Artist	Song
Stevie Ray Vaughan	Testify
from Texas Flood (1983) In the summer of 1983 I was working at Mainstream Records in Milwaukee, and my co-worker, as I came into work one day, burst out of the back room of the shop waving an album saying things like "Omigod!! You got to hear this record!! It's the best thing I've heard in years!". It was "Texas Flood" by Stevie Ray Vaughan. A few days later I attended a Stevie Ray show at Milwaukee's Summerfest. I swear, amidst the sweet smell of herb, stage lighting, and the beautiful summer night, I saw the ghost of Jimi Hendrix up there on that stage. Not much has been the same since.
Jeff Healey Band	See the Light
from See the Light (1988) When this blasted out of my car speakers I nearly drove off the road. Luckily, the DJ said who it was and I immediately became a huge fan. Some of the most excellent guitar playing I'd ever heard.
Danny Gatton	Sleepwalk
from Unfinished Business (1987) Fact: The best guitarist I've ever heard. Period. My opinion, of course, but Danny was on another planet, in another universe; he could play anything, and he could play it better than anybody else. This track, similar to Roy Buchanan's Telecaster workouts takes the old instrumental chestnut "Sleepwalk" and absolutely nails the definitive version. My favorite guitarist. Tragically, committed suicide in 1994.
Tom Principato	One For Danny (Dedicated to Danny Gatton)
from Really Blue (1998) There was (and is) no shortage of killer guitar players in the Washington DC area. Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanan to name a couple. Tom Principato is another. Principato is a guitar "slinger" of the first order. This track he dedicates to Danny Gatton and shows off a handful of Gatton signature licks.
Johnny Hiland	Until We Meet Again
from Johnny Hiland (2004) Sometime in 2002 or 2003, I attended an in-store appearance (at The Guitar Gallery here in Chicago?) by Will Ray (at the time a member of The Hellecasters), and he spoke glowingly of a guitarist based in Nashville, Johnny Hiland, who could play rings around everybody. He got that right. Hiland's technique is awesome while also beautifully tasteful.
The Hellecasters	Sweet Dreams
from The Return of The Hellecasters (1993) Speaking of Will Ray - this is his take on Don Gibson's "Sweet Dreams" which we featured on disc 1 of this set with Roy Buchanan's take. Both are amazing demonstrations of guitar-manship. As an aside, some of the finest guitar playing of the 1990s can be found on Hellecasters records. The Hellecasters are: John Jorgenson, Will Ray, & Jerry Donahue.
Bill Hullett	The Stumble
from Two Lane Blacktop (1998) Excellent Tele workout by Hullett, a hugely respected and busy Nashville session guitarist. Here he smokes on the old Freddy King instrumental "The Stumble".
Arlen Roth	When a Man Loves A Woman
from Toolin' Around (1999) Arlen Roth is one of the great masters of the guitar and his take of this Percy Sledge hit is just AMAZING. Jaw dropping technique, fabulous tone - in a word - awesome.
Johnny A	Wichita Lineman
from Some Tuesday Morning (1999) A lush, meltingly gorgeous cover of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman" covered so well by Glen Campbell. He does here with guitar voicing what Bill Evans did so well with jazz piano. Completely captures the essence of the song. This just SINGS.
Brent Mason	Hot Wired
from Hot Wired (1997) Another one of the thirteen hundred and fifty-two guitar pickers in Nashville that can play better than I can. Brent Mason sets the bar so unbelievably high it's a wonder anyone comes close, but then again Johnny Hiland is out of Nashville too.
Greg Koch	Holy Grail
from The Grip (2001) Greg Koch is SO GOOD it's ridiculous. There's only a couple of other players that are in his league - he has flawless technique and tone. I do want to mention that I was playing with my band many years ago in Cedarburg Wisconsin at their annual Strawberry Fest, and Greg was in the audience. When I finished up one of my solos, he looked at me, nodded and smiled. I was walking on air the rest of the day.
Chris Duarte	Letter To My Girlfriend
from Texas Sugar/Strat Magik (1994) Some may say - Aww, he's just a Stevie Ray clone. Let me disagree. He comes out of Texas with many of the same traditions and influences that Stevie Ray had, but he's his own player - and a damn fine one at that!
Coco Montoya	How Do You Sleep at Night
from Dirty Deal (2007) Delicious, velvety tone - plays the right thing at always the right time, and he just keeps getting better and better. And, as I told him recently, "Coco, I absolutely love your guitar playing - but tonight your singing just knocked me out." He gave me a big smile and said "Thank you!"
Clas Yngström	The Supernatural
from Rattlesnake Guitar: The Music of Peter Green (1995) An awesome take on Peter Green's "The Supernatural". Totally sweet and melancholy. Could listen to this all night long.
Djam Karet	All Clear
from New Dark Age (2001) Djam Karet is a major progressive rock band that has occasionally dabbled in ambient, electronica, and jam band styles and bring an eerie, somewhat dark undercurrent to their music. The guitar work by Gayle Ellett & Mike Henderson is wonderfully melodic and sophisticated. Exceptional.
Ozric Tentacles	Oolite Grove
from Curious Corn (1997) Beginning in 1984 as a "crustie" type festival band in the UK, Ozric Tentacles has produced two dozen albums since (at least!) and are still together touring and recording. They have been led by Ed Wynn, guitar wizard and synth button pusher extraordinaire. The opening segment of this track has some of most melodic, sweet guitar work you'll find anywhere, anytime.

Comment:

The guitar has been generally the primary musical instrument of much of popular music. From rock to rock & roll, blues, it is the guitar that has typically dominated. I am a guitar player and throughout my nearly 50 years of listening to music and collecting records, there have always been a number of guitar performances that stand out, head and shoulders above. This the second volume of this 2CD set, appropriately entitled "The Young Upstarts".

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