Influences are elusive... If you play an instrument, there are moments when you hear yourself channeling someone else, usually poorly. And every writer has had the unpleasant experience of creating something only to realize later that there was some unconscious influence at work. But we are a community of music listeners and lovers as well as musicians. We play because we have fallen in love with others' playing. To be influenced is to be energized, and that is just how music progresses.

These are some of the people who've energized me over the years, and continue to. There are hundreds more, of course - where to begin?

John McLaughlin - for his unbridled creativity and stylistic breadth Alex De Grassi - for opening my imagination to what fingerstyle can do Tommy Emmanuel - see Alex De Grassi... Tony Rice - for his light touch and jazz voicings John Scofield - for sheer funk Don Ross - for his monster right hand technique Caetano Veloso - for the intimacy of his voice and his unpredictable lyrics João Gilberto - for his flawless rhythm playing and quiet vocals Lenine - for a new set of ears Maurice Ravel - for utter quiet Henryk Gorecki - for utter pathos Habib Koité - for his percussive sense Dizz and Bird - for pushing the envelope non-stop Duane and Dickie - for taking rock and roll to a joyful place* *Can we please go back now? Back