Pete Prown

LA LOM

Scott Sharrard

D.K. Harrell

Supercool “800,” The Thneed, and ’77 Fuzz Blender

Muireann Bradley

The Alligator Christmas Collection

Little Feat

PRS NF 53

Eleonora Strino is making waves in the jazz world as both guitarist and media-savvy artist. Through her videos and online presence, Strino has gained a following for her serious old-school jazz chops, interpretations, and compositions. Her new album, I Got Strings, is a trio recording of swing and bebop material with elegant guitar work out-front.

As a young musician, Ralph Towner wrote “Icarus,” a revolutionary jazz piece that became a crossover hit for the Paul Winter Consort. Later, the classically trained guitarist (also a fine pianist and horn player) found his way to ECM records and, for more than 50 years, has released music of introspective guitar artistry, as well

If you’re into heavy, swampy rock and roll, the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies first album in decades, Fall Line, will satisfy your jones. Discovered over 30 years ago by R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe, singer Brant Slay and guitarist Ben Reynolds can still blast out Southern boogies all night long. Reynolds recently divulged the mojo behind their

Calling Steve Dawson a “roots” artist seems a disservice to a musician so eclectic and wildly talented. On Eyes Closed, Dreaming, he effortlessly mixes earthy rock and roll, soul, Hawaiian, country, and blues highlighted by dextrous slide and superior acoustic fingerpicking. When he’s not recording and touring, Dawson hosts a podcast called “Music Makers and

Mark St. John

A lynch pin is a narrow shaft of metal that keeps a wheel from falling off – without it, the whole thing collapses. Same holds true for George Lynch, the L.A. hero who is the core of many bands, including his ongoing partnership in Sweet & Lynch, co-led by Stryper frontman Michael Sweet. Their latest

Stephen Ulrich

Don Latarski is well-known in the Pacific Northwest as a player, author, teacher, and composer. His acoustic playing is revered, but on his latest, Audiography, Latarski brings in a full band for a set of electric tracks laced with uncanny jazz, blues, and rock ideas. Let’s check in with the Oregon ace. People mostly know

The Roland Corporation was born in 1972 and just a few years later introduced its landmark Jazz Chorus JC-120 amplifier. To celebrate the half-century mark, the company has reissued a 350-piece run of the amp with an elegant cherry-wood veneer cabinet. In contrast to the muscular overdrive of Marshalls or bark of Fender Twins, the

In the quest for tone, the secret is a combination of pickups, wood, construction, and the magic in a player’s fingers. Aiming for a tone like a P-90 with hot midrange, Railhammer is now offering the humbuckers previously available only in Reverend’s Billy Corgan signature guitar (“Approved Gear,” May ’22). Part of the company’s Humcutter

Donner has been making a name delivering import gear at absurdly low prices while maintaining solid quality. The Arena 2000 is another triumph, this one going up against multi-effects floor units with color screens – a feature that typically drives the price to around $400. This box lists for substantially less, yet contains a universe

The wildly named Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol doesn’t play the typical “doom metal” or “stoner metal” that has been hip for decades. Based in Austin, this power trio delivers its melodic, catchy, and often straight-up fun tunes on Doom Wop, combining the eight-string guitar of Leo Lydon, the bass of Aaron Metzdorf, and drummer Sean