Artiesten Archive

Rob Garland

9 April 2025/by chickenp

Rob Garland grew up in England, worked in a diverse array of bands and later played hundreds of gigs at festivals and clubs across the U.S. with his band The Blue Monks. The band opened for artists such as B.B. King, Booker T. & Chuck Berry.

Rob now lives in sunny Los Angeles, where he continues to write and record his original music, ranging in genre from jazz-rock fusion instrumentals to acoustic vocal songs, available to stream/download.

He regularly performs at clubs such as The Baked Potato and Alva’s Showroom, and has recorded sessions at notable studios such as Revolver, The Village Recorder, LemonTree and J.J. Abrams Bad Robot.

Rob is currently a member of the jazz-funk fusion band Catatonic and the blues-rock fusion power trio Pagliari/Garland/Garcia.

He has been teaching guitar for 30 years and has taught hundreds of private students across all ability levels and styes. He has taught group classes, open counseling, private lessons and masterclasses for Musicians Institute (G.I.T.) in Hollywood, CA, where he served on the faculty, and also private and group classes for Sonora Guitar Intensive.

Rob has been featured in U.K. and U.S. guitar magazines, such as Guitarist, Guitar One and Premier Guitar. He has created numerous instructional courses for TrueFire and JamPlay, including the best selling TrueFire Chord Navigator series based on Rob’s approach to the CAGED system.

He has written books for Cherry Lane/Hal Leonard, had articles published in the TrueFire Journal Riff, and has an eBook entitled Guitar Play! Motivation & Practice. His latest instructional book was published by Fundamental Changes in 2023 and is entitled The CAGED Rhythm Guitar Method.

In 2018 Rob performed with legendary guitarist Steve Vai, in Hollywood, CA. Other musicians Rob has performed with include Jimmy Haslip (The Yellowjackets), Marco Minnemann (Joe Satriani), Gus Thornton (Albert King) and Joel Taylor (Allan Holdsworth). He has also worked with Tony Newton (Gary Moore/Tony Williams), Mick Stevens (Brand X) and Markku Lappalainen (Hoobastank).

Rob is endorsed by James Tyler guitars, Bogner amps, Curt Mangan strings, ChickenPicks and Moody Leather guitar straps. He has presented clinics for guitar and audio companies at trade shows such as NAMM and The L.A. Amp Show.

Rob loves music and the guitar today as much as he did when he was 14, possibly even more! He likes to explore many musical genres but is fascinated by fusion-
the harmony of jazz combined with the energy/tone of rock.

Links:

https://rwg.robgarland.net

Insta: @robgarlandla

Rodrigo Gouveia

18 June 2024/by chickenp

About Rodrigo

Rodrigo Gouveia is a Brazilian guitarist able to transform simple melodies into complex, jazz-infused neo-soul arrangements. An accomplished educator, Rodrigo is internationally known for his neo-soul guitar instruction and was one of the OG neo-soul players in the online guitar community.

Rodrigo got signed by JTC Guitar and his first Neo Soul Fusion licks package “20 Neo-Soul Fusion Licks” was released in their store in 2018 and “Neo-Soul Fusion Masterclass” in 2019. He is also a featured artist in very influential platforms such as Pickup Music, releasing lessons, and original tunes with other world-class musicians.

When it comes to guitar in the Neo-Soul, R&B, and Gospel genres, my favorite players are Jubu Smith, Isaiah Sharkey, and Spanky Alford. I highly recommend listening to these musicians to gain a deeper understanding of this style of music.

I use Chicken Picks, specifically the Badazz III 3.2mm pick, because of its superior durability and tone. The pick’s thickness and material provide a strong, clear sound that enhances my playing. Compared to other picks, Chicken Picks offer a more comfortable grip and better control, which is crucial for precise playing.

Blogs

Playing Neo Soul Guitar in 5 steps

Links

Bobby Harrison

18 June 2024/by chickenp

About Bobby

Hello. I’m Bobby. I’ve decided to write in the first person, since we all know that most musicians compose their own bios.

