by The Fretboard Journal
With each episode of Life on the Fretboard, British guitarist, filmmaker and writer Michael Watts interviews extraordinary individuals from the world of guitars. Life on the Fretboard is part of the Fretboard Journal podcast network.
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November 7, 2024
<p>Rob Luft is a rising star of the European jazz guitar scene whose intricate and lyrical playing melds textures from around the world into a striking musical voice. Rob is an extraordinarily creative person and a bit of a chameleon, home with everything from soulful standards and improvised fusion madness to Balkan time signatures and the joyful lines of Congolese soukous. He has even composed and performed pieces for electric guitar with a full orchestra, which is very cool and unusual, to borrow a phrase from Martin Simpson.</p> <p>We talk about Rob’s formative years - growing up in the rich cultural mix of South East London and his early exposure to mind-blowing music by the greats of the jazz scene. The first live gig he ever saw pretty much sealed the deal...you’ll find out why.</p> <p>We discuss the blank canvas that is the electric guitar and the use of effects in jazz - which leads to a poetic diatribe from Rob on the subject of loud footswitches and his love for ancient Boss pedals.</p> <p>Rob shares the challenges of playing in different contexts, from a perfectly timed 45-minute free jazz set to high-volume open-air festival gigs where all your fancy chord voicings disappear into the wind.</p> <p>We discuss the importance of playing the lyric of the song and living a life untainted by the seductive power of the pentatonic blues scale. Rob speaks eloquently on the subject of ear training and sight reading. It could save your life someday!</p> <p>I really enjoyed this conversation. Rob is thoughtful, quick and (thanks to years working at a radio station) has impeccable mic technique!</p> <p>I also captured Rob’s impromptu performance of the Johnny Green classic "Body and Soul." I hope you enjoy it!</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDa3qpLPgkI" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DpDa3qpLPgkI&source=gmail&ust=1731076762970000&usg=AOvVaw0QAtpLoVSezbTP1LsPhyWp"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?<wbr />v=pDa3qpLPgkI</a></p> <p>You join us on a beautiful summer’s day at my studio in the Sussex countryside. It was one of the only really hot sunny days that we had in 2024 and at the start of this chat you’ll hear a familiar sound at this time of year</p> <p><a href="https://robluft.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://robluft.co.uk&source=gmail&ust=1731076762970000&usg=AOvVaw08RP_o9kTo1DVKae2hiT3r"> https://robluft.co.uk</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/robluftjazz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/robluftjazz/&source=gmail&ust=1731076762970000&usg=AOvVaw3jA3Pw1NKbmp42lLpR1mNy"> https://www.instagram.com/<wbr />robluftjazz/</a></p> <p>Thank you for listening and thanks to Jason Verlinde and the Fretboard Journal team, my sponsors Microtech Gefell Microphones. Life On The Fretboard is a Michael <span class= "il">Watts</span> production for Fretboard Journal - accept no substitute. </p> <p>To support Life On The Fretboard please click here <a href="https://michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-jars/4745" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-jars/4745&source=gmail&ust=1731076762970000&usg=AOvVaw2TikoxDIYZm3sFFqpPGWHU">https://<wbr />michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-<wbr />jars/4745</a></p> <p>Michael Watts: <br /> YouTube<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelwattsguitar" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelwattsguitar&source=gmail&ust=1726606502555000&usg=AOvVaw1LSfzimA97isoT6TUha3oO"> https://www.youtube.com/user/<wbr />michaelwattsguitar</a></p> <p>Instagram<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michael.watts.guitar/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/michael.watts.guitar/&source=gmail&ust=1726606502555000&usg=AOvVaw1Wy1w7E5dBtVfaUbsReOfU"> https://www.instagram.com/<wbr />michael.watts.guitar/</a></p> <p>Website<br /> <a href= "https://michaelwattsguitar.com">https://michaelwattsguitar.com</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.fretboardjournal.com">https://www.fretboardjournal.com</a></p> <p> </p>
September 16, 2024
