Trace Bundy and Whitehaven Pinot Noir

Trace Bundy is the original Acoustic Ninja, so called for his legato and tapping skills. As you’ll see in the videos linked below, he can often be found using both hands on the fretboard, creating intricate arpeggios and chordal structures. Born a Minnesotan, he now lives in Colorado.

His music uses harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter that all adds up to a unique and unforgettable style. Trace is an independent and has sold over 67,000 albums on his own record label, Honest Ninja Music. Quite an accomplishment for and Indie. He’s won a few accolades that include being named "Most Promising New Talent" of 2008 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, as well as winning third place in the magazine's "Best Fingerstyle Guitarist" category the same year.  Whatever you do, don’t miss his Oldies Medley. For those of us old enough to remember, he’s got some great songs. See if you can recognize all of them. Last but not least, check out his rendition of a Metallica song played on, of all things, his iPhone. A definite salute to Steve Jobs. Enjoy!

Where the streets have no name: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgGmdFdPDpI&feature=related

Stairway to Sundays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtC8K06mEFQ&feature=related

Refugee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT2hLxW1EfU&feature=related

Oldies Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI76ZvVeEbI&feature=related

Bongolo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW5Qsk2fbVE&feature=related

Dueling Ninjas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyY4LNkxOW0

Hot capo stew: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw15zgMMq9M&feature=related

Backstreet Boys: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRQPaoOwdbk&feature=related

Lose yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VojWdX5xz8&feature=related

Sweet child o’ mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOoMWnLxHH4&feature=related

Love song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My_-ZMIuD_A&feature=related

Patanga: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DbjT8vFpro&feature=related

Urban Challenge: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgF2q_IhD6w&feature=related

Retroverse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1gsqhc53E4&feature=related

Carol of the bells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn-UK_I2RDU&feature=related

Playing Metallica on his iPhone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0E9u-aPVk&feature=related

I’m going to pair Trace with one of my favorite Pinot Noirs, a 2008 vintage from   Whitehaven in New Zealand ($21.00). Established in 1994, Whitehaven Wine Company is a small, privately-owned winery located in Blenheim, New Zealand. Whitehaven winemaker Sam Smail focuses on producing brilliant, distinctive, award-winning premium Sauvignon Blanc (one of the best) and Pinot Noir from the world renowned Marlborough region of New Zealand. The wine is deep ruby and garnet colored with rich cherry and plum aromas and hints of spice and oak. The palate is light to medium bodied with a soft velvet texture, supported by flavors of cherry, vanilla, and spice with a firm, lingering finish. This is a very nice, eminently quaffable Pinot. Great for enjoying a cool autumn evening in front of the fireplace with a good book and the music of Trace Bundy. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Monte Montgomery & Gilles Gelin Fleurie Beaujolais

Prepare to have your mind blown by tonight’s featured guitarist. Monte Montgomery was on Guitar Player magazine's 2004 list of "The Top 50 All-Time Greatest Guitarists. He has also won the "Best Acoustic Guitar Player" award at the SXSW Festival’s Austin Music Awards seven years in a row (1998–2004), the only artist to have ever done so.

His unique combination of finger and flat picking, blazing single note runs,  all combined with an amazing chordal sense of harmony sets him off as one of those rare stratospheric guitarists. And if that isn’t enough, his soulful voice drives his music over the edge.

Born August 11, 19666, he grew up in Birmingham, AL, but moved to Texas at the age of 12. In 1999, when Austin City Limits producer Terry Lickona invited him on the show, he introduced him by simply saying, “Monte Montgomery blows people away.” Prepare to have your mind blown. Enjoy!

Moonlight Tango: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fR0z7_qYrs&feature=related

Sultans of Swing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc3u69gzl1A&feature=related

Sliding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jpoV25rT18

Romeo & Juliet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hspQv-vXe2w&feature=related

Could’ve loved you forever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7suZpJ-rMA

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsKe4MK-554&feature=related

Let it be now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X74LOUgpmJw&feature=related

When will I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glBwJWdSqCY&feature=related

Six string wooden friend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB-diXUfdbc&feature=related

Pinball Wizard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swUnYG605Xc&feature=related

When the pieces fit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THHubztcTNc&feature=related

Soldier at his best: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KHk8mjTTdI&feature=related

World Turning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADzVDyXtcfU&feature=related

The Book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw43FO5zqJY&feature=related

First and repair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raysldDV6eI&feature=related

Shock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJnXlNnP8jc&feature=related

With a super guitarist like Montgomery, we need a super wine, so I recommend a 2009 Gilles Gelin Fleurie ($14.00). This is a classic French Beaujolais with a nose of red berries and spice and a juicy yet restrained berry sweetness on the palate. It has a firm mouth feel with an excellent balance of acid and tannin. Beaujolais is one of my favorite fun wines and this is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Paired with one of the best acoustic guitarists I’ve ever heard, it makes for an incredible way to get an early start on the weekend.

