Alex Hutchings & 2012 Eroica Riesling

UK based guitarist and composer Alex Hutchings has extensive experience in playing rock, funk jazz and R'n'B and has toured throughout the UK, Europe and South Africa. He also composes music for BBC TV and radio, working on programs such as Big Brother and Brainiac.

Alex Hutchings is described as a guitarist possessing an immaculate technique that places him in a different league to his contemporaries. His playing has an authenticity and passion that is similar to that of Larry Carlton. He’s has played in many top venues in and around the country, as well as festivals and clubs abroad. Some of these include the Sha la la music Club Cypress, Austrian festivals, Cannes Film France, Gibraltar Tri-centenary events as well as the Green Dolphin club (South Africa) and the coco blues club (Thailand).

In 2004 Alex co wrote the smash hit theme from the Brainiac series now in its fourth series, as well as being released on various DVD's. 2005/6 saw Alex perform live on various radio stations as well as two global TV appearances, and audience figures were in the millions.

He’s a heck of a Jazz-Fusion guitarist and I hope you enjoy his music..

Cantelope Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNRqs5jGr7k

Just cruising: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZGjMPiKjlg

To cry from joy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nJYZSrufjM

Eight String Jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAQ0HXAEAxk

Sophisticated blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO1ZfK8NzOs

Room 335 with Jess Lewis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRTD12fl6Mo

Night train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19zfs3-5GrE

Funky strut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-M7rJjPQJP4

Timeless journey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxxbufWqydk 

Feelin fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pznzcvh_XYA

Ice cold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=et5EwhNWoO0

It’s all good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMFC7TI9Ujw

Rock and a hard place: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKh7uPXCdP0

Happy as Larry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0kjUWJaII

In my opinion one of the top Rieslings in the U.S. is Chateau St. Michelle’s Eroica, born of a collaboration between Gemany’s Dr. Loosen and Chateau St. Michelle vinters in Washington. The 2012 Riesling Eroica offers up aromas and flavors of star fruit, citrus rind, green apple and solid minerality on the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, off-dry through the mid-palate and clean and fresh on the finish. It’s a delicious, textbook Riesling that’s downright seductive with nuanced flavors of crisp baking apple, mineral, and a touch of cinnamon, with notes of lemon verbena and bay leaf. Great wine and a great guitarist. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Frank Gambale & Château Panchille Bordeaux Supérior

Frank Gambale (born 22 December 1958) is an Australian fusion guitarist, known for his sweep picking technique. He’s a graduate of the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood and taught there between 1984 and 1986. He started out on the jazz club circuit then recorded his first album, “Brave New Guitar” in 1985. That same year he was invited to tour with Jean Luc Ponty and following the tour, began a six-year stint with Chick Corea’s Elektric band. He recorded five albums with them and shared a Grammy. He’s played with numerous musical greats including bassist Alain Caron, drummers Steve Smith and Billy Cobham, and key board player Tom Coster (formerly with Santana).

He also had a really cool collaboration with Smith and bassist Stu Hamm that should not be missed. Don’t miss the two acoustic numbers with Alain Caron, the links for which I’ve provided below. Just a bit of a comic aside, Gambale looks remarkably like Uncle Festus in the old Adam’s Family TV show in the two acoustic numbers. Many of you may be too young to remember it, but it was one of my favorites.

To help you unwind without having to switch back and forth between videos, the last link is a one hour reunion concert with Return To Forever featuring Gambale, Corea, Ponty on electric violin, Lenny White on drums, and Stanley Clark on bass. Have a good weekend.

6.8 Shaker: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXp7pgxUu2E

Yang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X48DXt8Jn7M

High 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjyqMZKeaPM

Got a match: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLC5k0DbWQM

Little Charmer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g82ojCrkiLk

Acoustic Improvisation (Alain Caron on bass): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmJn0Ga6Krs

Samba di Somewhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tp7sLaq64g4

D-Code: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2rKGbausl0

Natural High Trio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNh_IQFXtEs

Stratus (with Billy Cobham): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF64qcwReMI

Felicidad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzwd_a5W1lo

Beyond the bridge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAu8ZyfVvPc

The Italian Job: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aliCTM7lss

Return to Forever IV (Corea, Ponty, Clarke, & Gambale): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoOYWPkSaf4