I am a UK based session guitarist, singer and songwriter, born in Essex (sorry) and currently living in the South of England.

Since 2015, I have provided lead guitar and backing vocal duties for Sir Cliff Richard, playing dates all over the world, including regular residencies at London’s Royal Albert Hall. I have featured on 3 number 1 selling Cliff Richard live DVDs. In addition to my live work with Sir Cliff, I have performed with Brian May, Dame Olivia Newton-John, Bonnie Tyler, Andrea Corr and Bruce Welch & Brian Bennett from The Shadows.

I have a wealth of live and studio experience and am no stranger to long tours. In recent years, I have toured the USA, Canada, South America, Europe and The Middle East extensively, both with Brit Floyd and The Australian Pink Floyd Show, as well as playing guitar for the hit Queen show We Will Rock You in London’s West End, Zurich, Stuttgart and Vienna. Another notable theatre experience includes a 2009 European tour as guitarist for Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show.

From 2010 until 2015, I provided guitar and backing vocal duties for both Brit Floydand The Classic Rock Show, playing an average of 150 shows a year, at many prestigious venues – including numerous appearances at London’s Royal Albert Hall, The O2 Arena and Wembley Arena; Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado; The Greek Theater, Nokia Theater and Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles; The Fillmore and The Warfield in San Francisco; The Bell Centre, Montreal and headline slots at Glastonbury and Isle Of Wight festivals.

My TV appearances include ITV’s The National Lottery Show, This Morning and Loose Women, as well as appearances on PBS in the United States. I have also performed live on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and WDVE, Pittsburgh.

My studio work includes sessions for the late composer Michael Kamen, recording at Abbey Road Studios with Westlife, The Lighthouse Family and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, as well as playing guitar on the soundtrack to the animated movie The Snurks (Back to Gaya), starring Patrick Stewart. I have also recorded for BA Robertson and have provided session guitar, vocal and songwriting duties for Zomba Music Publishing.

Before turning to session work, I spent many years as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for numerous bands, securing several independent record deals. I’ll spare you the full details of acts in question, since it’s unlikely you would have heard of them, but gigging heavily throughout my teens and early 20s helped me to gain valuable band-smarts that continue to serve me well today.

As a guitar tutor, I am currently a music lecturer at ICMP in London and have taught in several schools in the UK, as well as privately. In 2010, I co-founded a popular guitar tuition website, which I sold in February 2018. In April 2018, I launched “Absolute Blues Guitar” – an immersive online blues guitar course.

I’d also like to add that I have a have a pretty good sense of humour, I make a mean cheese toasty and I’ve recently been voted The World’s Most Left-Handed Man. All of these qualities, I’m sure you’ll agree, are essential in order to survive life on tour.

Thanks for reading,

Bobby

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Links

linktr.ee/bobbypharrison

Instagram

Mark Bogert

18 January 2024/by chickenp

PROFESSIONAL GUITAR PLAYER FROM DORDRECHT (NETHERLANDS)

Mark Bogert was born on November 8 1983. At the age of seven he got in touch with music, though this was not the guitar yet. Mark started playing the trumpet first. Aged twelve he discovered the guitar. From that moment on the guitar became a part of Mark’s life.

Beside playing the guitar, composing and arranging have played an important role in Mark’s development. He has written compositions and arrangements for various line-ups and regularly travels through Europe to teach and to conduct clinics and workshops.

EDUCATION

Mark studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory (Codarts). He completed two studies.
2003 – 2007 Performing musician (light music)
2009 – 2011 Music education (Bachelor of Music in Education)

Mark played in different bands during his study. The most important band in which he had a leading role was “Penny’s Twisted Flavour”. Their debut album “Sketches” was released in February 2010.

