RIFF BAND ALISON HASBACH Editor-in-Chief
BRAD WENDKOS Publisher
JEFF SCHEETZ Educational Department Editor
AMBER NICOLINI Creative Director
TOMMY JAMIN Studio Department Editor
ZACH WENDKOS Technology Department Editor
KYLER THOMANN Music Editor
@riffjournal
riffjournal@truefire.com
facebook.com/riffjournal
AUTUMN 2018 | ISSUE 16
ISSUE CONTENTS
CONTRIBUTORS:
INAUGURAL PHOTO ISSUE ALL PHOTOS BY ALISON HASBAC H
The list below reads like a Who’s Who of world-renown guitar artists and we couldn’t be prouder to call them all contributing members of the TrueFire family. Their music, guitar prowess, and educational perspectives speaks tons about their professional life. Look closely at their portraits — they reveal so much more about who they are as people and why we love them so.
Adam Levy
Jeff McErlain
Adrian Legg
Jennifer Batten
Andrew Ford
Joe Robinson
Andrew Leonard
John Goldsby
Andy Aledort
John Knowles
Andy Timmons
Johnny Hiland
Angus Clark
Kelly Richey
Ariane Cap
Larry Carlton
Bill Kirchen
Laurence Juber
Brooks Robertson
Marcy Marxer
Cathy Fink
Massimo Varini
Chris Buono
Mike Zito
Christie Lenée
Mimi Fox
Corey Congilio
Muriel Anderson
David Grissom
Pat Martino
David Hamburger
Robben Ford
Diego Figueiredo
Sheryl Bailey
Dweezil Zappa
Sonny Landreth
Frank Vignola
Teymur Phell
Freekbass
Tommy Emmanuel
Henry Johnson
Vicki Genfan
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A WORD FROM THE PUBLISHER
SOUL SESSIONS P ortrait photographer, Annie Leibovitz said, “A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.”
We can relate. Spending extended periods of time with an artist you admire, while filming their instructional video content and still photography is a very personal bonding experience. Invariably, we do fall in love. This special photography edition of Riff celebrates the love we have for our family of artists by sharing 44 portraits shot in our still photography studio by Alison Hasbach, co-founder and creative prioress of TrueFire. Ali is also an extraordinarily talented photographer. Her portraits grace the big wall here at the ‘Fire grabbing the immediate attention of visitors, always sparking big eyes and wide smiles. Pulling someone away is not easy. While the portraits are used across the many branding and creative elements surrounding a course, it’s not unusual for an artist to use them for their album covers and personal or promotional use. Ansel Adams said, “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” This is also very true here in our studios. The process starts long before the actual shoot. The personality of the artist, the subject of their course, their style of music, the guitars they play — all researched and taken into consideration when planning
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the still photography session. This leads to designing the set, plotting the lighting, picking out the wardrobe selection, determining the range of poses, and selecting the optimal backdrop (we have more backdrops than days in the year!). The most critical element, of course, is the shoot itself. Ali and her team (Creative Director Amber Nicolini and Production Utility Engineer Kyler Thomann) are highly skilled at relaxing the artist, getting them comfortable under the lights, and drawing out their native personality. The set is closed, but when you hear animated conversation and laughter in the rafters, you know the magic is happening. The final stage is post production, which itself can take weeks to select the perfect frames, color correct, tweak, and then format into the 50+ required branding elements and portraits formats. Of course, TrueFire is in the business of producing interactive music education software, but we have a loftier mission; documenting artists and their musical perspective for many generations to come. The videos we produce reveal their musical vista, but it’s their soul you’ll see in these portraits.
Brad Wendkos || Head Smoke Jumper
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T O M M Y
“
TOMMY EMMANUEL IS THE MOST CHARISMATIC, SOULFUL, AND TECHNICALLY BRILLIANT FINGERSTYLE GUITAR PLAYER WALKING THE PLANET TODAY.
E M M A N U E L
http://tommyemmanuel.com
BASSIST AND “ UNBELIEVABLE INCREDIBLE MUSICIAN. HE'S MASTERED THE ART OF WALKING WITH AN AMAZING FEEL. TEYMUR REALLY WALKS HIS ASS OFF!