My wife and I decided to open a good bottle of wine for the 4^th of July (instead of quaffing from a wine box), so, knowing she likes the heavier reds, I opened my last bottle of the 2009 Château Panchille Bordeaux Supérior ($15.00). The wine is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. I used a Vinturi aerator because it was a last minute decision and I recommend letting any French red breathe for a bit before imbibing. The first think you notice is its deep purple color, followed by heavenly aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, and chocolate. It’s a concentrated wine with flavors of blackberry, cassis, and that touch of chocolate. The tannins were smooth, and the mouth feel rich. The finish lingers for a long a long time. I only wish this wasn’t my last bottle. Wonderful for sitting on the deck watching my neighbors blow up their money with thousands of dollars in fireworks. Goes great with Frank’s music, too.

Cheers!

Brett Garsed & Sauvion Rose d Anjou

Brett Garsed was born in rural Victoria, Australia and began playing guitar at age 12 after hearing Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore play "Speed King". After about a month of initial lessons he continued to teach himself and formed a band comprised of his two cousins and a mutual friend and began playing live.

His main influences were Blackmore, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour and Jimi Hendrix. He later diversified adding elements from Leo Kottke, Rory Gallagher and Van Halen. After playing for about 5 years, Brett decided to take classical guitar lessons for about a year, which helped him develop his right-hand finger picking technique.

His style has a lot of left-hand legato, influenced by the music of Allan Holdsworth, and after hearing him, he developed his fusion-oriented style, also taking snippets from Larry Carlton and Scott Henderson.

He started out in the work-a-day world as a licensed plumber, but after being featured in a 1985 Guitar Player’s “Spotlight” column that was devoted to exposing new talent, Brett gave up his day job to pursue a career as a professional musician. He sent demo tapes out to a slew of record companies and one led to an extended gig with Australian superstar John Farnham. Farnham was still with the Little River Band, but was planning a solo album and invited Brett to be a part of the project. The resulting album, Whispering Jack, went on to become the biggest selling album in Australian history, followed by sellout tours of Australia and Europe.

Brett continued to tour and record with John until early 1989 when he was invited to the US to audition for Nelson, a band led by Gunnar and Mathew, sons of the late Ricky Nelson. The audition was a success and the resulting album, After the Rain, went on to sell over 3 million copies and yielded a national #1 ("Love and Affection") as well as 2 top ten follow up singles. In early 1990 Brett also recorded Centrifugal Funk for the Mark Varney label Legato Records, an intense guitar album featuring Frank Gambale and Shawn Lane.

Now, after 14 years in Los Angeles, Brett is back home in Australia where he has reunited with John Farnham. Personally, I’m amazed at the observation that he seems to play most of his leads with his eyes closed. If it were me, that would be a recipe for disaster. If you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, I recommend rigging your alarm to wake you to his music. I guarantee he’ll get you going.

Got the horn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TedCWTpYOvc

Burgers in bed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNSPAv_Tg80

Spheres of influence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GedhY2KbM8I

Crows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eIclAXPCMg

Friend or foe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2bThDgJTHc

Fu’d fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln2h6dQC1-4

Breathe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HufmYuokTBc

Drowning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WzPtKMoxg0

Trinity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0A-oLuA4Rw

Undoing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5UJ1uoea1s

The Myth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H76PjOScN88

Enigma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6qdSjTBur4

Brothers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQRApnG4hao

Undoing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5UJ1uoea1s

Just Brett: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpnUYwbqYs

Gotta continue with my affection for summer Rose and pair Brett with a 2011 Sauvion Rose d Anjou Loire Valley ($11.00). The wine is made from 70% Groslot and 30% Gamay grapes. It’s a light, fruity wine with a floral bouquet tinged with red berries. The taste mingles strawberries, cherries, and peaches in a crisp fresh mix that’s especially satisfying for a summer evening. It’s also low alcohol (10.5%), meaning you’ll still be fully conscious should you decide to finish the whole bottle. Better pick up two bottles, cause the neighbors are sure to show up when you crank up Brett’s fusion guitar. Enjoy!

Cheers!