Jimmy Mac
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Good Time Instrumental Rock
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San Francisco area guitarist Jimmy Mac wanted to break away from his regular jazz based projects, and the results can be heard on his CD-R Just A Kid Havin' Fun. Instrumental, rooted in rock. blues and funk, and a full eleven tracks long, the album gave Mac a chance to stretch out and explore grooves influenced by Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Prince. You'll love Mac's soulful solo style, phrasing and tone, as his guitar sings themes, melodies and brassy solos. Two up-tempo tracks, "Almost Human" and "Wonderland" are perhaps highlights here, but there isn't a sleeper track on the entire album. The smoldering, soul-baring "Beslan" is an example of a slower number that also cooks. All compositions are originals, and many feature co=producer Jimi Fischer on drums. Call Disc Makers and print these babies, Mac, they are diamonds in the rough.
Jimmy's formal training was at William Patterson College, where he majored in Classical Guitar/Violin and where he also pursued Theory and Composition with Dr. Jeff Kresky. He has studied with Mario Escudero, Leonid Bolotine and Bob DeVos. Focusing on the various languages of the instrument and letting each (whether it be classical or bop) inspire him, allows Jimmy to improvise within that idiom. For a period of time, he could be heard playing swing fiddle in one setting and Hendrix in another; in addition, he could be found teaching Theory and Guitar at AIG in New York City. Jimmy's compositions have been used in commercial settings for companies such as Tommy Hilfiger. His rap sheet includes reviews in Jazz Times and Cadence with the group Three Point Play, and he was a featured artist in Guitar For The Practicing Musician in 1990.
Mac has also had the good fortune to appear on records with artists Mike Stern, Dave LaRue, Kim Stone and Scott Kreitzer. His guitar/violin work can be heard on CDs by Winter Hours, Three Point Play and Positive ID.
MP3 Songs
Almost Human
Wonderland
Contact Information
James Mac
30 Chumasero 1E
San Francisco,CA 94132
United States
E-mail:
Jimmy Mac
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Jason Couture
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Rocker Lets It Rip
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Submitting a four-song demo CD-R entitled Nakedmonkeylove, is Ft. Bragg area guitarist Jason Couture. A showcase for the Ozzy-inspired heavy riffage that Couture was grounded in as a child, he literally lets it rip, wailing away over a basic, grungy production masquerading as a backing track - hey, the combo works! This is an opportunity to let the fingers fly, the frets burn, the strings melt and the amps crank. The most Ozzy-like track is the second instrumental, "Unspeakable", and you can almost heard Rhoads and Wylde in the distance. "Cowboy Up" is another metal inspired instrumental that allows for shred licks, bellicose rhythms, and blazing solos. The last instrumental, "Bring The Pain", has a plodding, Black Sabbath feel to it, which allows for some dissonant soloing, raucous tapping and inimitable pyrotechnics.
Jason's passion for the guitar started in 1992, while he was still in high school. His parents were (and still are) a couple of headbangers, and would always be blasting Ozzy, the Scorpions and Steve Vai around the house. Encouraged by them, Jason scored his first guitar, practiced, then cut his teeth in a Vermont based band named Jumping Ugly. He considers his first band mates to be his teachers. After playing various local gigs and releasing two CDs, the band called it quits in 1998. As Jason remembers, "I went solo after our falling out. I guess you could say, we all went solo! It's actually a pain in the ass being a solo artist, I would much rather have some mates to jam with. I will be searching for new band members in the future."
Couture's future plans are to further his understanding of the guitar, move back to Vermont and start a band that will challenge the limits.
MP3 Songs
Unspeakable
Cowboy Up
Contact Information
Jason Couture
202 Castle Dr.
Ft. Bragg, NC 28307
United States
E-mail:
Jason Couture
Web site:
www.soundclick.com/jasoncouture
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