Michael Orlando will be a featured artist on Guitar Player Magazine's Guitar Superstar Live National Tour. Guitar Player Magazine has proudly announced its first ever, Guitar Superstar Live National Tour which will kick off in the city where the superstars first competed against one another, San Francisco, California. Additional dates and venues are being finalized and will include Chicago, Milwaukee, New York City, New Jersey and more to be announced. Mike will be playing with own band, Sonic Stomp, this time around. Sonic Stomp features Mike Orlando, on guitars, Lenny Rocillo (Joe Lynn Turner, Bonnie Tyler) on bass and Dennis Leeflang (Bumblefoot) on drums. The tour will feature four of the competitors from Guitar Player Magazine's 2008 Guitar Superstar Event, which took place September 12, 2008 at the Great American Music Hall. Mike Molenda, Chief Editor of Guitar Player Magazine, will MC the night.

Date: Saturday, November 22
Time: Doors open at 7:30 PM, show at 8:30 PM
Venue: Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133
Tickets: Available on www.broadwaystudios.com, $14 in advance, $19 at the door

The performers will be Michael Orlando with Sonic Stomp, Vicki Genfan (winner of the Guitar Superstar Competition 2008), Eric Barnett with Points North, and Dan Peters with The West Side Winders.

New York guitar fans don't have to wait to see this sensational guitar player and his talented band. Mike Orlando's Sonic Stomp will be performing on December 18, 2008 at the Blender Theater at Gramercy. Tickets for this concert can be purchased for $14 at www.mikeorlandomusic.com. Doors open at 7 PM.

"Guitar Idol 2008" was conceived as an online worldwide talent search to find the next generation of guitar heroes... and boy did it deliver! Already the biggest guitar competition in history, between March 21st 2008 and the live Grand Final on June 14th 2008 almost half a million people visited, voted, or entered the competition. On June 14th thousands of guitar fans witnessed 12 future guitar stars do battle with a crack live band on the main stage at The London International Music Show to be crowned "Guitar Idol 2008". With nearly 1000 contestants truly spanning the globe, the standard was overwhelmingly high. Eventually with a combination of public votes and a panel of industry professionals, 12 outstanding finalists were chosen. The 12 finalists performed to a huge audience and a panel of industry judges. After nearly two hours of explosive guitar talent, the judges eventually picked the deserving winner - Gustavo Guerra from Brazil

"Lifeboat" is the first solo record from Guitar maestro Jimmy Herring considered by many musicians and fans to be one of the hottest guitarists on the planet. It is surprising that it took him this long to launch his debut record after founding or performing with outstanding bands and projects - the Legendary Aquarium Rescue Unit, Project Z, Frogwings, Jazz is Dead with Billy Cobham, Alphonso Johnson, T Lavitz, Allman Brothers, The Dead, Phil Lesh, Justice League and currently fulfilling guitar duties for jam band phenom, Widespread Panic. This outstanding effort which insiders and fellow musicians calling it an absolute musical masterpiece is full of surprises that elevates Jimmy's already fantastic reputation to be an outstanding guitarist. Jimmy Herring wrote six of the tunes along with Kofi Burbridge who wrote two tunes as well. They also do scintillating versions of Wayne Shorter's "Lost" as well the Overture from Walt Disney's Jungle Book.

Kick those economy blues with some great savings on killer guitar music from T.D. Clark. All CDs will be $12 through the Holidays - just $12! Get quality guitar playing and great tunes at less cost. Save $4 a CD!

Kevin Ferguson on "Strad To Strat II: Vivaldi", "Thirteen years ago the original "Strad To Strat" was released after recording with an insanely tiny budget and the most modest of methods. Now, with the world financial markets melting down and the music industry seeing CD sales dropping rapidly, "Strad To Strat II" comes out after a mad frenzy of recording part time during the summer months. It was such a pleasure to play this music, nearly all for the first time while recording in the studio. Musicologists not familiar with Vivaldi might be surprised by his proclivity for innovating by borrowing from other cultures (Scottish, Slavic, etc.) while simultaneously adhering to the basic principles of the Venetian composer of his time. Such ability to weave ideas in his compositions, along with counterpoint including fugue, caught the attention of many other composers of his time. I hope my enthusiasm is heard in my humble renditions of Vivaldi's works here."

