More details as they become available!

This is a song I wrote for my mom from a performance March 20 at Tupelo Hall in Londonderry, NH.

Two more performances from the March 20, 2012 performance at Tupelo Hall in Londonderry, NH. The first is a cover of a song written by Bordleaux Bryant called “Chaplin in New Shoes” the second is a original called “Right, Left, Upper and Lower”

Over the years, I’ve had the great fortune to meet Steve Morse and all of his bandmates (including Dave Larue, who’s a close friend and we’ve worked together many times…) several times. Further, I’ve even gotten to jam with him a few times in a few different situations.

A week ago (as of this writing), Steve came up to Berklee to spend three days doing a “Major Artist Residency.” The idea is that he’s available enough that anyone who wants to can pick his brains in detail. Of course I was excited about the prospect because I’m such a giddy fan.

Then Berklee asked me to be intimately involved in the process. Make sure his gear needs, and organizational duties are sorted out. Of course I said yes. Over the weeks leading up, Steve and I exchanged several emails over how best to approach it. Steve really wanted to make sure that school got what they needed. He DIDN’T want it to be “just another clinic.”

On the day he arrived, I called him to discuss any last-minute needs. During that conversation we both agreed that he should perform at the clinic that would take place at Berklee Performance Center (1,500 seat theater on-campus).

It was something that, for whatever reason had fallen off our radar. But with so many talented musicians around, I assured him that getting great people to play wouldn’t be hard. I called Joe Santerre and Larry Finn to play drums and bass. They said yes immediately. Steve asked me to play 2nd guitar. I stammered, “errr… aaaa…. yes” because I knew I’d regret it if I refused. Jamming with Steve is like playing basketball with Michael Jordan.

I can’t tell you how impressed I was with everything that happened. I got to spent three days of my life hanging out with a major musical influence. I had tons of opportunity to ask him all the questions I’d always wanted to ask:

-How to approach all those chromatic lines when you improvise?

-What do you think about when you compose a tune?

-How/where do you find your inspiration?

-How do you set up your live rig?

-What made you set up that “Frankenstein” strat/tele you built years ago?

Most of his answers were surprising, but sensible. Overall, he seems to have a clear picture of what he wants, then sets about creating it in reality. Whether he’s digging a hole, building a guitar, flying a plane or writing a song, the task is already finished in his mind. From there, it’s a question of how to get it done.

Mostly, I learned that he’s the real deal. He’s so not interested in being a rock star. He does it because that’s what he does best. But for him it’s all about the music and how much he loves it.

Steve, thanks for another life-changing moment. I’ll never forget it.

Larry Finn (drums), Joe Santerre (bass) Steve Morse (guitar) and Jon Finn (guitar)

Jon Finn and Steve Morse kneeling at the altar of effects

Jon Finn and Steve Morse Jamming in 1996

Planet Mikey March 14, 2012 Part 1

Planet Mikey March 14, 2012 Part 2

It’s a good reminder. Everything comes at a cost.

Nashville-based entertainment firm, The Lowry Agency, has officially announced the addition of guitar virtuoso Jon Finn (www.jonfinn.com) to their client booking roster.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jon Finn
PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 01, 2012 –
Nashville, TN – Nashville-based entertainment firm, The Lowry Agency, has officially announced the addition of guitar virtuoso Jon Finn (www.jonfinn.com) to their client booking roster.

“We’ve been together as a band for more than 20 years. Four best friends hanging out and doing what comes naturally. Our goal is simple: Make music that we like. We’ve wanted to tour for a long time and have gotten many requests from fans over the years. Up to now, our approach has been to travel directly to an area where someone local is wiling to help us since we’ve been self-managed all this time. We’re very excited to be working with Dave Lowry Agency to assemble our first “real” tour. See you on the road!” says Finn about working with The Lowry Agency.

A guitarist since age six, Jon Finn has been a professional musician for most of his life. Joining the guitar faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1988, he started the Jon Finn Group later that same year. To date, they have released three CDs “Don’t Look So Serious” with Legato Records in1994, “Wicked” with SEP Records in 1998 and “Bull in a China Shop” in 2010.

For over three years, Jon wrote a monthly instructional feature for a national magazine called Guitar. Jon has also authored several books for Mel Bay Publications including “Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation,” One Guitar, Many Styles” and two others with more in the works.

Finn has played guitar for the national touring companies of many contemporary musical theater productions such as Rent, Aida, Mamma Mia, Grease, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Copacabana, and many others. Today Finn frequently performs and records with the Boston Pops Orchestra, and has been involved in a plethora of concerts and recording sessions, including 6 CDs (two of which were Grammy nominated), 8 US concert tours, and one tour in Asia

Article posted on PRlog.com