A writer for Akustik Gitarre magazine, Autschbach has also spent a good deal of time touring Europe in the ensembles of theatrical productions (Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoast, Cabaret, West Side Story); as well as the rock opera Tommy and as part of the Queen show "We Will Rock You" with Brian May and Roger Taylor.

As a clinician and teacher, Autschbach has discovered the problem of young students understanding the rhythm techniques of the guitar and has created what's become known as solution of the "Wechselschlag Groove problem," that concentrates on playing rhythms paying attention to only one of the six strings.

Those influences have shaped Transcontinental, a contemporary jazz journey of sound escapades. But, unlike other guitar player's projects, this is truly an ensemble event, his Terminal A a contemporary jazz quartet enhanced with the addition of two world percussionists for this project. While Autschbach is able to showcase his own signature sound taking a melodic approach, each song relies on total participation relying as much on keyboardist Eddy Teger and the foundation of bassist Jurgen Knautz and drummer Marco Bussi.

As much as Autschbach has written instructional guitar method manuals (three volumes of Gitarre Pur), his approach to playing the guitar is to capture the spirit. He recognizes you cannot simply play charts. He wants to make the guitar speak and sing. He accomplishes that in the way he has developed a lyrical sound which settles down between fusion, cIassical jazz and contemporary soundtrack. Every song maintains structure, balance and flow; temporal sonic landscapes.

The suite-like title piece "Transcontinental", which opens with a brief intermezzo (0:45) homage to Hendrix by the way of "Little Wing", takes us on a joumey of broad jazz-influenced phrasings with a continuous line of climaxes literally taking the listener on a worldwide musical expedition, always bringing us back to home base before journeying on.

Each song is a journey, an enjoyable one at that. Transcontinental is certainly a pleasurable experience. Autschbach is touring Europe with the "We Will Rock You" show this summer, returning to Terminal A dates in September.