Stanley Jordan Is Back

From Stevie Ray Vaughan’s guitar to Jeff Lofton’s trumpet, Austin seems to have a thing for virtuoso players who put some serious flare into what they do and sound like no one else. Such is the case with celebrated guitar virtuoso and three-time Grammy nominee Stanley Jordan.

Jordan has development a marvelous tapping technique for guitar that not only allows him to play melody and chords simultaneously, like a piano, but that also has given him a unique sound that’s vibrant, full of small nuances and which has made him a legend in jazz circles. Jordan has consistently shown himself to be a musical visionary from the moment he electrified listeners with 1985's gold record “Magic Touch” to today with his latest album, “State Of Nature,” which happens to be his first major release in over a decade. The record is full of sounds that could only come from Jordan’s pioneering techniques, including simultaneously playing both guitar and piano.

An opportunity to see Jordan live is especially important given his background. The guitarist earned international praise early in his career and later, frustrated with the demands of the commercial music industry, decided to go into a self-imposed exile in the mountains of the Southwest. A decade went by before he reappeared and he has now re-emerged with a new life's direction, which he shared on his website.

"Most people - if and when they find their calling - come to see themselves in some sort of service capacity," said Jordan. "Right now I feel a strong desire to bring my music to the people not just for entertainment, but also for inspiration and healing."

If you want to catch this virtuoso’s stop in Austin’s One World Theatre this Friday at 7 p.m. and again at 9:30 p.m., get your tickets here.

Image courtesy of the One World Theatre.