Bruce Mathiske & d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie

Bruce Mathiske is an Australian acoustic guitarist who plays in the mold of another great Aussie, Tommy Emmanuel. He got his first guitar at the age of seven. He studied classical guitar at seventeen and moved to jazz at twenty-one. But when he heard Chet Atkins at the age of twenty-two, he became a hardcore fingerstyle player, although he does occasionally use a flat pick. From the age of twenty-two to twenty-eight he practiced ten hours a day then played in bands in the evening to support himself. As he’s aged, he’s trimmed back to only five hours of practice a day.

While Chet Atkins was a huge influence, he also cites Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, and Paul Simon as significant influences on his playing. Although he doesn’t refer to him, I hear a lot of Tommy Emmanuel in his style. His musical repertoire is eclectic ranging from covers of great pop songs to jazz to Latin. Check out Classical Gas Espanol as an example. Hope you enjoy this fabulous Aussie guitarist.

Pulling my own strings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MvaynDCfbY

Still haven’t found what I’m looking for: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7FimslOFSs

Caravan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2z9KC5x44

Eleanor Rigby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYS9gzNQJbA

Somewhere over the rainbow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sByyEdZc1v4

Classical Gas Espanol: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOFfUR93rI

Dance of the gypsy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwUp3KMrQeE

Havana nights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs5FsPB-Q8U

The water is wide: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9RgGxtkR1s  

Edgy does it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozXSeHXWybI

It don’t mean a thing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJTccylU4kA

A 2009 D’Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz ($18.00) is the perfect Aussie wine to compliment Bruce. A blend of 94% Shiraz and 6% Viognier,  Laughing Magpie is inky purple with an explosive bouquet of blackberries, plums, and expresso. The taste is full of dark berries, coffee, chocolate, pepper, and hint of wood smoke. It has a nice long finish with velvety tannins. One suggestion, though, aerate this wine for a bit. I suggest either decanting or using something like a Vinturi. It will really open up and bloom. Throw something on the Barbie, grab a bottle of Laughing Magpie, and crank up the music of Bruce Mathiske. After all, it’s the first day of spring!

Cheers!

Stu Hamm & d'Arenberg Stump Jump Shiraz

Stu Hamm was born inNew Orleans, but spent his childhood and youth in Champaign, Illinois where he studied bass and piano, played in the stage band at Champaign High School, and was selected to the Illinois All-State Band. Following high school, he attended the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he met guitarist Steve Vai and, through him, Joe Satriani. Hamm played bass on Vai's debut solo album, Flex-Able, which was released in 1984.

Stu has performed and recorded with Steve Vai, Frank Gambale, and Joe Satriani, with whom he is most frequently associated. It was playing on tour with Satriani that brought Hamm's skills to national attention. Subsequent recordings with Satriani and other rock/fusion artists, along with the release of his own solo recordings have solidified his reputation as a bassist, composer, and performer. He’s one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Count Zero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuZrJtXLa0

Black Ice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UkIVRVdQGo&feature=related

Obligatory Boogie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v11t2Rcb3c

Call Of The Wild: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSYmejnAE5s&feature=related

I want to Know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD-kwrYy634&feature=related

Geo 100: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LERgQ1mwEyA&feature=related

Flow My Tears: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqADj5SuKJE&feature=related

Driving at Night with Satriani: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO7bQAjMWV0&feature=related

Linus and Lucy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F47nSQuDfnE&feature=related

Going to California: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUYuK0qkuAw&feature=related

Stu Hamm himself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Q_J2fIKPI&feature=related

Flying in a blue dream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I56Ar4lDxNw&feature=related

Summer song with Satriani: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAHRoeiOt-s&feature=related

Stu deserves a powerhouse wine to match his music, so I suggest the 2008 version of  d’Arenberg’s Stump Jump Shiraz ($10.00). The name 'Stump Jump' relates to the South Australian Stump Jump plough. This plough became a popular piece of machinery for plowing fields because of its ability to ride over stumps, gnarled Eucalyptus roots, and snags, saving valuable time and resources by not stopping the draught horse.

The wine has abundant plum and raspberry aromas that leap out of the glass enveloping your nose in a heavenly pot-pourri. The palate is juicy with cherry, raspberry, and red currents along with the spice typical of Shiraz. There’s an underlying earthy complexity that’s evident throughout. This is an incredible wine for ten bucks and was rightly placed in Wine Spectator’s top 100 wines for 2010. So, kick off the week with the driving rock of Stu Hamm and open a bottle of Stump Jump to jumpstart the week. Enjoy!

Cheers!