“
www.teymurphell.com
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ew r d an rd fo
IF YOU'VE LISTENED TO MUSIC OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES, YOU'VE LIKELY TAPPED YOUR FEET AND GROOVED TO MUSIC POWERED BY ANDREW'S REMARKABLE BASS MAGIC.
“
www.andrewfordbass.com
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jennifer
“
batten
"THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TOP-NOTCH GUITAR PLAYERS WITH THE CHOPS AND EXPERIENCE TO TOUR WITH JEFF BECK AND MICHAEL JACKSON. THEY BOTH CHOSE JENNIFER."
“
www.batten.com
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MUCH AS HE CHOOSES HIS WORDS WISELY, ADAM IS TACTFUL AND TASTEFUL IN HIS GUITAR PLAYING,
“ NEVER STEPPING INTO A SOLO SPOTLIGHT WITHOUT SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO ADD TO A SONG.
www.adamlevy.com
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us g n a rk cla
AS A SOLO ARTIST, BAND MEMBER, AND SIDE-MAN, ANGUS HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE GUITARISTS WORKING TODAY!
“
www.angusclark.com
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L A R RY C A R LTO N
FOUR-TIME GRAMMY WINNER AND ALL TIME GUITAR GREAT, CARLTON HAS SET A STANDARD FOR ARTISTRY THAT SPANS THREE DECADES.
“
http://larrycarlton.com
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F RA N K VIGNOLA
FRANK VIGNOLA HAS TOO MUCH FUN ONSTAGE TO BE AS SERIOUS ABOUT HIS MUSIC AS HE OBVIOUSLY IS.
“
http://frankvignola.com
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I CANNOT THINK OF ANOTHER GUITARIST WHO SEEMS TO HAVE TAKEN OVER THE ROLE OF SEGOVIA IN POPULARIZING THE FINGERSTYLE GUITAR AS MURIEL ANDERSON HAS.
“
https://murielanderson.com
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ONE OF THOSE RARE ARTISTS THAT CAN SING LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS AND PLAY ONE HELL OF A MEAN GULF COAST-STYLE GUITAR.
“
www.mikezito.com
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R O B B E N
ROBBEN FORD HAS DONE MORE TO DEVELOP THE MORE SOPHISTICATED SIDE OF BLUES GUITAR THAN ANYONE SINCE T-BONE WALKER.
“
F O R D
http://robbenford.com
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C O R CO N G I L I O E Y
“ PERHAPS THE COOLEST THINGS ABOUT COREY IS THE ENERGY AND INVENTFULNESS HE POSSESSES...HE NEVER FAILS TO MOTIVATE HIS AUDIENCE!
http://coreycongilio.com
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FOX DISTINGUISHES HERSELF AS A REMARKABLY ACCOMPLISHED PLAYER WITH FLAWLESS TIME, PRISTINE EXECUTION, SERIOUS CHOPS, AND AN INNER URGE TO BURN.
“
www.mimifoxguitar.com
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“ THERE ARE GUITARISTS, THERE ARE AXEWIELDING MANIACS,
AND THEN THERE ARE WIZARDS. ADRIAN LEGG IS ONE OF THE WIZARDS.
“
http://adrianlegg.com
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“
DIEGO FIGUEIREDO IS ONE OF THE GREATEST GUITARISTS I’'VE SEEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE. THE WORLD NEEDS TO LISTEN TO HIS MUSIC.
“
www.diegofigueiredo.com
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P A T M A RT I N O
HE IS A LIVING LEGEND, A NATIONAL TREASURE, AND AN INSPIRATION TO MUSICIANS AND MUSIC LOVERS OF ALL STRIPES.
“
www.patmartino.com
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“
“
www.joerobinson.com
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c h r i st i e
Le n
Ée
UNPARALLELED SKILL ON THE GUITAR, SONGS THAT GO STRAIGHT TO THE HEART, PLUS AN IMMEDIATE AND DEEP CONNECTION WITH THE AUDIENCE. SHE WOWS EVERYBODY!