<p>Claire Tole-Moir is Head of Popular Culture at Bonhams, the world-famous auction house in London.</p> <p>On a daily basis, she is in direct contact with some of the most iconic and culturally impactful works of modern art, sculpture, photography, film and artist memorabilia of the last century. </p> <p>So if you fancy a Man Ray photograph; a golden ticket from the original Charlie and The Chocolate Factory film; if you’ve got your eye on John Lennon’s mosaic swimming pool; or maybe Roger Moore’s silver Dupont cigar lighter, Claire and her team can make that happen for you. All you have to do is submit the winning bid. </p> <p>And then, there are the guitars…</p> <p>Let me tell you about the guitars! We’re talking serious instruments owned by iconic musicians: The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Joy Division, Radiohead, Judas Priest, Jeff Beck, Slash, Peter Green...the list is ever-growing. </p> <p>Which to my mind begs the question: What’s it like, being responsible for the sale of guitars that have changed the history of modern music and impacted our global culture on a seismic level? </p> <p>Well, there’s only one way to find out! </p> <p>I met up with Claire Tole-Moir at Bonhams in Knightsbridge London. There was a palpable sense of excitement as it had recently been made public that Bonhams is about to handle the sale of one of the most immediately recognizable guitars on earth, Rory Gallagher’s extraordinary Fender Stratocaster! Yes, THAT STRAT!</p> <p>I think you’ll agree that’s pretty awesome. So join us now at Bonhams in the heart of London to find out more. </p> <p>This episode is sponsored by Guitar Tech Courses - an online treasure trove of information created by British luthier James Collins which will guide you through the set up and maintenance of your beautiful instruments. Follow the affiliate link here and you can also support the podcast. <a href= "https://www.guitartechcourses-academy.com/p/guitar-pro-setup/?affcode=1348382_dohdjpdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.guitartechcourses-academy.com/p/guitar-pro-setup/?affcode%3D1348382_dohdjpdf&source=gmail&ust=1726606502554000&usg=AOvVaw2ipFdasXcCf58l-8TAGxrO">https://www.<wbr />guitartechcourses-academy.com/<wbr />p/guitar-pro-setup/?affcode=<wbr />1348382_dohdjpdf</a></p> <p>Speaking of which - thank you to everyone who has used the Tip-Jar link to make a donation.</p> <p>Life On The Fretboard is a one-man show: I do literally everything and your support is as encouraging as it is appreciated. If, and only if, you have enjoyed this episode then please do consider making a donation via this link <a href= "https://michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-jars/4745" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-jars/4745&source=gmail&ust=1726606502554000&usg=AOvVaw020PNbju1Uzduni5IIw9Ie"> https://<wbr />michaelwattsguitar.com/tip-<wbr />jars/4745</a></p> <p>You can see more about this and future auctions at Bonhams right here: </p> <p>Bonhams Popular Culture<br /> <a href= "https://www.bonhams.com/department/COL-ENT/popular-culture/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bonhams.com/department/COL-ENT/popular-culture/&source=gmail&ust=1726606502554000&usg=AOvVaw1upOXpQ9fAj7x8Hc4lvVpf"> https://www.bonhams.com/<wbr />department/COL-ENT/popular-<wbr />culture/</a></p> <p>Bonhams Popular Culture Instagram<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bonhamspopularculture/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/bonhamspopularculture/&source=gmail&ust=1726606502554000&usg=AOvVaw2SeZzwFde1qOFtTIoAodGn"> https://www.instagram.com/<wbr />bonhamspopularculture/</a></p> <p>Claire Tole-More Instagram<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/claire.tole.moir/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/claire.tole.moir/&source=gmail&ust=1726606502554000&usg=AOvVaw2nIHI-_nabzRPerOvRZi4U"> https://www.instagram.com/<wbr />claire.tole.moir/</a></p> <p>Michael Watts: <br /> YouTube<br /> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelwattsguitar" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/user/michaelwattsguitar&source=gmail&ust=1726606502555000&usg=AOvVaw1LSfzimA97isoT6TUha3oO"> https://www.youtube.com/user/<wbr />michaelwattsguitar</a></p> <p>Instagram<br /> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michael.watts.guitar/" target= "_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/michael.watts.guitar/&source=gmail&ust=1726606502555000&usg=AOvVaw1Wy1w7E5dBtVfaUbsReOfU"> https://www.instagram.com/<wbr />michael.watts.guitar/</a></p> <p>Website<br /> <a href="https://michaelwattsguitar.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://michaelwattsguitar.com&source=gmail&ust=1726606502555000&usg=AOvVaw3_huscRgeYoxLKUR00KJi2"> https://michaelwattsguitar.com</a></p> <p> </p>
June 18, 2024
