Hi Folks,

I thought it would be a good idea for me to start posting more regular Blogs here and let you know what I'm up to through these blog updates.

Well, 2017 started off real busy for me with concerts in Florida, Seattle, Mount Vernon, and my annual Guitar Retreat in Benicia, California.

I had hoped to go into the ArtistWorks studio in Napa after Benicia to film some more lessons for the site, but plans unexpectedly changed and I had to go to LA.

We guitarists are all crazy about our guitars, and most of us have at least one favorite in our collection.

Here's my favorite.... it's a WG Barker built by Bill Barker in Toledo, Ohio in 1964, and here's the story....

It was built originally for Howard Roberts, but by the time it was finished Howard had struck up an endorsement deal with Gibson and the Howard Roberts model.

Last weekend Robin Nolan and I held a Gypsy Jazz Guitar Retreat in London.

It was good to see a couple of my ArtistWorks students there and meet new students who said they'd like to join us here online at the ArtistWorks Fingerstyle Guitar School.

We had guitar players travel to London from all over Europe, Scandinavia, USA, and Australia.

After two very successful shows in Paris, Ulf Wakenius and I will continue touring later this year in Scandinavia, Europe, and Asia.

Arrangements for the shows are in the process of being finalized and will be announced as soon as they are confirmed.

Also in the pipeline is a UK tour in Spring of 2018 and a live duo album will be released on vinyl... remember LPs?!

It's always a joy to work with Ulf. He's one of the world's great jazz guitarists.

If we're playing somewhere near you, please come along and say hi. We'd love to see you.

Very sad to hear my dear friend Larry Coryell passed away in NYC on Sunday 19th February.

Larry and I worked together many times over the years. First in 1980 when we both toured America together with Stephane Grappelli.

We later toured together in India and Europe and last played a guitar festival in Germany just 11 months ago.

Known as the 'Godfather of Fusion' Larry was equally at home playing straight ahead jazz, Flamenco, or writing orchestral scores.

NAMM, Anaheim, California - Orange Amplification are now commercially manufacturing the valve preamp that Dennis Marshall and I have been working on together for the past 3 years and it's awesome!

Many thanks to the genius of Dennis Marshall and to Cliff Cooper, Orange Founder & CEO for making this happen.

Here's Cliff and me having a good laugh as I plug into a wall of Orange amps and launch into a Jazz Bossa Nova Version of Stairway To Heaven.

Martin was a guest artist on Bill Wyman's 80th Birthday Concert at the O2 Arena in London this month.

Martin was a founder member of the ex-Rolling Stone bass player's band 'Bill Wyman's Rhythm King's' so was delighted to part of the celebrations.

Guest artists that evening were all old friend's of Bill's including Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Mick Hucknall, Robert Plant, Bob Geldorf, and Imelda May.