"Supernatural Delight", the excellent new instrumental studio disc from the ultimate bluesy heavy guitar jam band from Japan called Bluestone Company (formerly known as Savoy Truffle), features 10 tracks (60 minutes) of outstanding, retro-'70s, bluesy, southern-inspired, heavy guitar, jam-based, rock/fusion that showcases super guitar hero Toshihiro Sumitomo and his vast talents on the guitar. A first-rate, incredible "guitar heavy" musical document that is all about phenomenal, deep, dynamic muscianship/grooves plus serious extended jamming from Toshihiro and the superbly talented Bluestone Co. brothers. Highly recommended to fans of Gov't Mule (Warren Haynes) and Plankton. If you dig outstanding, deep, exotic, bluesy, heavy guitar magic that goes way beyond the norm, tune in and get your big, electric "Supernatural Delight" groove on with the exceptional Bluestone Company.

"Holiday Strings" is an all instrumental CD featuring timeless Christmas and holiday classics arranged and performed on acoustic guitar as only Michael Angelo can. $1.00 (one dollar) from every CD sold will be sent directly to the "Joey's Angels" Childrens Leukemia Foundation. "Holiday Strings" by Michael Angelo Batio is a true holiday classic.

See Steve Hunter on the DVD of Lou Reed's "Berlin" Live at St Annes Warehouse, filmed in December of 2006. Also now available, the live soundtrack on CD and vinyl.

In order to resonate within us, songs must be both percussive and melodic, containing the undeniable, indefinable quality of an inner pulse. With soulful songwriting and his unique ability to emulate other instruments with his bass, Doug Johns;' second solo CD, titled "Pocket Fulla Nasty", grooves with a serious inner pulse. With a resume that includes work with Victor Wooten, Buddy Miles, Steve Smith. Dweezil Zappa, and Grammy-winning producer Aaron Lindsey, Doug Johns has that rare combination of innate talent along with a mature sense for arrangement and technique. It's no surprise that "Pocket Fulla Nasty" is, first and foremost, musical. From full screaming horn lines to stripped-down bass and drums, the diversity of Johns' second solo release is nothing short of amazing. A combination of daring musicality and stunning technique, Doug Johns' "Pocket Fulla Nasty" is a funk-charged expedition through style and composition.

Steve Hunter has a review of "Short Stories" in the current issue of Vintage Guitar, and look out for an in-depth profile of him and his contribution to rock music in the Vintage Guitar Dec/Jan issue.

Scottish virtuoso Nick Andrew will be playing in the "Get Experienced Festival Tent" in the main exhibition hall of Music Live at the Birmingham NEC over the 7th, 8th and 9th of November. Nick will be performing solo at 4.00 PM on Friday the 7th, 1.00 PM on Saturday the 8th and with his amazing fusion band Curfew at 10.45 AM on Sunday the 9th. You will hear some fantastic tunes from his solo CD (SOLO?), alongside some Curfew classics and a few other surprises in a very original blend of jazz, classical, funk and rock. Don't miss this great virtuoso musician in action!

Beginning on January 1, 2009, heavy metal guitar icon George Lynch will begin a victory lap that few artists can boast - a celebration of a career spanning 30 years. In commemoration, twelve months of secret events and limited edition releases promise to be as unorthodox as the axe man's career. The elements to be released will be leaked to visitors of Lynch's official website at www.georgelynch.com and www.legacyoften.com via clues prior to each scheduled announcement.

Over the last 30 years (playing with Dokken, Lynch Mob and solo) George Lynch has sold millions of records around the world, toured every corner of the planet, and set the benchmark for the design and artwork behind his signature guitars, amplifiers and music accessories. He is also one of the only marquee players to establish a unique commitment to his fan base's education of the guitar. In 2005, Lynch created a Guitar Dojo, which is now in its third year at www.georgelynch.com.

Michael Orlando, a guitarist from New York has been selected as a top ten finalist for Guitar Player Magazine's 2008 Guitar Superstar of the Year. He competed against nine other guitarists on September 13th, 2008 at the legendary Great American Musical Hall in San Francisco, California. Hundreds of passionate guitarists worldwide entered, and ten were chosen to strut their stuff in front of host Andy Summers of the Police and celebrity judges, including Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Elliot Easton (Cars), George Lynch (Lynch Mob), and Brendon Small (Adult Swim's Metalocalyopse).

Guitar Superstar is a yearly competition hosted by the Guitar Player magazine in which 10 finalists compete for the title of Guitar Superstar for the year. All ten contestants receive an all-expenses paid trip to San Francisco. The winner, first runner-up and second runner-up of the event receive custom trophies and complete gear packages. The champion will receive a feature article in Guitar Player magazine and prizes from event sponsors.

15% of all proceeds from "Trilogies" by Brandon Campbell will be donated to The National Ataxia Foundation.

