If there’s one name synonymous with bridging the gap between modern rock, blues, and jazz, it’s Jimmy Herring. Being able to pinpoint where you first heard his name...
If there’s one name synonymous with bridging the gap between modern rock, blues, and jazz, it’s Jimmy Herring. Being able to pinpoint where you first heard his name or music has become a challenge, as his lengthy career includes being a founding member of the late Colonel Bruce Hampton’s Aquarium Rescue Unit and the instrumental Grateful Dead tribute supergroup, Jazz Is Dead. Additionally, Herring has worked and toured with Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band, the Derek Trucks Band, the Dead, Project Z, and various other side-projects, and has released two outstanding solo albums under his own name. Herring’s career has continued to flourish with the recent assembly of his own group, Jimmy Herring and the Invisible Whip, in addition to the monumental opportunity of touring and performing alongside the legendary John McLaughlin during the fusion pioneer’s 2017 “Meeting of the Spirits” farewell tour.
Herring’s command of improvisation and melodic soloing have helped him become a first-call session and touring musician. These abilities, combined with a mastery of blues-rock technique, applied jazz theory, and a daring, adventurous approach to musical choices and chance taking, prove that Herring is a unique musical force. You’ll discover plenty of things you can learn from this diverse and inspiring fretboard magician.
To study some of Herring’s sleight-of-hand playing concepts, let’s begin with an analysis of how he mutates and arranges standard blues licks and phrases. Uncovering this realm of Herring’s playing reveals how he creates outside lines. After listening to some of the guitarist’s music, you’ll discover that he’s very skilled and comfortable combining multiple concepts borrowed from jazz, rock, and blues into cohesive musical expressions. This includes his frequent use of harmonic tension, which he builds by adding dissonant sounds and chromatic movements to his licks and