Woody Mann

..don't miss a chance to see him; you are unlikely to hear anything or anyone better in the field Mann has chosen to master. - The Times. Woody Mann is a New Yorker who plays an enticing mix of American acoustic roots, blues and jazz, He plays with passion and a deep sensitivity to his original music with an easy, laid-back style. He's a sublime singer, warm, witty and a hugely talented singer/songwriter and a legend in the guitar world.- BBC radio review 2017 Biography Among guitarists and critics, Woody Mann is considered a modern master. While the country blues are his touchstone, he seems to draw inspiration from every direction, blending a myriad of influences with ease and grace. Pioneering guitar legend John Fahey said it well: You can hear classical, jazz and blues approaches somehow converging into a single sparkling sound a sound completely his own. If there was a category simply called great music Woody's music would belong there. Since his early days when Woody took his first musical schooling with Reverend Gary Davis, the legendary blues, gospel and ragtime guitarist and with Chicago-born jazz pianist Lennie Tristano, Mann has pursued a rich and diverse career. From his first solo recording Stairwell Serenade that Guitar Player Magazine included in their guitar recordings of destiny he has; performed everywhere from the orchestra pits of Broadway to stages worldwide, recorded extensively as a soloist and in collaboration with legends Son House Bukka White, and John Fahey, been honored by the C.F. Martin guitar company with the release of Woody Mann signature model, named as the official USA ambassador the Great Britain International Guitar Festival, and has schooled countless guitarists through his many books and DVDs. Mann's latest release Careless Love features a collection or original tracks ranging from Italian inspired melodies to Southern blues and jazz rhythms. It is yet another inspired set that shows why Woody continues to be an original voice on the music scene. Acknowledging his artistry, the C.F. Martin guitar company has honored Woody with the release of the Woody Mann signature model guitar. He is also the official USA ambassador the Great Britain International Guitar Festival, where he has been a frequent performer. As a producer, writer and filmmaker he has co-produced the award winning feature documentary, Harlem Street Singer, the story of Reverend Gary Davis, the legendary Gospel, blues, and ragtime guitarist, produced the soundtrack CD Empire Root Band, and penned his latest book Just Play, combines history and stories of artists Woody has known and worked with including jazz guitarist Attila Zoller, Lennie Portuguese composer Carlos Paredes, and his early mentors Reverend Gary Davis and jazz great Lennie Tristano. Having studied, literally, at the feet of the Rev. Gary Davis and other blues 'greats,' Woody has taken the music and evolved it into his own highly personal, energized approach while practicing his teachers gift for telling powerful stories in the song form. Boston Globe Mann blurs the lines between jazz, blues, classical, and world music creating his own sound in the process. His wizardry on the fret board is matched by his ability to convey deep feelings with his songs creating moods that incite, delight, or simply soothe. Attempts to categorize his music simply misses the point. This is brilliant playing that demands to be heard. SING OUT! MAGAZINE, USA Every now and then, you hear a guitarist whose sound is completely his own and whose music flirts with several styles, never resting for very long with just one. What is remarkable is how Woody can draw from several styles and techniques within a single song and have them blend without the feeling of inconsistency. Woody Mann's performance is inspired from start to finish. MUSICIAN MAGAZINE With impeccable tone, gutsy phrasing, beautiful harmonies, and cool dynamics, Mann is in a class by himself. Phenomenal. Stairwell Serenade CD Voted top ten Guitar recordings of Destiny. GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE www.woodymann.com