Recent posts: guitar

Delving eagerly into the 2025 NAMM Show schedule, as an unabashed lover of classic and modern blues and jazz, I remained intent to connect with guitarists who wear their influences on every note played. It didn’t take long to land on Chant Duplantier’s name. Growing up in Louisiana, a state known the world over as the birthplace of jazz and an important culture-shaping hub for soul and blues, Chant’s family informed his early love of legends like Buddy Guy, Howlin Wolf and Muddy Waters. As he progressed his guitar playing into adulthood, artists like Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Prince, George Benson and Django Reinhardt joined the influence arsenal. Listening to Chant play live like he does in this clip below, the inspiration shows.

As someone who loves visual art as much as music, I jumped at the chance to attend last night’s System of a Down’s Serj Tankian’s Gibson “Foundations” Les Paul Modern Guitar launch event at Serj’s Kavat Café/Eye for Sound Gallery in Los Angeles. Building upon the release of Serj’s 2024 ‘Foundations’ EP and his other career as a multi-talented visual artist, there were no “empty walls” as several of Serj’s personal memorable stage photos and paintings stood on display including the original “Sunburst” artwork featured on his new color-popping guitar. Getting to view the attention-grabbing models in person remained the highlight as Serj mingled with the chill crowd throughout the night.

Scouring the 2025 NAMM Show performance schedule, I eagerly set out to pack my show itinerary with hidden gem artists I’d not seen anywhere else. My eyes zeroed in when I saw Caro aka “La Flamenkita” on the bill and knew she’d be a must-see. Reading The Culture OC’s recent profile of the Mexican-American rising guitar phenom, I excitedly anticipated viewing the California native flamenco guitarist as she took the Westin Hotel stage on NAMM Show’s Wednesday night. Captivating the audience, the crowd hung on every note as you could hear a pin drop as she played. Those in attendance sonically transported to the Spanish Mediterranean in an instant.

Every NAMM Show to which I’m blessed to attend, I excitedly peruse the performing booth/room schedules from companies like D’Angelico Guitars who are bound to have amazing guitarists imperative to check out. One such guitarist’s name caught my eye -Noé Socha. From the first video I’d seen of Italian-born Brooklyn-based musician Noé playing with Marcus Machado and Clark Sims on Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”, I needed to know more. Listening to his brilliant harmonica and blues guitar filled 2024 album ‘Simplebluesboy’ and seeing him play to a packed room with fellow guitarist Rock Choi further confirmed my belief everyone needs to peep this dude’s music immediately.

Returning to NAMM Show held annually by the largest world non-profit music trade org, 1852 companies representing 4300 brands descended upon Anaheim and excitedly displayed the latest and greatest music technology as you might expect. This year, however, the LA Fires which wreaked unexpected havoc and smoldered an hour away were on attendees’ minds as some Angelenos there naturally wanted to swap survivor stories in the convention center hallways and LA Wildfire Relief Fund donations were collected via QR code. Immediately acknowledged on NAMM’s Media Day, the music community’s outpouring of support for their affected brethren set the tone for the next five days as a tragedy such as this is an obvious reminder now, more than ever, to live in the moment and cherish the joy creating and listening to music brings.