Furthermore he played with “Mythlorian” at Wacke Open Air, and played guest solos on the two albums by “Lord Volture” entitled “Beast of thunder” and “Never cri wolf”. Beside Mark’s band activities he also performs as a session musician, and has made a lot of guitar recordings for and with various bands, projects and events.

Mark is a teacher at Codarts Rotterdam (former known as Conservatorium Rotterdam).

WINNER BEST METAL GUITARPLAYER 2024

Mark won the Poll Award for best voted metal guitar player Benelux in the Guitarist Magazin.

Mark played with the great guitar heros like Steve Vai and John Petrucci at the SEGA European Guitar Award.

Mark is an endorser of Ibanez Guitars.

Guitarpick:

Badazz III

Links

Website:

https://www.jtr1888opera.com/

INSTA:

@magoria_rockopera

@mark.bogert

Andrea Benz

26 June 2023/by chickenp

About Andrea

Andrea Benz is unlike any other artists. With captivating guitar skills, a beautiful clear country voice, and genius songwriting, Andrea’s fans call her a “triple threat.” Hailing from the small country of Switzerland, the rising singer/songwriter’s roots are seated deeply in country music, her voice reminiscent of the 90ies country stars. Already known in musicians’ circles as a studio perfectionist, Andrea´s guitar craftsmanship can be heard and seen on countless country performances and recordings around the world. Whether it´s with Grammy winner Paul Overstreet in Germany, Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy in Spain or with Lonestar Troubadour Dale Watson in Texas, Andrea has amassed millions of travel miles and performed for thousands of country music fans around the world. She won several awards, such as the Swiss Country Music Award in 2016 or the Rising Star Award at the Texas International Country Music Award in 2018. Her playing style is a unique blend of 90ies country chicken picking style and the earlier jazzy western swing style.

With two college degrees in her pocket, one of them being a BA of Arts in Jazz & Popular Music, Andrea soon started touring all over Europe, always striving for more.

Andrea has several years of teaching experience. She has a BA of Arts in Music (Jazz/Pop guitar) and has been teaching Guitar, Music Theory and basic Piano at the Swiss Music Academy for 4 years. For the past year she has been teaching at Bach To Rock Music School in Nashville, TN. She specializes in Country guitar and teaches both electric and acoustic guitar.

I was born and raised out in the country in Switzerland. I started playing guitar at the age of 8 and got hooked to the instrument quickly, playing for hours daily. I grew up listening to country music and has always been fascinated by the traditional and authentic country sound.

Links

https://www.andreabenz.com

Uncle.sasquatch (Chris)

20 June 2023/by chickenp

Uncle Sasquatch (Chris)

Uncle Sasquatch (Chris) is a digital-age guitarist and social media personality known for his presence on Instagram and YouTube.

He focuses on a few distinct areas:

Old-School Metal & Shredding: He primarily performs heavy metal covers and originals, frequently sharing videos playing classic tracks from iconic bands like Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, and other old-school metal titans.YouTube
The “Bedroom to Stage” Journey: He began his musical journey as a bedroom guitar player, transitioned to playing various live stages and session work with a previous band, and eventually came full circle to focus heavily on content creation from home.
Guitar Collection & Gear: He is well-known among his followers for a distinct collection of instruments, most notably featuring multiple sharp Jackson Rhoads Flying V guitars. Over time, his online presence has earned him sponsorships and associations with various music gear brands, such as Tsunami Cables and ChickenPicks.

Chris uses Badazz III

Insta:https://www.instagram.com/uncle.sasquatch

Alexander Layer

11 December 2021/by chickenp

Alessandro De Fusco (Alexander Layer)

Alexander Layer is the stage name of Alessandro De Fusco, an Italian guitarist, composer, educator, and solo artist known for his melodic approach to progressive and power metal. Rather than focusing on pure speed and technical showmanship, his music emphasizes storytelling, often inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology.

