GROSSMAN Stefan
The guitar artistry of Stefan Grossman

VESTAPOL 13122

011671312293
Vestapol
USA Stati Uniti

 

“I first met Stefan Grossman in the States years ago and we became extremely good friends. Personally, I have learned a great deal from him. Let's face it, he needs very little introduction from me as a blues artist, discographer and connoisseur in blues.” – Eric Clapton

“Stefan Grossman has done just about everything one can do in the field of music. He has been, among other things, a performer, a recording artist, a record company founder, a video producer, a literary agent, a writer, an A&R man, a concert promoter, a booking agent, a record producer, a student, a teacher, and a music historian. But it is his success in illuminating classic and contemporary country blues, ragtime, and other fingerstyle guitar techniques that has made him, in the words of guitarist Dave Van Ronk, ‘one of the most important people in fingerpicking guitar in the history of the phenomenon.’” – Acoustic Guitar

“Grossman in particular, has been responsible almost single-handedly for maintaining and enriching the tradition of folk guitar playing. He has made himself master of countless traditional blues, folk and ragtime styles.” – Music Week

Guitarist, educator and historian Stefan Grossman was a student of acoustic blues and gospel singer/guitarist Rev. Gary Davis. Beginning when he was 15, Stefan studied with Davis on weekends, spending eight to ten hours at his house in Harlem, absorbing all he could. While studying with Rev. Davis he met and studied with other country blues guitarists: Mississippi John Hurt, Son House, Skip James, Mance Lipscomb and Fred McDowell.

In the early 1960s, Stefan formed the Even Dozen Jug Band (which also included such future luminaries as John Sebastian, Steve Katz, Maria Muldaur and David Grisman). In 1966 he worked with the alternate rock band the Fugs before moving to Great Britain in 1967. In 1969, he co-founded Kicking Mule Records with Ed Denson, a label that showcased acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Many of these albums that Stefan produced during this period are finally being re-released on CD on his own label.

From 1967 to 1987, Grossman lived in Great Britain and Italy and toured worldwide. He performed and recorded with John Renbourn for 15 years and they produced four albums together.

Stefan's solo discography goes all the way back to 1966, when he recorded How to Play Blues Guitar with Rory Block (now released as Country Blues Guitar SGGW103). Since that time he has recorded over 30 solo albums and has written numerous books highlighting the playing of legendary bluesmen from the 1920s and 1930s.

Nowadays Stefan divides his time between the USA and England. He continues to do concerts and workshops worldwide and remains one of the world's foremost authorities on acoustic blues guitar.

This collection brings together performances from 1965 to today. He performs solo, with the Even Dozen Jog Band, with John Renbourn as well as Duck Baker. In between the music Stefan weaves together the story behind his playing.

An 87 page PDF booklet is included on the DVD. This details guitars used and recording dates as well as tab/music of many of the arrangements.