Experience Jimi for those who didn’t…

Written by Courtney Ludwig on Monday, 20 June 2011. Posted in Tucson Music Scene

On a Tuesday evening at the Ava Amphitheater I experienced a show unlike anything I had seen or heard before.

Two drum risers slightly facing each other, center stage set up with drums on each surrounded by an assortment of guitars to be played by some of the most amazing musicians, both young and old.

In heading down to this show and knowing who would be performing I was already familiar with a few of the artists, especially two of the shows youngest, Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.  My step dad and I used to listen to the music of great guitarists, such as Steve Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd and without reading this anywhere I used to think that Johnny Lang was the new Stevie Ray.  Johnny Lang’s playing and more so his singing are very much similar to that of Stevie Ray.

My step dad had as much love for music as I do, and he taught himself to play guitar on a Southern Jumbo, the same guitar that I received after he passed away in June 2010.  My step dad would play a lot not just riffs, but tunes of those artists he looked up to and it seemed like he would spend at least 20 hrs out of a 24 hr day playing his guitar. While he was playing he would be in this hypnotic like state. I actually believe that was his peace and serenity to keep going each day after he was diagnosed with cancer until he passed.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd, another young prodigy and a favorite of ours, plays from his heart and soul naturally, and he played the same way if not just that much better on Tuesday night, I was mesmerized and so in awe that I could not stop snapping pictures of him.

I was given the opportunity to take another musicians son (13 yr old Iain Bujak) with me to experience this event and it was perfect as he just had a birthday 3 days before.  Iain, who follows in his father John Bujak’s footsteps has played guitar, but the instrument he has choose to go forward with is the drums and is quite a natural himself. Iain was excited to go with me, but even more excited to see Steve Vai, the “dessert” of the evening.

Those that have seen both John Bujak and Steve Vai play can relate when I say that these two are one in the same with their onstage mannerisms and expressions, both are quite characters and draw an audience.

The entire show was truly awesome, the musicians, their companionship towards one another on stage and how they played in unison with each other blew me away. The feelings the music invoked brought me back to when I was a kid (I still am one at heart) hanging with my step dad and listening to the familiar tunes together, I felt his presence right there alongside of me, also enjoying the show, and that brought one of those half smiles to my face and a warming feeling to my heart.