“
http://christielenee.com
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DW E E Z I L
Z A P PA WHEN YOUR DAD IS A MUSICAL TITAN YOU CAN DO TWO THINGS; WILT IN THE HEAT OF EXPECTATION OR EMBRACE THE LEGACY AND FLOURISH. DWEEZIL ZAPPA CHOSE THE LATTER.
“
www.dweezilzappa.com
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laurence juber
“ “
www.laurencejuber.com
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FREEKBASS IS A MAGICIAN BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS A BASS IN HIS HANDS, MAGIC HAPPENS.
“
www.fre3kbass.com
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CHRIS
BU O N O
“
ARCANE IMPROVISER, SOUND DIABOLIST, FEARLESS COMPOSER, CONTENT JUNKIE, VIDEO STUNT GUITARIST, CRAZED EDUCATOR-THE LIST GOES ON.
“
www.chrisbuono.com
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A DEVASTATING CULMINATION OF THE ELEGANT AND FUNKY -- A REALLY SENSATIONAL MUSICIAN, WITH ENORMOUS DEPTH.
“
www.billkirchen.com
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K E L LY
R I C H EY HER MUSIC AIN'T FOR THE FAINT OF HEART – IT'’S TRUE BLUES-ROCK, MUSIC FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A DEEP-DOWN RED-HOT SOUL AND NEED SOMETHING TO KEEP IT SMOLDERING.
“
https://kellyrichey.com
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B
RO
O KS Broo
ks
Ro
S
s
ON
n s o
fire.
bertson play
lik
e the house
i
RO
T R BE
“ BROOKS ROBERTSON PLAYS LIKE THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE.
www.brooksrobertson.com
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JEFF MCERLAIN
BAD-ASS PLAYER, NY SESSION PLAYER, KNOWS BLUES AND ROCK HISTORY LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND, DIALS IN AWESOME TONE, AND ALL AROUND COOL GUY!
“
http://jeffmcerlain.com
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A n dy
al e
t r do
“
http://andyaledort.com
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A L
N E
D O
R N
A
E R
W D
A N I N S P I R I N G , E F F O RT L ES S , SPIRITED AND CONVINCING PERFORMER, ANDREW LEONARD IS A GUITAR PHENOMENON!
“
www.andrew-leonard.com
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C O M P O S E R , R E C O R D I N G A RT I ST, A C C O M P L I S H E D E D U C ATO R , B ESTS E L L I N G A U T H O R , A N D M O N ST E R G U I T A R I ST-- N O O N E D O ES I T BETTER!
“
http://davidhamburger.com
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COMPOSER, GRAMMY-WINNER, MONSTER ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC GUITARIST -- A MODERN DAY RENAISSANCE MAN OF MUSIC!
“ www.massimovarini.it
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D G
A R
I
V
I
S S O
D M
HIS INNATE TASTE AND MUSICALITY ALLOW HIM TO BE JAW DROPPING WITHOUT BEING FLASHY.
“
www.davidgrissom.com
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A SIZZLING GUITAR GODDESS! ONE OF THE MOST COMPELLING TONES OF HER GENERATION AND ONE OF THE BEST BOP GUITAR PLAYERS WITH A FRESH APPROACH AND SOMETHING NEW.
“
http://sherylbailey.com
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JOHN KNOWLES IS THE "'DEAN'" OF GUITAR INSTRUCTORS -FINGERSTYLE GUITAR AT ITS FINEST!
“
www.johnknowles.com
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l andret h
GUITARIST, SONGWRITER, AND SINGER SONNY LANDRETH IS THE MUSICIAN'S MUSICIAN. HIS SLIDE GUITAR PLAYING IS DISTINCTIVE AND UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'VE EVER HEARD.
“
www.sonnylandreth.com
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M & A R C AT H Y F I N K C Y TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD M A R X E R
WINNERS, CATHY FINK & MARCY MARXER ARE MASTER MUSICIANS WITH INSTRUMENTAL VIRTUOSITY ON VIRTUALLY ALL STRINGED AMERICANA INSTRUMENTS.
