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Artist of the Month for April 2004: Shane Simpson

Name: Shane Simpson Age: 37 Town: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada When did you start playing? I was 15 when I started on guitar. Had played some piano and trumpet before that. First guitar: Yamaha acoustic Early influences:Keith Richards, Johnny Winter, Chet Atkins Early playing days: I find that one of the best ways to learn is to jam with people that are way better than you. Did you do a lot of jamming when you first started? I felt the need very early on to play a lot. I just had to play all the time. My friends played and we would jam every lunch hour in high school. I took a lot of lessons and really dug into as many styles as I could. First gig:My first gig was with an Elvis impersonator! He was brutal. Acoustic guitars you own: Taylor 814-CE, Taylor 610-CE Favorite guitar: Taylor 814-CE, I'm dying to have an Oscar Graff built for me (one of these days). Your style: The bulk of my background is in jazz. I studied a lot of different styles and I think they all just mush together at some point as boundaries start to blur in the player's mind/ear. I still love jazz and play it but I really enjoy just doing what comes naturally from all that I've played and heard. Players like Tony Rice and Lenny Breau amaze me with their ability to dance through so many styles. Practice regimen:I still practice a lot. Usually in the morning. I do technical exercises and ear-training things/improv things. I also maintain whatever tunes I need for upcoming gigs. I love to write as well. Favorite Artist(s): Lenny Breau, Joe Pass, Hank Garland, Tony Rice, Jerry Reed As a professional, any words of wisdom: No real words of wisdom except maybe to keep the music front and centre. It's easy to lose track of that with all of the business stuff that has to go on. A good business mind is imperative if you're going to make a living - keep a healthy balance. Anything else: No real words of wisdom except maybe to keep the music front and centre. It's easy to lose track of that with all of the business stuff that has to go on. A good business mind is imperative if you're going to make a living - keep a healthy balance. Check out Shane's website and his new CD "Wild Rice"

AOTM Archives:

August 2008 - Danny Combs
March 2006 - Bryan Clark
Februry 2006 - Darin Leong
January 2006 - Andy McKee
December 2005 - Don Alder
November 2005 - Doug Young
October 2005 - Nancy Conescu
August - September 2005 - Warren Greig
July 2005 - Ian Melrose
June 2005 - Roger Lasley
May 2005 - Jim Tozier
April 2005 - Jessica Papkoff
March 2005 - Todd Habekost
February 2005 - Michael Hewett
January 2005 - Steve Barney
December 2004 - Tony McManus
November 2004 - Chris Newman
October 2004 - Kevin Kastning
September 2004 - Rick Duke
August 2004 - El McMeen
June-July 2004 - Charles David Alexander
May 2004 - Tony Capri
April 2004 - Shane Simpson
March 2004 - Bill Cooley
February 2004 - Greg Meckes
January 2004 - Gary Leek
December 2003 - Ernie Hawkins
November 2003 - Keith Knight
October 2003 - Jaquie Gipson
September 2003 - Chuck Durfor
August 2003 - Cathy Horner
July 2003 - Art Edelstein
June 2003 - Muriel Anderson
May 2003 - Clarelynn Rose
March-April 2003 - Steve Wildey
February 2003 - Rick Ruskin
January 2003 - Kerry Kling
December 2002 - Tim O'Brien
November 2002 - Howard Emerson
October 2002 - Dennis Roger Reed
September 2002 - Larry Pattis
August 2002 - Paul Asbell

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