John Etheridge

John Etheridge, having performed with artists the likes of Stephane Grapelli, is not just another great guitarist, he is a master of the instrument and he knows how to use it to best effect in an enormous range of settings. He is fast, a great chord man, inventive but subtle, as good with a pick as finger style, as at home on acoustic as on electric guitar. Taste and talent are the indisputable hallmarks of this incredibly accomplished and well-rounded musician who reads, and responds to his fellow musicians and his audience equally well.

A measure of the universal respect for John's accomplishment and skill was his nomination as one of just three finalists for the highly prestigious award for the 2006 Jazz Musician of the Year, presented at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards ceremony at the House of Commons.

In 2007 guitarist John Williams and Etheridge undertook a months tour of the USA ,which was followed in 2008 by a tour of Australia and New Zealand. The duo continue to play concerts in England and Europe and another U S tour is mooted for 2013.

Last year saw John appear- alongside Richard Thompson, James Burton and others at a guitar night at the South Bank as part of the Meltdown Festival, play 2 nights at the Edinburgh International Festival (the first time Jazz had been included in the main Festival),and perform 5 times at the London Jazz Festival, in various formats, as part of a celebration of his 40 years in "Showbiz".

Etheridge has also been active on the Radio - appearing 6 times as a guest on Radio 3's Jazz Library series with Alyn Shipton, presenting programmes on Django, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Barney Kessel and most recently Gypsy guitars post-Reinhardt.