Cheers!

Rory Block & Klinker Brick Farah Syrah

Rory Block was born in Princeton NJ in 1949 and spent the beginning of her life in a small wood house with no plumbing, in the woods on a hillside in Neshanic. Shortly afterwards her family moved to Sullivan Street in New York, which is now part of Soho. After a few years her family moved to the West Village, which at the time was the remnants of low income row housing for immigrants. She grew up in a family where, on a good day, music, art and poetry were the most important things in life.

From early in her life, music became the absolute center of her being, and nothing mattered more. At the age of ten, playing a $4.00 Galiano guitar, she figured out "Froggy Went A'Courtin'" by slamming down on the E and then the A string and plucking out a melody. The guitar was an instrument of wonder and joy, her best friend.

At the age of fourteen she participated in the Sunday jam sessions in Washington Square Park where people stood around in clusters, pressing together to watch incredible musicians playing styles largely unheard of up north. David Grisman, Frank Wakefield, Jodie Stecker, John Herald, Roger Sprung, and Eric Weissberg were some of the bluegrass/country players, and John Sebastian, Maria Muldaur, Stefan Grossman, Marc Silber, Jack Baker and others played ragtime, blues, swing and early barrel house jazz. Her father eventually became the reigning impresario of the vital folk revival scene in the West Village, hosting regular Saturday afternoon jam sessions in his sandal shop after music in the park was banned.

One day in 1964, she heard an album called "Really The Country Blues", and from that moment on her life was dedicated to learning how to play blues. She spent untold hours and two years of her life with her ear glued to a speaker, determined to figure out each and every note and play the great songs with as much accuracy as she could muster out of a deep reverence for the music.

She started traveling to the Bronx to visit the Reverend Gary Davis to study his style. When teaching, the Reverend never slowed down to explain his music, he only played it at her with lightening speed and had a lot to say if she couldn't catch it.

In 1965, at a concert at the Village Gate, she met Son House, a blues God as far as she was concerned. As she watched him perform, rolling his head back, slamming the strings and almost choking on the intensity, she learned a deep lesson about the power of the music, which became an inseparable part of her.

I could write a lot more, but her music speaks for itself. So without further adieu, I hope you enjoy one of the blue's greatest proponents, an incredible musician with a voice that can make angels cry.

Silver wings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C58CGPMyFyM

Crossroad blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqTUoV67M60

Walkin Blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2koew-g-xY

Misty Glen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha-WVlLO-zQ

Terraplane blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmR0_epz5OQ

Preachin blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ_PKvC4v7k&feature=related

Ramblin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6s1EfhD_A&feature=related

Old time blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUXSjaf7RMU&feature=related

Travelin blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk0J1ZOBobE&feature=related

Stand by me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzKYfFnqC3Y&feature=related

Lovin whiskey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y7XwKmUKSw&feature=related

If I had possession over judgement day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV43q_XZCPY

Along with one of my favorite blues musicians, I think it’s only proper that I pair her with one of my favorite wines, the Klinker Brick Farah Syrah (2009; $20.00). The wine is produced from vines with an average age of 85 years. It has a bright bouquet of wild strawberry, black raspberry, and plum, intermingled with exotic spice. The palate bursts with flavors of black cherry and vanilla, with supple tannins and good structure. The texture is silky and supple and the finish smooth and long.  It won double gold medals at the Long Beach and East Coast International wine competitions.

A gentle rain is falling as I write this from my home office and with the music of Rory Block and a glass of Farah Syrah, the night is magical. Hope you had a good weekend. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Diego Figueiredo & Ababol Verdejo

      Diego Figueiredo was born in Franca, Brazil, in 1980, and at the age of 4, used to strike poses carrying a small guitar. At six, he started playing a mandolin, but played many instruments before choosing the guitar at the age of twelve. At 15, he began playing in theaters and nightclubs in different Brazilian states, playing solo or with musicians of Brazilian renown.

