New West Guitars

“ “The knowledgeable musicians told stories and filled in information about the various guitarists and the musicianship was consistently high, demonstrating chops and warmth. It was another win for the Jazz society and the audience.” -Stanley Naftaly KCSB-FM, Jazz Straight Ahead, August 2014   “Thanks to you and the guys for performing in Stowe.  The compositions and arrangements were complex, layered, and intense, prompting full engagement.  The three of you are masters of your instruments, drawing great variety and subtlety from an instrument that can easily be underestimated.  I especially enjoyed the polyrhythmic pieces, where I had  to tap each of my toes differently!” - Lance Olson, Executive Director, Spruce Peak Arts Center Foundation, June 2014   “Last night's New West Guitar Group concert at the Tempe Center for the Arts was incredible! We think everyone who attended would agree Lakeshore hit another home run in our season opener. Live music just doesn't get much better than that.” - Woody Wilson,  artistic director for Lakeshore Music at Tempe Center for the Arts, Jan. 2014.   “I would compare this talented trio of guitarists to men such as Doc Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John McLaughlin. While they might not be as well known as those gods of the six string, the New West Guitar Group is every bit as talented. . . I strongly suggest that anyone even remotely interested in instrumental guitar music give a listen to some of the band’s songs. . . you will be begging for more after the first couple of notes. - Mitch Rasmussen, Embry-Riddle University/Horizon’s Newspaper, Feb. 2013.   “Tight. Textured. Talented. Those are just a few of the thoughts that came to mind as I listened for the first time to "Big City," the latest release from the New West Guitar Group. With a mix of covers of some well-known pop tunes and original compositions, the disc is a potpourri for guitar enthusiasts. These three guys – all from the storied guitar department at USC – are inventive with well-constructed parts on every tune....Kudos to Perry Smith, Jeff Stein, and John Storie for a disc of great guitar music. Seems there is more than one guitar group from USC enchanting listeners with their tones.” - Kirk Albrecht, minor7th.com   The New West Guitar Group continues to push the boundaries of what we mean when we say “jazz” — and of how much sound can be made by 18 strings and 30 fingers. As they did on the 2011 release Round Trip Ticket, the three guitarists create huge, lush, and deceptively accessible soundscapes–some of them original compositions (like the lovely “Every Big City”) and some of them cover versions (like the album-opening “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and a shimmering version of the Police’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger”). As always with this group, it’s possible to just relax and enjoy the beautiful surfaces, and it’s rewarding to listen closely and catch the complexities underneath.” - Rick Anderson, cdhotlist.com   “Smith, Stein and Storie play seamlessly together. Beautiful acoustic rhythms, vibrant classically infused single note lines and jazzy arpeggios cover the magnificent musical landscape these three players create.” - Metronome Magazine 2013    “Shimmering arpeggios, collectively strummed chords...tight cracking interplay and complementary playing.” - Bill Milkowski, Downbeat Magazine 2013   “I would compare this talented trio of guitarists to men such as Doc Watson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John McLaughlin. While they might not be as well known as those gods of the six string, the New West Guitar Group is every bit as talented. . . I strongly suggest that anyone even remotely interested in instrumental guitar music give a listen to some of the band’s songs. . . you will be begging for more after the first couple of notes.” - Mitch Rasmussen, Embry-Riddle University/Horizon’s Newspaper, Feb. 2013.   “Redefining the role of the modern improvisational guitarist, The New West Guitar Group has just raised the bar others insist on limboing under.” - Brent Black, criticaljazz.com. Speaking of Joni, it's difficult not to wish that musicians and singers would look beyond her landmark album Blue when it comes to choosing from her wealth of songs to interpret. That said, New West Guitar Group does a sweet job with Joni's "All I Want" from their album Big City (Summit). That song is one of four covers, including Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule the World," Simon & Garfunkel's "Bleecker St." and the Police's "Wrapped Around Your Finger," performed by the guitar trio (Perry Smith, Jeff Stein and John Storie). The remaining originals, including "Proud Days Work" and "Inspiration Point," are also well worth your time." - Gregg Shapiro, Bay Area Reporter, Oct 2013 ‘BIG CITY' New West Guitar Group (Summit) ★★★★ "Don't be put off by its rather ho-hum moniker, because the three members of New West Guitar Group are masters of the six-string. Their fifth studio effort finds Perry Smith, Jess Tein and John Storie serving up an instrumental mix of originals and covers from such artists as Simon & Garfunkel (“Bleecker St.”), Joni Mitchell (“All I Want”), the Police (“Wrapped Around Your Finger”) and Tears for Fears (“Everybody Wants to Rule the World”). Among the group's compositions, “Every Big City” and “Pacific Blues” are the ones you'll remember." - Jeffrey Sisk, Pittsburg Tribune/Triblive.com, Oct 2013 “(Big City) is a catchy powerful recording with intriguing originals” - allaboutjazz.com “Thank you all so much for such a nice concert. Every student I've spoken to today was completely inspired. (Our student) was blown away that you all came from the USC as jazz players and went home to re-assess her practicing.” - Thomas Byers, owner and instructor Thomas Byers Guitar Studio, Flagstaff, AZ, Oct 2012. “Innovative playing and captivating compositions....