“
www.cathymarcy.com
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john
go l
ds b
“
http://john.goldsby.de
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y
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“
NASHVILLE MONSTER PICKER JOHNNY HILAND HAS BEEN A WONDER TO GUITAR NUTS EVER SINCE A ’96 NOR'’EASTER BLEW HIM INTO THE MUSIC CITY FROM HIS HOME STATE OF MAINE.
“
www.johnnyhiland.net
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genfan
EVERY NOW AND THEN AN ARTIST COMES ALONG WHOSE MUSIC REACHES OUT AND TOUCHES THE SOUL OF ALL WHO HEAR. THE …VIRTUOSO GUITARIST, SINGER AND COMPOSER VICKI GENFAN IS AMONG THOSE ARTISTS.
“
http://vickigenfan.com
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06
SNAPSHOTS 05
CAPTIONS 01
Ren, the office MacGuyver, with his favorite tool
02 TrueFire gear on location 03 Ali and the inimitable guitarist Jack Pearson 04 Gear at TrueFire HQ 05 Reeves Gabrels’ (David Bowie, The Cure) gear rig 06 TrueFire Tech Team and their inner dark side 07 Tommy Jamin, head of production, at the House of Blues, Nashville 08 Kyler Thomann, light tester and artist body double (for photography stunts)
07
08
04
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08
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06
CAPTIONS 01
Brad Wendkos, head smoke jumper
08
Vicki Genfan, and the rescue Lucky, found in the streets of St Pete and now part of the Genfan tribe
09
Tommy on the beaches of California after a shoot
02 Holiday shenanigans 03 The TrueFire HQ watering hole 04 TrueFire educators Diego Figueiredo, Corey Congilio, Joe Robinson 05 You can never have too many picks 06 Vintage Robben Ford album 07 View of the HQ lounge RIFF
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02
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07
CAPTIONS 01
Ali at the House of Blues
02 Jeff Scheetz, our educational director, getting bluesy in Nashville 03 Adam Wilkinson, production assistant, in the studio 04 Brad on location 05 Muriel Anderson, on stage, during All Star Guitar Night 06 Creative Director Amber Nicolini during a TrueFire field trip and fresh air session 07 Jagger is eyeing the goods
06
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RIFFAGE: SPECIAL COMPLIATION Something special for you this issue! Included in this special edition of Riffage are two volumes of hits from Riff from the artists featured in this magazine issue. Dig in and click the download button below for your personal copy of RIFFAGE Special Compilation.
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VOLUME 01 Cut You Loose - Robben Ford East Coast Attitude - Mimi Fox King’s Groove - Andy Aledort Into the Trees - Brooks Robertson Joseph, Joseph - Frank Vignola Highlands - Jeff McErlain Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Larry Carlton Torre Bermeja - Andrew Leonard Milkhunt - Freekbass Ya Ain’t Nothing Like a Fast Car - Jennifer Batten Hounds of the Bakersfield - Bill Kirchen Do This Again - Corey Congilio Nothing - Dweezil Zappa Close to You - Muriel Anderson Blood Brother - Tommy Emmanuel
VOLUME 02 Skimming the Surface - David Grissom The Kansas City Lowdown - David Hamburger Little Billy Wilson Shenandoah Falls - Cathy Fink The High Side - Sonny Landreth Fast Drivin’ Mama - Kelly Richey TrueFire - Massimo Varini An Unexpected Turn - Sheryl Bailey Uli’s Jump - Joe Robinson Barnyard Breakdown - Johnny Hiland Brasil - Marcy Marxer Stone Blue - Pat Martino & Joyous Lake Thrill of the Hustle - Chris Buono Greensleeves - Angus Clark What Child is This - Laurence Juber Trio Blueberry Blonde - Adam Levy & Jay Bellerose Dying Embers - Adrian Legg
Download the FREE Album
| ONLINE LINK DIRECTORY | RIFFJOURNAL.COM/LINKS-V16
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