Guitar Player - Guitar Superstar 2008 Program - (Page 3)

Welcome to the Show! The world has proven itself to be a zealous destroyer of expectations. But, despite the cruel intrigues of fate and chance, there is one thing I know to be true: Guitars will always be cool. Depending upon who wields it, these chameleonic planks can be weapons of rebellion, symbols of sophistication, GPGS08 Script/ Guitar Player Editor in Chief Michael Molenda Contestant Selection Michael Molenda, Kevin Owens, Jude Gold, Matt Blackett, Art Thompson, Barry Cleveland, Madaline Goldstein, Damien Castaneda Program and Promotions Design Paul Haggard, Joelle Katcher Marketing & Event Director Christen McFarland Public Relations Nina Lesowitz, Spinergy Group Event AV Manager/ Motion Graphics Designer Tim Tsuruda AV Crew McCune Audio Event Photographers Paul Haggard, Patrick Wong Musical Director Jonathan Herrera Staging and Sound The Great American Music Hall Stage Crew Katie Garibaldi, Madaline Goldstein Scoring/Tally Analyst Jude Gold, Bob Jenkins MPN Sales Team Joe Perry, Greg Sutton, Jessica Sullivan, Grace Newman, Albert Margolis, Mike Montgomery, Allison Smith, Will Sheng Vice President, Music Player Network John Pledger President and CEO, NewBay Media Steve Palm Special Thanks To: Andy Summers, Elliot Easton, Steve Vai, Brendon Small, Joe Satriani, Evan Borders at KTVU, Kim Murphy at GAMH, Marjie Glickman of ETS Travel, Pam Wright and the Phoenix Hotel, Charles Pinckney and the W Hotel, Nikki Blakk, 107.7 The Bone, Mick Brigden, George and Danica Lynch, and all supporters of making great guitar music! buoyant groove machines, or instruments of exquisite beauty. For 41 years, Guitar Player has celebrated these sirens made of wood, and the obsessed artists who play them. This competition—now in its fourth year—is our project to recognize new talent, fire up the guitar community, and expose white-hot guitar playing to mainstream audiences. In this mission, GP has been enthusiastically supported by music legends and gear manufacturers (see p. 14 for our groovy sponsors), and it’s their unselfish gifts of time, counsel, and aid that make our Guitar Superstar competition possible. Tonight, we’re honored and humbled to have Andy Summers, Elliot Easton, George Lynch, Joe Satriani (who has graciously judged our event from the beginning), Brendon Small, Steve Vai, and Carlos Alomar in the house. Brendon’s hilarious comment was, “Who would play in front of those guys? Lunatics, probably.” Nuff said. Soon, the lights in the Great American Music Hall will fade to darkness, and ten ferocious guitarslingers—handpicked by the GP staff from hundreds of entries logged at sonicbids.com—will battle it out for the title of Guitar Player’s Guitar Superstar 2008. So let’s salute our talented and brave finalists: Eric Barnett, Eric Brewer, Mark Christian, Vicki Genfan, Makana, Daddo Oreskovich, Mike Orlando, Dan Peters, Ben Robinson, and the guy. I think they’re going to blow your mind. Enjoy the onslaught! The Fabulous Guitar Superstar House Band! MEET THUD FACTOR JONATHAN HERRERA Music Director, Bass Jonathan studied music at USC and the Los Angeles Music Academy (where he was recently named Artist-InResidence). He has performed or recorded with an eclectic array of players, including Cyrus Chestnut, Oz Noy, Atma Anur, Jerry Goodman, Derek Sherinian, Zigaboo Modeliste, Steve Turre, Kai Eckhardt, Garaj Mahal, Jon Fishman, and deep-house legend Miguel Migs. Jonathan is Senior Editor of Bass Player. JUDE GOLD Guitar Jude’s eclectic recording and performing career has taken him around the world, from virtuosic rock fusion with BX3 (featuring bass legends Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, and Jeff Berlin) to jams with the Jerry Garcia Band. He has worked with everyone from 2 Live Crew to Eddie Money and David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap. Jude is an Associate Editor at Guitar Player. ERIC LEVY Keyboards Eric grew up in Chicago, where he was exposed to a variety of musical styles at an early age, including jazz, classical, and down-home Windy City gospel and blues. As adept with electromechanical keyboards as he is programming analog synth patches, Eric’s current projects include jam-fusion super-group Garaj Mahal, funk pioneers Brides of Funkenstein, and Bay Area rock heavies American Drag. JOHN MADER Drums At 21, John joined the wellknown Bay Area band the Uptones, who went on to win a Bammy Award. He has gone on to perform with several Miles Davis band alumni, Steve Miller, Pat Benatar, Patti Austin, Angela Bofil, Pee Wee Ellis, Lenny Williams, and Fred Wesley of the JBs. John is currently performing with Booker T. Jones and Miguel Migs. http://sonicbids.com

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Guitar Player - Guitar Superstar 2008 Program Welcome to the Show! Schedule of Events Tonight's Host The Finalists Guitar Superstar 2008 Sponsors

Guitar Player - Guitar Superstar 2008 Program

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