CATEGORIES

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

\"La Grange\" aside, these are the songs Billy F. Gibbons considers among his finest achievements.

AMERICANA AMBASSADOR

David Grisman details the historic mandolins, guitars and banjos he played on the Acoustic America album, as exhibited at Arizona's Musical Instrument Museum.

CAN'T STOP THE BOP

He's a bebop originator who's played with everyone from Charlie Parker to Jimmy McGriff. Now 96 and fronting a new album, Chicago guitarist George Freeman shows no sign of slowing down

HUMBUCKER HEAVEN

With the Espada HH and Espada HH Active, G&L offers two versatile variations on Leo Fender's late-1960s design.

BLUES WITH 808 BEATS

With programmed drums, samples and a renewed sense of purpose, Buffalo Nichols ponders what blues might have been on The Fatalist.

TWO NOTES

Special Edition Limited Run Torpedo Captor X

How to Play a Telecaster

On Second Album, Tele evangelist Roy Buchanan raised Leo's creation to new heights.

DIRTY DEEDS

Looking for fresh musical inspiration, Kenny Wayne Shepherd left Nashville for Alabama's FAME Studios. The result is Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1, the first half of a new album project that continues his blues-rock evolution.

How I Wrote..."The Story in Your Eyes"

Justin Hayward reveals the story and hidden message behind the Moody Blues' timeless 1971 hit single.

TIP SHEET

He's played with and learned from the masters. Here are Christone \"Kingfish\" Ingram's best practices for performance.

TWA

Krytical Mass KM-01 Reactive Octave Fuzz

MELODY MAKER

As Dave Hause puts the focus on songs, he keeps the guitar work all about the hooks.

WINNER TAKES ALL

Twenty years ago, Joe Bonamassa placed a bet on himself and hit the jackpot. Now he celebrates two decades of musical independence with Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, a return to the album concept that made him the blues' reigning champion. Guitar Player visits Nerdville for a little chat and a look at a few of Joe's very fine vintage axes.

FENDER

Tone Master Pro Floor Modeler

FENDER

Tone Master Pro FR-10 Powered Cabinet

15 Christmas Music Essentials

It's time to make a few notes, please, as Jeremy Pound sets out his musical must-have list for the festive season that lies ahead

Albert Hall celebrates its past as archive is revamped

Million-pound 'rescue operation' brings together thousands of historic artefacts

THE BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE INTERVIEW: Tasmin Little

'When I make a speech, I have a message to deliver - just as with my violin I had a message to deliver through the music'

Russell Watson

The genial British singer has enjoyed an enduring popularity since his first hit album The Voice dominated the charts in 2000.

Settling the score

Charlie Chaplin's film A Woman of Paris has a complicated musical past - now a new score, orchestrated by Timothy Brock, is available for its 100th anniversary, as Femke Colborne reports

A steady hand

The venerable French conductor Roger Désormière died 60 years ago, in October 1963. Roger Nichols recalls a musician of impeccable timing and taste

Bergen Norway

With an acclaimed local orchestra, music is everywhere in this city and its most famous composer is never far away, finds Jeremy Pound

Bernstein celebrates festive freedom in East Berlin

\"I believe that Beethoven would have given us his blessing. Let freedom live!\"

Guiding lights

In recent years, the Candlelight Concerts brand has become a phenomenon, helped in no small part by social media. Rebecca Franks finds out more

Richard Morrison

Today's musicians shouldn't be afraid to take on political causes

With a cherry on top

Despite its ostensibly festive sounds, Brahms's Fourth Symphony presents a vortex of despair, writes Tom Service. Perfect, then, for the Christmas season!

A King of King's

Boris Ord was music director at King's College, Cambridge from 1929 to 1957, but his contribution is often overlooked. It's about time we gave him the recognition he deserves, writes Andrew Green

Bernard Herrmann

This complex and irascible man was plagued by frustration, but remains one of cinema's most iconic musical voices, says Michael Beek

Singing Lessons

As the Choir of King's College, Cambridge celebrates the 95th anniversary of its Nine Lessons and Carols broadcasts, Amanda Holloway meets music director Daniel Hyde

Empire Reborn

It's been five years since Southern Empire's critically acclaimed Civilisation was released and now the Australian five-piece are back with Another World. Keyboard player Sean Timms and new singer Shaun Holton reveal what was going on behind the scenes, and why the current line-up are looking forward to a vibrant future.