(New West) continues to redefine the boundaries of the conventional guitar trio format.” - James Scott, minor7th.com, May 2012 “The group’s creativity in not being afraid to stretch boundraies is a bit helping to forge a new area of music that should inspire other guitarists to expand their boundaries” - John Heidt, Vintage Guitar Magazine, Mar 2012. “ It’s hard to describe exactly what type of music this is. Its the good kind. . . Beautiful tunes and great musicianship are in abundance. . .” - Jim Ground, Elmore Magazine, Jan 2012. “One of the choice guitar-based instrumental albums of 2011. . . Round Trip Ticket maintains high levels of cutting edge originality.” - mw3.com, Jan 2012. “Everything is so pleasant and inviting that unless you're paying close attention you're liable to miss the jagged complexities that sometimes lurk underneath these tunes' shimmeringly lovely surfaces. . . the arrangements are so expertly put together that the trio's sound sometimes verges on the orchestral.” – Rick Anderson, AllMusic Guide, Oct 2011. “(An) exhilarating and deeply beautiful album. . . the playing is consistently superb. Highly recommended to all collections” – CD Hotlist, Baker & Taylor, Nov 2011. “Smith, Stein and Storie play seamlessly together. Beautiful acoustic rhythms, vibrant classically infused single note lines and jazzy arpeggios cover the magnificent musical landscape these three players create. . . If you’ve never heard of New West Guitar Group, I highly suggest you check out this talented trio. You’ll be hearing a lot more from them in the future.” -Metronome, Oct 2011. “A trio of gifted young guitarists. . . the New West Guitar Group players have thoroughly authenticated their ability to move freely and imaginatively across jazz, rock, folk and beyond.” – Don Heckman, International Review of Music, July 2011. More intricate and virtuosic than new age, [This music] should interest six-string aficionados." – JazzTimes Magazine, Nov 2011. “. . .an open-spaces, sunlight-dappled record that feels like it was recorded en plein air, with the three musicians surrounded by Redwoods.” -Downbeat Magazine, Dec 2011. The New West Guitar Group is setting a new bar with their latest release. To say that they are virtuosic, musical, and innovative is just scratching the surface. They are reinventing the possibilities of what three creative guitarists can weave when they cast a musical net encompassing everything from folk, rock, classical, jazz and all sorts of sounds that exist in between." -Larry Koonse, guitarist and professor at California Institute of the Arts “Round-Trip Ticket takes New West to thrilling new settings. . . . the musicians explore a panorama of tones and genres in what may be one of the finest guitar albums of the new millennium.” – Jack Walton, South Bend Tribune, 8/7/2011  “The New West Guitar Group plays with a virtuosity and integration that belie their age. . . Devotees of modern jazz guitar legends from Montgomery to Metheny will find much to admire in their fluid, melodic approach and pinpoint precision.” – Brett Campbell, The Oregonian, July 17, 2011 “...ranging from chamber-like elegance and fragile introspection to exhilarating swing and gritty blues.” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine, July 2009  “New West is poised to inherit a voice with the world's cultural change-makers...” - Minor Seventh.com “Through years of practice, the group's sense of time and their ability to interact are sharp and refined” - Seattle Times  “...a fine showcase for the musicians, as well as a tribute to the endlessly fascinating and mutable instrument they play.” - All About Jazz  “...you'll find that the music is as much James Taylor and Radiohead as it is Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny”- KQED Arts   “This three guitar ensemble successfully combines various sub-genres of Americana, Folk, and Blues.” - Jazz Review.com   “The three-guitar acoustic sound is pure ear candy.” - Jazz Society of Oregon   The group's sound is unique for guitar ensembles in that they all play a variety of instruments, giving them a wide range of sonic possibilities, which they bring to bear with great effect on this disc...how these guitarists are so clearly able to create a smooth sound without getting in each other’s way is a testament to not only their arrangements, but also their musicianship...” - Jazz Review.com  ...a mix of acoustic and electric guitars with a folk-based urgency that comes off like a more active version of the early Windham Hill sound...These guys make the potentially limiting idea of an all-guitar group work." -Cadence Magazine   “...one of the premier guitar ensembles in the country.” -Anthony Wilson . . .a breakthrough for jazz guitar. Utilizing all the colors of the instrument, they are unique, not unlike a string quartet, but with the addition of three outstanding individual jazz voices. " - John Pisano ”