Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Bill Mize - Grammy-winning acoustic guitarist


"Vintage Guitar Magazine" describes Bill Mize's guitar work as "...an amazing touch, killer tone, and a sense of taste that can't be beat."

The fingerstyle guitarist and composer appeared with the emerging acoustic guitar movement in the 1980s. He has continued to develop a style and sense of taste that influences many of today's guitarists.

Applauded by critics and guitar enthusiasts alike for his smooth "multi-part" style, the Tennessee musician is a past winner of The National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kan.

"Guitar Player Magazine" described the event as the "US Open of guitar competitions."

Mize earned a Grammy Award for collaboration with David Holt on the recording "Stellaluna," and spots on the popular "Windham Hill Guitar Sampler" and "Masters of the Acoustic Guitar" by Narada Records. Mel Bay and John

August Music transcribed his CD, "Tender Explorations" into a book.

His songs have been included in other Mel Bay guitar books, Winfield Winners and DADGAD Music by Pierre Bensusan. He is a frequent clinician and performer at guitar camps including The Healdsburg Guitar Festival, The Newport

Guitar Festival, Steve Kaufman's Guitar Camp and The Swannanoa Gathering.

His music will be featured in the upcoming Ken Burns documentary "The National Parks, America's Best Idea" to be aired on PBS.

While Mize has drawn inspiration from legends of soul, hillbilly, jazz, classical and rock and roll, his original music is more difficult to peg. It has been described as varying from delicate highland melodies to soulful Memphis grooves executed with classical sensitivity.

Bill Milkowski of Jazziz Magazine writes, "...Mize's touch is magic, his ideas flow in rapid succession, and his execution remains flawless throughout this acoustic guitar showcase."