      He studied classical guitar, Brazilian popular music, and jazz in conservatories in Franca, Ribeirão Preto and Tatuí. In 1999, he won first place in a contest in South America , and was awarded a scholarship to study at Berklee College of Music.

      Now 29 year of age, he has developed into quite a guitar talent winning several musical  competitions  that include the Montreux Jazz Competition and the VISA Prize. His musical repertoire spans classical jazz with numbers like “Take five”, “Stella By Starlight”, and “Round Midnight”, to Brazilian Bossa-nova and Classical. Each of his pieces is unique in its interpretation and is combined with excellent technique and considerable emotion. His music is a great way to kick back after a long week and relax. Hope you enjoy him.

Take five: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_3ZgxcnxMk&feature=related

Stella by starlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l1TiGYbCCk&feature=related

Round Midnight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0ZRRLZyZbk&feature=related

At Montreux: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzD0xu9FV00&feature=related

Alma: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct9Q21BhdwY&feature=related

River Quay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-56LO5bMkrI&feature=related

Folhas Secas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCnGlEaTKf8&feature=related

Sons of Carrilhoes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCnGlEaTKf8&feature=related

E o amor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh6p08Hm-2M&feature=related

Granada: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuko30JVgIQ&feature=related

Lamentos do morro: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo8Zd65Nv1U&feature=related

Corcovado: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MS1gEL9OIQ&feature=related

Carinhoso: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viNRtfcmsok&feature=related

I don’t have a Brazilian wine to accompany Diego, but keeping with the Spanish style of several of his compositions, I suggest a 2009 Ababol Verdejo Sobre Lias Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon. That’s a mouthful! The Ababol Verdejo is bit different and may not appeal to everyone. It’s golden yellow in color with an aroma of orange blossoms, lemon, and exotic spice. It’s a very dry wine, tasting almost bitter on entry, but it opens up revealing citrus and herbs with good acidity. It finishes with a slight honeyed sweetness. We’re in the midst of an Indian summer here in Nebraska, so this wine, the music of DiegoFigueiredo, a bowl of crackers, some brie cheese, and a rocking chair on my deck is all I need to unwind from the week. Hope you can find something similar. Have a great weekend. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Steven King & Michaud Syrah

Years ago, I saw a concert by Joe Pass, a virtuoso guitarist, who played solo jazz guitar in a way that left me astounded at how he could play bass, rhythm, and melody on some very complex songs. When he died some years back, I thought there would never be another. But then I discovered Steven King who has duplicated the virtuosity of Pass. King plays jazz standards as well as pop tunes transforming them through complex arrangements that he composes. It’s as if he’s playing the piano, not the guitar.

He studied music in California, sharing the same college music classes with rock guitar legend Eddie
Van Halen. But Steven veered away from rock and into jazz, arranging and orchestrating solo fingerstyle guitar while he developed his own unique style. When you hear him play, you’ll understand why he won the National Fingerpicking championship back in 1994 and since then has recorded 22 guitar CDs. Don’t miss his arrangements of Dave Brubeck’s Blue rondo and Joe Zawinul’s hit Birdland. On the latter, he plays Zawinul’s piano and doubles it with Jaco Pastorius’ bass part. Amazing!

Mission Impossible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFQiFHVqrWQ&feature=related

Scarborough Fair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYHDQHQDS-4&feature=related

Rhapsody in blue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XzZJ8pIr3M&feature=related

Beatles Medley: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Eg7ANgE-o&feature=related

God only knows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=112AijCKqg4&feature=related

Blackbird: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxwzmLd2ihw&feature=related

PEG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6aZGRVV5DE&feature=related

Blue Rondo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tRoJjw_9bA&feature=related

Birdland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleBVdSSDrY&feature=related

Tico Tico: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ9H8Fzyc88&feature=related

Scuttlebutt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cgn1az_A_c&feature=relmfu

Carol of the Bells: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=julsX5x06os&feature=relmfu

Gotta pair Steven with a great libation to match his guitar playing, so I’m going with a 2004 Michaud Syrah ($22.00).  The wine is expressive with aromas of black fruit, violets, and herbs with nicely balanced flavors of cherries, black currents, and peppery spice. It finishes with slightly understated tannins and mocha. It’ll remind you a Northern Rhone Hermitage. A virtuoso wine and guitarist to start your week. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Petteri Sariola and FlipFlop Pinot Noir

