PRESENTED BY LOVIN' CUP & BOP SHOP RECORDS
Guitar genius Charlie Hunter introduces his new trio and their new album at Lovin’ Cup.
“How’s this for a sketch resume for the brilliant seven-string guitarist Charlie Hunter? He came up on the music-magic Berkeley, Calif. scene in the ‘80s, graduated to local hero status with his bands (his famed trio, plus the TJ Kirk guitar extravaganza playing the music of Thelonious Monk, James Brown and Rahsaan Roland Kirk) and ended up getting signed by Blue Note Records, which released seven of his albums, including Songs From the Analog Playground that introduced to most people the singing talent of the young Norah Jones. He walked away from the major label for his freedom and after some indie label action has been totally in charge of his music, releasing albums on his own Charlie Hunter Music imprint. His new album, Let the Bells Ring On, features collaborators from his previous projects—trombonist Curtis Fowlkes and drummer Bobby Previte—who together join Charlie on a new journey.
I’ve followed his career from his days playing with Michael Franti’s Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy project in 1992 and his very first album, 1993’s self-titled trio release, and remarkably each new recorded excursion found him getting better and stronger as a composer, bandleader and of course unique guitarist who plays rhythm, lead and bass (why he plays a seven-string ax). His new show that celebrates the new album is highly recommended.” —Dan Ouellette