CONTEST 3
FIRST PLACE
Robert Hill Midland Park, New Jersey “Slide on Rye”
Hill’s aggressive slide playing over a rough-and-ready backing track makes us
want to slam down some moonshine and start a ballroom blitz. It’s intense and
relentless, and Hill’s slide tone is fat, edgy, and fabulous.
SECOND PLACE
Jake Pashkin Tyumen, Russian Federation “Supermobile”
Pashkin’s evil intro riff and scattered noises presage the vortex of blissful mayhem
to follow. Somehow, he manages to throw some nice melodies in, as well. Whew!
THIRD PLACE
Daniel Martina Rosario, Argentina “Propinas”
Martina starts out with a repetitive line dressed up in a poppin’ tone, and then
gets all slinky and sensual as he starts driving harder. There are some nice, supple
runs and surprising bends.
FOURTH PLACE
Peter Torsiello Los Angeles, California “Electrolights”
A Hendrix-style motif catches your ear, and then the track opens up with some
very funky rhythmic skanks. Torsiello also leaves space for his churning backing
track, resulting in a cagey ebb and flow.
FIFTH PLACE
John Curry Gardnerville, Texas “Where the Wind Comes From”
Curry’s jewel-like tone and sensitive fingering create a beautiful aural world of
swirling melodies that makes us think of a phalanx of pirouetting ballerinas. Dreamy.
CONTEST 4
FIRST PLACE
Britt Warren Madison, North Carolina “Hot Pursuit”
Warren grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go, but his approach delightfully
mates macho aggro riffs with sweet melodies and a soaring tone that lets every
note he plays speak with authority.
SECOND PLACE
Werner Schuchner Pasadena, California “Never”
Yum—some sexy strings in the intro, a vibey tremolo on the rhythm guitar, and a
thick yet edgy tone on the solo. Schuchner really knows how to catch your ear, and
his subtle arrangement and evocative melodies keep you listening.
THIRD PLACE
Joe Dieter Madison, Wisconsin “Lucia’s Lullaby”
Dieter informs his beautiful melody with an empathetic touch that almost transforms
his notes into feelings, rather than just lines. And his tone is just as sensual.
FOURTH PLACE
Tracey Jane Comer Madison, Wisconsin “Inside Passage”
Another excellent acoustic track from Madison, Wisconsin! Comer chooses a steelier
tone than Dieter, and she dances over the strings with shimmering note flurries and
dynamic flair.
FIFTH PLACE
Rogerio Maudonnet San Paulo, Brazil “MegaMasterPowerGT”
Maudonnet has a massively huge tone that totally commands the funky rhythm
section without overwhelming the groove. Great riffs, too!