Pete Sarriola is a crazy young Finnish acoustic guitarist. The way he simultaneously slaps, taps, and picks the drum, bass, rhythm, and lead parts reminds me a bit of Kotaru Oshio, who appears in one of the videos. Oh yeah, sometimes he sings, too. As you’ll hear in one of the videos, he tried to form a band, but it didn’t work out, so he plays all the parts himself. He has a background in classical music that expanded to pop, rock, and you-name-it. But most of all, I would describe his music and style as acoustic funk. In 2005 he became youngest artist to receive the Nokia Young Talent Scholarship. He’s quite the funkmeister and I hope you enjoy him

Prime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niu_3H_6ISw

Stomp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDE-RpdWzBw&feature=related

Valve #3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS3g3TlRMH0&feature=related

Prime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkat6pTLIWc&feature=related

Distorted Love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSN0d9jmNsk&feature=related

Guitar Fight Club: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czH17pJt2WQ&feature=related

Beating your guitar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en-3oL2c0uU

Silence:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuu1bwShjs4

Mothers song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McrzCtAkvGU&feature=related

Beat of the week #3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epRQ332JfbE&feature=related

With Kotaru Oshio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNtAb0FNORc&feature=related

Silence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4vjwCSrHCc&feature=related

Rietberg #2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDPxm-tCuYA&feature=related

With Adam Rafferty and Ulli  Boegerhausen, the Way You Make Me Feel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5cbHPcmvC8

Pete’s a lighthearted fun kind of guy, so I suggest we accompany him with one of my favorite varieties of fun wines from FlipFlop. Their Pinot Noir is a light wine with a red fruit nose and lots of cherry and spice on the palate. Very nice finish for a wine that costs only seven bucks. Weekend’s almost here, so enjoy!

Cheers!

Ramsey Lewis & Calstar Pinot Noir

I’m going to depart momentarily from the guitar to bring you one of my favorite jazz pianists. In 1974, I attended a concert at Purdue University where a friend’s band was backing up Ramsey Lewis. That night, when Lewis’ trio launched into the most soulful version of Slippin Into Darkness I’d ever heard, I got hooked on his music. To this day, that tune remains one of my favorites.

Lewis was born May 27, 1935 in Chicago, so we share a certain city heritage. He attended DePaul University and joined up with drummer Isaac “Redd” Holt and bassist Eldee Young to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio. While they initially concentrated on jazz, their music evolved into more of a pop sound with Lewis’ 1965 hit “The In Crowd” paving the way to his becoming one of the most successful jazz pianists ever. Three of his single hits, “In Crowd”, “Hang On Sloopy”, and “Wade In The Water”, went gold.

In addition to recording and performing, Lewis hosted a morning show on Chicago "smooth jazz" radio station WNUA (95.5 FM) until May 22, 2009 when their format changed.

Lewis is artistic director of “Jazz at Ravinia”, a outdoor concert venue in Highland Park, IL and helped organize Ravinia’s Jazz Mentor Program. Ramsey also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Merit School of Music, a Chicago inner-city music program and The Chicago High School for the Arts. In 2005, he created the Ramsey Lewis Foundation to help connect at-risk children discover the world of music. Ramsey still lives in Chicago along with seven children, fourteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He’s a musical giant with a heart to match.

Slippin into darkness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pux-0_2bEPE

Sweet home Chicago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ7m1kAXtLY&feature=related

Something you got: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqEBFWhR9Bo&feature=related

Blues for the nightowl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NxqaqZgLR4&feature=related

Dancin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clje1_-NuZE&feature=related

Everybody’s groove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLbKXxY3UxA&feature=related

Skippin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_ofQBSlSz4&feature=related

Upendo ni pamoja: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnhC2ChQRKo

The In crowd: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slv0j5USBa4

Wade in the water: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlJ6dXbjG4I&feature=related

Daytripper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGcAeyvtHE&feature=related

With a class act like Ramsey Lewis, I suggest a 2009 CalStar Cellars Pinot Noir ($20.00) from their Sangiacomo Vineyards. The wine is crimson in color with a fragrance of honeysuckle and berries. The palate is filled with notes of raspberries, cherries, and a touch of vanilla with subtle tannins. The finish lingers with a bit of spiced cranberry. An excellent wine to go with some excellent music. Enjoy!

Cheers!