Guitar legend Jim Campilongo plays at Route 7 Music
Though Jim Campilongo was an hour
Jim Campilongo at Route 7 Music
late to his appearance at Route 7 Music, there were plenty of guitars and like-minded musicians to keep everyone occupied. Campilongo, a world-renowned guitarist who melds elements of jazz, country and rock into something that can only be described as “Campilongo,” was featured as Route 7’s February New York Guitar Legend, a monthly series that has brought in the likes of Howard Alden, Joe Diorio and John Scofield.
For $10, attendees listened to Campilongo’s thoughts on being a musician, asked questions and watched him perform originals – as well as a few covers – all drenched in his signature sound. The store was packed. Upon request, he played “When You Wish Upon A Star,” an other-worldly rendition of an already dreamy song from his most recent release, Orange.
Musical prowess aside, the most remarkable aspect of Campilongo’s performance was his level-headedness and accessibility; he could have been any member of the audience, playing in front of a crowd and talking about the craft.
He spoke about a clinic he had taught in Iceland, or maybe had failed to teach – once stationed in front of the audience, everything Campilongo knew about the guitar suddenly left his head. He stated with honest frustration and awe that the guitar is a difficult instrument to master if you’re looking to do anything other than strum and that a chord can be broken down in so many ways that it is sometimes impossible to actually name it.
This all coming from a man with nine albums of truly original music, countless lead guitar roles and high praise from every corner of the music world!
What makes a Campilongo song a Campilongo song? Aside from years of experience and a musical foundation built by Muddy Waters, the Sex Pistols and Chet Atkins, Campilongo utilizes a unique choice of progressions and a technique known as “behind the nut,” where a played string is bent behind the nut of the guitar, altering the pitch and creating a sound similar to the pedal steel. It’s a move that takes a lot of practice, hand strength and durability of the skin: mastering the technique has etched grooves in Campilongo’s fingertips.
Campilongo brought along two guitars to Route 7, one electric and one electric acoustic, though he spent most of his time on the former, a ‘59 Fender Telecaster given to him in exchange for bass lessons back in the 1970s. The guitar is pushing half a century, and though the finish is chipped and its gleam has dulled, it’s clear the duo of Tele and Campilongo are meant to be. There is a humbleness and grace to both the instrument and the instrumentalist, and together they create music that is pure and wrought with spirit.
Fender introduced the ‘59 Jim Campilongo Top-Loader Telecaster this past winter, which features an exact replica of the neck, an identical finish, pick-ups meticulously chosen by Campilongo and a set-up made for behind the nut bending.
Campilongo came to Route 7 from his home in Brooklyn, driven in by one of his students. He performs mostly in and around the City, aside from touring in Europe on occasion.
He remarked that playing around Europe is guaranteed to pay due to government support of the arts, a phenomenon that seems too good to be true stateside.
He admitted that touring in the United States is tough and, if you’re trying to make a living, often not worth the effort and expense. But playing close to home and teaching seem to sustain both Campilongo and his craft.
Campilongo remembered his first big break taking place in a studio, when he was offered $800 a month to play guitar on clients’ recordings.
Decades later, he would play on the hit Cake album, Prolonging the Magic, which was released in 1998. He has also collaborated with Martha Wainwright, Brandi Shearer, Mudville and Teddy Thompson and continues to play with Norah Jones in The Little Willies, an Americana country jazz group. The Little Willies are about halfway through recording their second album. Jim Campilongo plays regularly at The
Living Room in New York City. Visit his website at Jim- Campilongo.com and his MySpace at MySpace.com/JimCampilongo.
Guitar greats such as Campilongo come to Route 7 Music every month to perform and enlighten fellow players.
For more information, check their website at Route7Music.com or visit the store at 355 Federal Road in Brookfield.