Bruce Bouillet's "Unspoken" (kind of a companion disc to "Interventions") is the ex-Racer X guitarist's first solo CD - a self-produced instrumental album beyond technical showing-off or stylistic pigeonholing. "Unspoken", delving into hard rock, metal and fusion stylings, contains jaw-dropping examples of technical excellence as well as an originality and sensitivity few shredders can match. In 2005 Bouillet produced, recorded and mixed a Grammy winner for the band Motorhead. is currently located in Los Angeles. is part of the Bottom Dwellerz production team and band, and finished touring with Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani, and Jjohn Petrucci, on the US G3 tour.

Brazilian guitarist Lucas Fagundes was born in 1986, and had his first contact with the electric guitar at age 14. Inspired by guitarists such as Steve Vai, Frank Solari, Andy Timmons and Richie Kotzen, he took lessons with several teachers to develop his musical skills. He has been featured in several compilation CDs with other Brazilian rock guitar players, and now has his own self-titled CD available. It features nine tracks, including "Phase" and "Neo Pop" from the compilation CDs, along with other equally heavy tunes, such as "Viagem", "Naquela Noite" and "Gone". Special guest musicians include Eduardo Ardanuy, Marcelo Barbosa, Michel Marciano, Bruninho Gafanhoto, Giovanni Sena and Andre Cabelo. This guitarist's debut is a true journey through an instrumental soundscape that unites taste, creativity, skill and sensibility in its own unique way. Instrumental music afficionados will surely enjoy this.

Paul Nelson European dates with Johnny Winter and Eric Sardinas. Visit www.paulnelsonguitar.com, www.johnnywinter.net and www.ericsardinas.com for more information.

OCTOBER 2008
24 REGENSBURG GER KULTURSPEICHER
25 BOZEN ITA STEINEGG KULTURHAUS
27 BUDAPEST HUN PETOFI CSARNOK
28 BELGRADE SER STUDENT CULTURAL CENTRE
29 ZAGREB CRO BOOGALOO
31 OLDENBERG GER KULTURTAGE

NOVEMBER 2008
01 LUBECK GER SCHUPPEN 6
02 WORPSWEDE GER MUSIC HALL WORPSWEDE
03 MAINZ GER KUZ
04 ESSEN GER GRUGAHALLE
06 ODENSE DK ODENSE BLUESCIRCLE
07 SONDERBORG DK SONDERBORGHUS
08 KOLDING DK GODSET

Smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox has released his second CD, called "Feelin' It". Special guests include Nelson Rangell on sax, Najee on sax, Walter Beasley on sax, Michael Lington on sax, Luis Conte on percussion, and Fox' wife Evelyn "Champagne" King on lead vocals on "Happy Feelings". Also featured are Alex Al on bass, Mel Brown on bass, Michael White on drums amd Michael Broening on keyboards (who also produced and co-wrote two songs). Calling Fox a newcomer or undiscovered would be an egregious mistake. He was born in Tennessee, Berklee College Of Music educated, and Southern California bred. He has toured with Atlantic Starr, Jennifer Holliday, Vesta Williams, Eric Benet, Rose Royce, Sheila E, Evelyn "Champagne" King and others, while appearing on albums featuring names such as George Benson. None of this would mean a thing, though, if "Feelin' It" weren't such an outstanding sophomore effort. These days it takes something special to really perk up ears in Smooth Jazzland, and Fox has delivered just that!

Guitarist Andre Tonelli has launched the Guitar Studio Weekly Sessions series. Available as a YouTube channel and as a Podcast from iTunes. It's a series of videos presenting guitarists around the world with a new idea, riff, technique, and more every week. In addition, Andre's latest record, "Power World Fantastic", is now available on Guitar Nine, iTunes, and Rhapsody. Subscribe to the GS Weekly Sessions today, and never miss a video!

The bass dominated release "Ultrasonic" by Greece's Uthull, blends fusion and metal influences to create a unique sound. Led by bassist Kostas Domenikiotis and supported by the keyboard work of Sakis Bandis and the drumming of John Tsoulfaidis, the mostly instrumental work (one vocal track, "Tonight") display how the bass guitar can be used as a melodic, solo, supporting and lead instrument on heavy progressive experimental fusion material. Band members have played in groups such as Horizon's End and Thunderstorm, and use their experience to enhance album cuts such as "Lust", "Testosterone", "Astral Goats" and "Eternal Sword-Part II".