Some highlights of his career include:

Musical background: He studied at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples and at the Lizard Academy in Rome, where he also became a guitar instructor. His influences include heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal, and classical music.
Solo albums:
- Fenrir (2018/2019), his debut concept album inspired by Norse mythology.
- Huginn Muninn (2019), featuring guest appearances by guitarist Marco Sfogli (James LaBrie, PFM) and drummer David Folchitto (formerly of Fleshgod Apocalypse).
- Sounds From The Labs, Vol. I (2021), a collection of compositions written during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Playing style: Layer describes his philosophy as making the guitar “serve the melody.” While technically accomplished, he avoids excessive virtuosity in favor of expressive, cinematic compositions.
Endorsements: He is an official artist for Solar Guitars and Chicken Picks, and frequently demonstrates their gear in videos and performances.
Live performances: He has opened for notable guitarists and metal musicians including:
- Reb Beach (Whitesnake, Winger)
- Vinnie Moore (UFO)
- Members of Lacuna Coil
- Mario Guarini

Musically, Alexander Layer sits somewhere between artists like Joe Satriani, Andy Timmons, and Marco Sfogli, with the harmonic language and atmosphere of progressive and symphonic metal. His compositions often combine lyrical lead guitar with orchestral textures and mythological themes rather than focusing on traditional verse-chorus songwriting.

If you’re interested in melodic instrumental guitar with a cinematic, progressive-metal flavor, Alexander Layer is well worth exploring. Tracks such as “Ymir,” “The Heart of Angrboða,” and “Fenrir” are good introductions to his style.

Henning Pauly

Henning Pauly is a German guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, composer, and YouTuber best known for his work in progressive rock and progressive metal. Born on July 25, 1975, he studied Contemporary Writing & Production and Music Synthesis at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating summa cum laude in 2000. After working in Los Angeles as a producer and composer for advertising and progressive rock projects, he later returned to Germany and built his own recording facility, 42 Studio.

Musical style

Pauly is known for combining:

Progressive metal and rock
Symphonic and orchestral arrangements
Modern production techniques
Strong melodic songwriting

Although he’s an accomplished guitarist, he’s equally respected for his arranging and production work. On many recordings he performs guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, and programming himself.

Frameshift

His best-known project is Frameshift, a progressive rock/metal project rather than a conventional band.

Notable albums include:

Unweaving the Rainbow (2003) – featuring James LaBrie on vocals. The album is inspired by the ideas of evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.
An Absence of Empathy (2005) – featuring Sebastian Bach on vocals and centered on the psychological condition of psychopathy.

These albums became well regarded among progressive metal fans for their ambitious concepts, intricate arrangements, and high-profile guest vocalists.

Other projects

Pauly has released music under several names, including:

Chain – progressive metal project.
Henning Pauly – solo releases such as Credit Where Credit Is Due, Babysteps, and 13 Days.
Roswell Six – contributed as songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
Shadow’s Mignon – a heavier melodic metal project.

Producer and engineer

Beyond performing, Pauly has:

Produced and mixed numerous progressive rock and metal albums.
Mastered recordings for other artists.
Written commercial music and jingles.
Built a reputation for detailed home-studio production techniques.

YouTube career

In recent years, many musicians know him through his HP42 (EytschPi42) YouTube channel, where he publishes videos on:

Guitar gear reviews
Amplifier comparisons
Recording and mixing
Music production
Honest opinions about guitars and equipment

He also helped organize guitar community events such as GuitCon and later Thomann Gearhead University, bringing together guitar-focused YouTubers and manufacturers.

Why he’s respected

Henning Pauly has earned a loyal following because he combines:

Berklee-level theoretical knowledge
Exceptional recording and production skills
Versatility across multiple instruments
A willingness to share detailed technical knowledge with other musicians

Among progressive rock and metal fans, he’s often regarded as one of those “musicians’ musicians”—better known within recording and guitar communities than in the mainstream, but highly respected for both his compositions and studio craftsmanship.