<div class="gmail_default"> <p><span style="font-size: large;">Lord of the Les Paul and Mariscal of the Marshall Stack, Scott Gorham shot to worldwide prominence with the legendary rock band Thin Lizzy. He created what would become known subsequently as “The Twin Guitar Attack” - a harmonised lead guitar style developed alongside players such as Brian Robertson and Gary Moore, driving home the larger-than-life persona of frontman and bass player Phil Lynott.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">At the height of their powers, Thin Lizzy were a world-straddling colossus of a band - hard rocking for sure but real songwriters, too. And just incredible live!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">I caught up with Scott at what used to be Olympic Recording Studios in Barnes (Led Zeppelin, Queen, Lizzy ... they all made records there). It’s now a cinema complex and restaurant with a private members club hidden away for those in the know. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">We talk about Scott’s early exposure to the guitar and live music, his relocation from California to London, and an audition for Thin Lizzy which I suspect would have broken most of us.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">We discuss the iconography of Gibson’s Les Paul model. In particular, the heavily supervised shopping trip for the mini-humbucker Deluxe model with which Scott has become synonymous. We go deep on the semantics of scratch plates, amplifiers the size of a family SUV, and what happens when your guitar gets famous without you. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">But it wasn’t all gold tops, champagne and caviar, life in Thin Lizzy could be tempestuous and Scott is candid about the darker times including how golf helped with the pain of recovery from addiction. Hey, if it works… right?</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">We talk in depth about Scott’s secret double life as a visual artist, discuss two of the rarest materials in the universe and share a fond hope that benevolent extraterrestrial life might just have our backs after all.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">Now, what no-one knew - because he had kept it a secret from the world - is that Scott Gorham is an extremely skilled artist and some of his extraordinarily detailed pencil drawings from the Thin Lizzy period have been rediscovered and are now available as fine art prints. He’s had his first gallery showing and it’s all going rather well.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">You can see more here: <a href= "https://scottgorhamworld.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://scottgorhamworld.com&source=gmail&ust=1718758627302000&usg=AOvVaw1vLbdokeOfeRPxpnhmWZO7"> https://scottgorhamworld.<wbr />com</a> Take a look at Pain, Curiosity and Apocalypse, three works that we discuss in detail. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">Be advised - the language gets a little fruity as we progress. It doesn’t get too awful, but listeners with delicate sensibilities or the under-fives should proceed with caution.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">This episode was brought to you by the kind sponsorship of Guitar Tech Courses. Founded by British luthier James Collins (himself a graduate of the prestigious Galloup School of Guitar Making in Michigan) and an accredited repair technician for Gibson guitars for several years now, Guitar Tech Academy offers an online archive of instructional videos covering the maintenance and set-up of just about every modern guitar design from the wrap-around bridge of a '54 Goldtop to Bigsbys, Strat and Tele bridges, acoustics and archtops, too. It’s all there.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">James will guide you through the theory and practice of setting up your guitar for your playing - follow th<span class="gmail_default">is link </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href= "https://www.guitartechcourses-academy.com/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener" data-saferedirecturl= "https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.guitartechcourses-academy.com&source=gmail&ust=1718758627302000&usg=AOvVaw02c_us28HM4NhAJzvDC8rV">https://www.<wbr />guitartechcourses-academy.com</a></span><span class="gmail_default"> </span><wbr />and sign up today - you will never have sounded bette<span class= "gmail_default">r!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;"><span class= "gmail_default">J</span>oin me next time for a chat with Superstar auctioneer Claire Tole-Moir of Bonhams London, who has been responsible for the sale of iconic instruments used by Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Slash, Ian Curtis and many more!</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large;">A Fretboard Journal Podcast. </span></p> <p><a href= "https://www.fretboardjournal.com">https://www.fretboardjournal.com</a></p> <p> </p> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <p> </p>
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