Kosta Vreto is a guitar hero from Thessaloniki, Hellas. "Skin On Strings" is his metal/shred emotional instrumental masterpiece! A debut album packed with special guests, such as Greek shredder Theodore Ziras, as well as guitarists Ioannis Anastasakis and Alex Flouros. Bumblefoot (Ron Thal) had this to say, "A great player with all the right ingredients - tone, phrasing, melody, technique. A talented well-rounded player." Rob Marcello (Danger Danger) adds, "This is one of the craziest things I've seen in my life. Amazing player, one of the best I know."

Andre Tonelli is a guitarist, composer, producer, and teacher renowned around the world. His music has been heard by milions, either perofrmed live, on radio stations worldwide, or at other events. Despite his young age, he is one of the pioneers of a new way of viewing the role and responibilities of an artist, and is a true renaissance man of music: he writes, produces, performs, and markets his music and is one of the few modern musicians completely dedicated to his art and able to maintain his valued artistic and commercial freedom. Being called "a true modern day guitar hero" and a musical prodigy by some of the most respected voices in the press and radio has done little to distract him from his focus, which remains the creation and performance of beautiful and inspiring music. His 2008 full length CD is entitled "Power World Fantastic", a nine song, all instrumental guitarfest.

Former Steel Prophet and Rocket Scientists guitarist Jimmy Williams' new 12-song solo acoustic guitar work is entitled "Acquiescence", and it displays a wide range of styles from rock, flamenco, ambient to traditional acoustic. Williams has previously released heavy electric guitar-based solo CDs such as "Sonic Divergence" and "Guitar Concepts".

Since it's inception in Lawrence, KS in 2004, Dojo has been steadily working their way to the surface by striving to produce technical music that has soul or meaning. Named after the term used in Zen Guitar, Dojo is a special place for three gifted musicians (Brian Baggett, guitar; Luke Stone, drums; Chris Handley, bass) to grow. In addition to a healthy diet of gigs, they have played several festivals including the 2006 and 2007 Wakarusa Music Festivals and BrewGrass Music and Brewery Festival. In 2006, the group performed in Favored Nations "Night of Pure Guitar" concert featuring Dave Weiner and Rob Balducci. Dojo has also held the opening slot for ALO. Dojo has three records out including "Live At The Jazzhaus" recorded at their favorite hometown venue. The band's latest release, "Studiojo", would be a great way to introduce the band to you. It features instrumental guitar music in a fusion jazz style - Van Halen meets Coltrane.

Italian guitarist Fabrizio Chiruzzi's new project is called Revangel, and the 2008 album is entitled "Awakening", a 64 minute instrumental industrial shred metal work - or simply, cybershred. The concept of the project was to choose a different approach within the world of guitar heroes, without the common cliches heard in the last two decades. Inspired by bands like Ministry, Rammstein, Annihilator and musicians such as Michael Angelo Batio, George Bellas and Greg Howe, Fabrizio created a high energy mix ranging from fast and furious tracks like "Bioraptor" and "Genoma" to commercial hits like "Supernova" and "Dehumanizing Box", with their techno sound. Additionally, you'll hear chill-out moods in the title track, as well as pure industrial noise tracks like "Tehom" and "Entro-py". Included is a cover version of Batio's "No Boundaries", featuring drummer Fabio Colella, and keyboard great Mistheria guesting on "Intruder".

Guitarist Rob Johnson (solo artist and guitarist for Magnitude Nine and Saddleback Shark) Is now writing for his new solo instrumental CD, due out in 2009 - a melodic. modern, over-the-top shred guitar CD. More news to follow in the coming months.

Greek musician John B, who is the Hybrid GR's guitar mastermind and ex-Wolfcry axeman now releases his debut solo CD," Row", featuring melodic, instrumental statements full of hearty shred and hard rock, thrash and metal moments. John B.'s band Hybrid GR has existed since 1999. Their mission statement, "We managed through many difficulties and betrayal to stand strong today. We hope you like our music, through it we cast the darkest shadows of our souls and through anger we crush the ones that stand on our way. Keep the faith..."

From the raw emotion of the live intro by Anders Bosell, to the over-the-top, string-skipping licks of Rob Johnson closing out the CD... "Shredding Across The World: Volume 1" smokes! In between we have great songwriters like Tore Moren and Steve Burrows who can shred it up, along with metal band veteran Darin J. Moore. Michael Harris offers up a very creative piece with his brother Brian Harris going crazy on the drums, while Eternal Fantasy's Hitoshi Nakamura really gets the CD going early on track two. Eight-string monster and MySpace legend Marian Gradinarski gives us a Watchtower inspired track, Tom Kopyto treats listeners to a "great chops" lesson, and up-and-coming stars Michael Abdow and Steve Shannon show us that shred is not lost among the youth. There is much, much more... there is something here on this CD for every fan of virtuoso guitar!

