhaps it's because he wants everything he does (play drums, write music, strum guitar, and combine Latin Rhythims with intense lyrics to reflect the beauty in the world. 

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!

A funny thing happened to Mark Lee on the way to being a rock star.  He and singer-friend Mac got serious about their faith.  And so the buddies had no qualms about putting two and two together and coming up with their own organic Christian rock band--the kind where faith raises prominently in the lyrics--but the good ol' rock & roll beat never dies.

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!

Matt Warnock is the perfect example of how learning classical guitar can help make a difference in style, technical aspects, and skill for any type of guitar.  Though he started playing the instrument simply because he loved rock & blues, Warnock is an advocate of classical guitar skills for good musicianship.

Still, the improvisation of jazz guitar appealed to him and though classical guitar helped with technique, Warnock switched his focus to jazz.  As he mentions in the interview below, he loved the idea of making up arrangements and solos on the spot.

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.