Jim CampilongoSocial Links NavigationJim Campilongo has 14 critically acclaimed instrumental records available on vinyl, CD and digital download here. Grid List Latest articles by Jim Campilongo From playing fiddle on street corners during the Great Depression to becoming one of the biggest Telecaster heroes of the 20th century – here's why you should immerse yourself in Jimmy Bryant's Country Cabin Blues… By Jim Campilongo published 19 November 23 Jimmy and pedal-steel supremo Speedy West (aka “the country jazz John and Paul”) have a swingin’ good time on this fun 1960's shredfest which belies his difficult reputation He played on over 2000 country records, was friends with Leo Fender and played a small role in the development of the Tele – but here's why you should really listen to the Noel Boggs Quintet's Magic Steel Guitar By Jim Campilongo published 24 October 23 It's not a masterpiece. It didn't change the world. But Magic Steel Guitar should be listened to by anyone who loves country, jazz, and steel guitar Here’s Why Fleetwood Mac's 1969 Album 'Then Play On' is One of the Greatest Blues-Rock Records Ever Made By Jim Campilongo published 28 September 23 The group’s third studio LP is hard evidence of Fleetwood Mac’s growth from an excellent blues band to a blues-based act that defied description Featuring Unhinged Electric Guitar Work and a Contradictory Shredding Non-Solo, Here Why You Need to Listen to Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto’s ‘Love, Love’ By Jim Campilongo published 22 September 23 This 1970s ECM classic defines a moment with deeply spiritual power Looking to Expand Your Musical Diet? Alexandre Lagoya’s Captivating ‘The Spanish Guitar’ Is Just What the Doctor Ordered By Jim Campilongo published 22 August 23 Devastated by his partner Ida Presti’s death, Alexandre Lagoya reclaimed his life and artistry on his own with this stunning display of beauty, technical prowess and humanity He Billed Himself as the “Paganini of the Guitar” While John Williams Called Him the “Greatest Guitarist/Composer of Any Time”: Here’s How Agustín Barrios Became a Guitar Legend By Jim Campilongo published 8 August 23 The Paraguayan sensation was a recording pioneer and remains one of the 20th century’s greatest guitar virtuosos and composers Wild, Urgent and Vital: Here’s Why MC5’s ‘Kick out the Jams’ Stands as a Precursor to Punk and Defines Timeless Rock Music By Jim Campilongo published 2 August 23 If rock music is a combination of bravado and lust, MC5 left pretty much everyone in the dust “Every Track on the Record Is a Must-Hear”: Jim Campilongo Says ‘Django Reinhardt et Stephane Grappelli’ Changed His Life By Jim Campilongo published 20 July 23 "That said, one can’t go wrong with almost any Django selection," explains the Telecaster master Starring Jazz Guru Bill Frisell, Here's Why Paul Motian’s ‘On Broadway Vol. 1’ Is Essential Listening for Every Guitar Player By Jim Campilongo published 30 June 23 Bill Frisell’s innovative lines and chord voicings flow majestically on this masterful jazz recording Here's Why José Feliciano Is a Musical Melting Pot as Well as an Amazing American Story By Jim Campilongo published 9 June 23 A true “American” artist he filtered pop through Spanish Harlem roots on his 1968 debut “Almost More Expressive Than the Human Voice”: Jim Campilongo Waxes Lyrical About One of His All-Time Favorite Jazz Discs By Jim Campilongo published 4 May 23 Ben Webster’s 'Warm Moods' LP is a searing lesson in melody and skillful phrasing “It’s Kind of a Crazy Sound”: Watch Eddie Peabody Demo the Obscure Electric Banjoline on ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ in 1962 By Jim Campilongo published 13 April 23 Video Eventually put into production by Rickenbacker in 1968, this niche electric six-string was invented by the Banjo King Video On ‘The Memphis Sounds,’ Lonnie Mack Shreds and Displays a Virtuosity That Could Humble Blues Breaker-Era Eric Clapton By Jim Campilongo published 24 March 23 His Gibson Flying V played through a Magnatone 460 amplifier sounds truly iconic Every Guitar Player Can Learn Something From Listening to Les Paul and Mary Ford’s ‘Bye Bye Blues!’ By Jim Campilongo published 21 March 23 Featuring great melodies, bends, trills, slides and raking, the electric guitar innovator always puts the listener first on this ‘50s gem With Captivating Stories of Loneliness, Desire, Regret and Freedom, Red Simpson’s ‘Roll Truck Roll’ Epitomizes the Electrified Bakersfield Sound By Jim Campilongo published 15 March 23 Featuring “Doctor of Guitars” Gene Moles, you don’t have to drive a truck to appreciate this 1960s country classic Known as the Black Album, Celebrated Pedal Steel Innovator Buddy Emmons’ ‘Emmons Guitar Inc.’ Is Shrouded in Mystery By Jim Campilongo published 10 March 23 Jim Campilongo explains why this enigmatic record remains a hot country jazz favorite “It’s so Raw, It’s Bloody”: Jim Campilongo Explains Why Muddy Waters’ Chess Blues Masters Series Album Is His Undisputed Desert Island Blues Disc By Jim Campilongo published 8 March 23 The father of modern Chicago electric blues along with Little Walter, Willie Dixon, James Cotton, Otis Span, Tat Harris and others work their mojo on this collection of groundbreaking masterpieces Spectacular Pedal Steel and Virtuosic Vocals: Here’s Why Johnny Paycheck’s ‘At Carnegie Hall’ Is a ’60s Country Classic By Jim Campilongo published 7 March 23 Along with recordings by the likes of Merle Travis, Willie Nelson and Ray Price, Johnny Paycheck albums remain sonic templates Listen to ‘A Dynamic New Sound’ – the Album That Introduced the Genius of Jazz Guitar Innovator Wes Montgomery to the World By Jim Campilongo published 3 March 23 This groundbreaking LP marked his debut as a leader and represented a giant step forward in the evolution of the electric guitar Listen to the Limitless Guitar Playing Talent of Lenny Breau By Jim Campilongo published 3 February 23 Produced by Chet Atkins, Lenny’s second album is a stirring testament to his remarkable gifts Listen to Bill Connors’ ‘Of Mist and Melting’ – ECM Jazz at Its Finest By Jim Campilongo published 2 February 23 This 1978 acoustic guitar masterpiece exudes atmosphere Here’s Why Santana’s ‘Abraxas’ Is a Lesson in Finding Your Own Voice on Guitar By Jim Campilongo published 26 January 23 The band’s ‘Billboard’ number one album remains the most focused and concise album from Carlos’s group Listen to the Breathtaking Virtuosity of Thumbs Carlisle’s “Springfield Guitar Social” By Jim Campilongo published 26 January 23 The face of Fender’s golden era replicates Grady Martin, Les Paul, Jimmy Bryant, George Barnes, Chet Atkins and Hank Garland ‘Everybody Digs Bill Evans’ (and Every Guitarist Can Benefit From Listening to This Record!) By Jim Campilongo published 25 January 23 Here’s why this 1959 jazz primer is a must-hear for guitar players Here’s Why the Ramones’ ‘It’s Alive’ Is One of the Greatest Rock and Roll Records of All Time By Jim Campilongo published 24 January 23 Johnny Ramone’s machine-like, all-downstrokes, no-minor-chords approach to guitar combines a ferocious wall of sound with brief barre-chord interludes 123 MOST READ1Learn to play like Snarky Puppy's Mark Lettieri with the ultimate funk baritone guitar lesson2How Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet and "the Randy Rhoads school of soloing" helped Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde write No More Tears3GP Presents Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew’s Remain in Light, with X, December 30 in San Francisco – Win Tickets4"An amp worth auditioning if you’re in the market for a gig-worthy, low-watt combo that punches above its weight class": Does Fender's Tone Master Princeton Reverb amp live up to the lofty precedent set by its tube-powered sibling? 5"I was playing the wrong key and everything, but it didn't seem to matter": Watch George Harrison play a Little Richard classic with Deep Purple in 1984
From playing fiddle on street corners during the Great Depression to becoming one of the biggest Telecaster heroes of the 20th century – here's why you should immerse yourself in Jimmy Bryant's Country Cabin Blues… By Jim Campilongo published 19 November 23 Jimmy and pedal-steel supremo Speedy West (aka “the country jazz John and Paul”) have a swingin’ good time on this fun 1960's shredfest which belies his difficult reputation
He played on over 2000 country records, was friends with Leo Fender and played a small role in the development of the Tele – but here's why you should really listen to the Noel Boggs Quintet's Magic Steel Guitar By Jim Campilongo published 24 October 23 It's not a masterpiece. It didn't change the world. But Magic Steel Guitar should be listened to by anyone who loves country, jazz, and steel guitar
Here’s Why Fleetwood Mac's 1969 Album 'Then Play On' is One of the Greatest Blues-Rock Records Ever Made By Jim Campilongo published 28 September 23 The group’s third studio LP is hard evidence of Fleetwood Mac’s growth from an excellent blues band to a blues-based act that defied description
Featuring Unhinged Electric Guitar Work and a Contradictory Shredding Non-Solo, Here Why You Need to Listen to Julian Priester Pepo Mtoto’s ‘Love, Love’ By Jim Campilongo published 22 September 23 This 1970s ECM classic defines a moment with deeply spiritual power
Looking to Expand Your Musical Diet? Alexandre Lagoya’s Captivating ‘The Spanish Guitar’ Is Just What the Doctor Ordered By Jim Campilongo published 22 August 23 Devastated by his partner Ida Presti’s death, Alexandre Lagoya reclaimed his life and artistry on his own with this stunning display of beauty, technical prowess and humanity
He Billed Himself as the “Paganini of the Guitar” While John Williams Called Him the “Greatest Guitarist/Composer of Any Time”: Here’s How Agustín Barrios Became a Guitar Legend By Jim Campilongo published 8 August 23 The Paraguayan sensation was a recording pioneer and remains one of the 20th century’s greatest guitar virtuosos and composers