Aaron Lewis writes about his 2008 CD, "The "Space Travel" album started out as an individual piece which turned out to be the catalyst for an entrie album. It began with the title track being composed for an out of print EP Puente. This piece stuck with me and forced me to sit down and do some serious composing with it. I spent a few months composing the music for "Space Travel". From July of 2007 to February 2008 it was a lot of composing and a lot of torn up pieces of paper. Then one cold afternoon I sat down to do an improvisation for prepared guitar. I put alligator clips on the inner four strings of the guitar, tied a string of bells to the headstock, slapped a glass slide on my pinky finger and out came an "Alien Abduction". This caused me to look to the night sky and write an album about music involving space. This is that music. A solo guitar album for the ages, a journey through the spaces in your mind, a vehicle for dreaming."

"Trilogies", by guitarist Brandon Campbell, is a collection of beautiful instrumental rock guitar music. Each of the 12 songs is charming, dazzling and classy. The music ranges from explosive modern guitar oriented rock similar to the music of Joe Satriani, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana to soothing classical melodies in the style of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

"Thanks In Advance" is a 60-minute jazz/rock compositional statement by bassist Bryan Beller about breaking through anger and finding gratitude. The album is his second solo CD. Damien Erskine at Bass Musician Magazine wrote, "Thanks in Advance brings us a wealth of amazing tone, wonderful compositions, killer grooves & pure musicality... When it's time to solo, Bryan throws down like a big dog, but when he's playing bass he's every bandleader's or songwriter's dream. Thoughtful, appropriate, soulful and tasty all at the same time." Noted bassist Michael Manring added, "I love Bryan's playing! He's solid, supportive and creative with tone for days. Thanks in Advance is full of cool ideas, inspired performances and deep grooves. I definitely recommend it."

Combining European flair with American spirit is the heart of Gyula Schreiber's music. Building on his Hungarian roots and incorporating influences from the L.A. and New York music scenes helped him develop a blend of styles that appeals to audiences worldwide. Living in Hawaii has also made a unique mark on the sound and overall feel of his compositions. His approach of writing brings out the joy of playing by inviting musical exchanges among musicians. Gyula's own passionate guitar playing highlights the color and essence of the story that is in each work. Programmatic in nature, his music is a great vehicle to go places unusual and exotic. Driven and dynamic, it is expressive, vibrant and has the gift to make the listener feel good. While genres and instrumentation may change frequently, his distinctive tones always convey fresh and creative ideas. Intertwining lines of guitars have the effect of producing rich orchestration and sublime textures. His purely instrumental music is a perfect fit for film or TV productions. If lifting one up to a higher plane while entertaining is the intention and purpose of most instrumental artists, he clearly succeeds on these accounts and that is the reason not to miss him live or on "Headway".

Alejandro Silva Power Cuarteto (ASPC) is Chilean guitar-oriented instrumental rock quartet. Since 1999, the quartet has released four CDs and 2 DVDs. "Live 2007" was recorded in Santiago after a successful tour promoting the band's latest studio work "Orden & Chaos". Two concerts in a row were captured on the same day, and the actual tracks included here were chosen from the best of both shows. The recorded audio is faithful to the band's true live performance. No overdubbing, post recorded tracks nor any extraneous sound samples in frums or strings were used. What you'll see and hear happened that day.

Michael Orlando's Sonic Stomp will be appearing at numerous Sam Ash Music Stores in the tri-state area. These clinics will be absolutely free. Mike Orlando, who fronts Sonic Stomp, will be joined by the Dennis Leeflang (Bumblefoot), on drums and Lenny Rocillo ( Joe Lynn Turner, Bonnie Tyler) on bass The band will be performing songs from Mike's debut instrumental CD "Sonic Stomp", and Mike will be answering questions about his technique and the products he uses. Here's a chance for any guitar fan to learn from one of the ten finalists of Guitar Player Magazine's 2008 Guitar Superstar of the Year.

10/16/2008 7pm: SAM ASH MUSIC, 1831 Route 27, EDISON NJ, (732) 572 5595
10/24/2008 7pm: SAM ASH MUSIC, 385 Old Country Rd, Carle Place, NY 11514, (516) 333-8700
11/12/2008 7pm: SAM ASH MUSIC, 155 US-22, Springfield, NJ 07081, (973)-376-5161
11/14/2008 6pm, SAM ASH MUSIC, 160 W. 48th St. New York, NY 10036, (212)-586-1100

Please visit mikeorlandomusic.com for additional dates.