Wild, Urgent and Vital: Here’s Why MC5’s ‘Kick out the Jams’ Stands as a Precursor to Punk and Defines Timeless Rock Music By Jim Campilongo published 2 August 23 If rock music is a combination of bravado and lust, MC5 left pretty much everyone in the dust
“Every Track on the Record Is a Must-Hear”: Jim Campilongo Says ‘Django Reinhardt et Stephane Grappelli’ Changed His Life By Jim Campilongo published 20 July 23 "That said, one can’t go wrong with almost any Django selection," explains the Telecaster master
Starring Jazz Guru Bill Frisell, Here's Why Paul Motian’s ‘On Broadway Vol. 1’ Is Essential Listening for Every Guitar Player By Jim Campilongo published 30 June 23 Bill Frisell’s innovative lines and chord voicings flow majestically on this masterful jazz recording
Here's Why José Feliciano Is a Musical Melting Pot as Well as an Amazing American Story By Jim Campilongo published 9 June 23 A true “American” artist he filtered pop through Spanish Harlem roots on his 1968 debut
“Almost More Expressive Than the Human Voice”: Jim Campilongo Waxes Lyrical About One of His All-Time Favorite Jazz Discs By Jim Campilongo published 4 May 23 Ben Webster’s 'Warm Moods' LP is a searing lesson in melody and skillful phrasing
“It’s Kind of a Crazy Sound”: Watch Eddie Peabody Demo the Obscure Electric Banjoline on ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ in 1962 By Jim Campilongo published 13 April 23 Video Eventually put into production by Rickenbacker in 1968, this niche electric six-string was invented by the Banjo King
On ‘The Memphis Sounds,’ Lonnie Mack Shreds and Displays a Virtuosity That Could Humble Blues Breaker-Era Eric Clapton By Jim Campilongo published 24 March 23 His Gibson Flying V played through a Magnatone 460 amplifier sounds truly iconic
Every Guitar Player Can Learn Something From Listening to Les Paul and Mary Ford’s ‘Bye Bye Blues!’ By Jim Campilongo published 21 March 23 Featuring great melodies, bends, trills, slides and raking, the electric guitar innovator always puts the listener first on this ‘50s gem
With Captivating Stories of Loneliness, Desire, Regret and Freedom, Red Simpson’s ‘Roll Truck Roll’ Epitomizes the Electrified Bakersfield Sound By Jim Campilongo published 15 March 23 Featuring “Doctor of Guitars” Gene Moles, you don’t have to drive a truck to appreciate this 1960s country classic
Known as the Black Album, Celebrated Pedal Steel Innovator Buddy Emmons’ ‘Emmons Guitar Inc.’ Is Shrouded in Mystery By Jim Campilongo published 10 March 23 Jim Campilongo explains why this enigmatic record remains a hot country jazz favorite
“It’s so Raw, It’s Bloody”: Jim Campilongo Explains Why Muddy Waters’ Chess Blues Masters Series Album Is His Undisputed Desert Island Blues Disc By Jim Campilongo published 8 March 23 The father of modern Chicago electric blues along with Little Walter, Willie Dixon, James Cotton, Otis Span, Tat Harris and others work their mojo on this collection of groundbreaking masterpieces
Spectacular Pedal Steel and Virtuosic Vocals: Here’s Why Johnny Paycheck’s ‘At Carnegie Hall’ Is a ’60s Country Classic By Jim Campilongo published 7 March 23 Along with recordings by the likes of Merle Travis, Willie Nelson and Ray Price, Johnny Paycheck albums remain sonic templates
Listen to ‘A Dynamic New Sound’ – the Album That Introduced the Genius of Jazz Guitar Innovator Wes Montgomery to the World By Jim Campilongo published 3 March 23 This groundbreaking LP marked his debut as a leader and represented a giant step forward in the evolution of the electric guitar
Listen to the Limitless Guitar Playing Talent of Lenny Breau By Jim Campilongo published 3 February 23 Produced by Chet Atkins, Lenny’s second album is a stirring testament to his remarkable gifts
Listen to Bill Connors’ ‘Of Mist and Melting’ – ECM Jazz at Its Finest By Jim Campilongo published 2 February 23 This 1978 acoustic guitar masterpiece exudes atmosphere
Here’s Why Santana’s ‘Abraxas’ Is a Lesson in Finding Your Own Voice on Guitar By Jim Campilongo published 26 January 23 The band’s ‘Billboard’ number one album remains the most focused and concise album from Carlos’s group
Listen to the Breathtaking Virtuosity of Thumbs Carlisle’s “Springfield Guitar Social” By Jim Campilongo published 26 January 23 The face of Fender’s golden era replicates Grady Martin, Les Paul, Jimmy Bryant, George Barnes, Chet Atkins and Hank Garland
‘Everybody Digs Bill Evans’ (and Every Guitarist Can Benefit From Listening to This Record!) By Jim Campilongo published 25 January 23 Here’s why this 1959 jazz primer is a must-hear for guitar players
Here’s Why the Ramones’ ‘It’s Alive’ Is One of the Greatest Rock and Roll Records of All Time By Jim Campilongo published 24 January 23 Johnny Ramone’s machine-like, all-downstrokes, no-minor-chords approach to guitar combines a ferocious wall of sound with brief barre-chord interludes
