ALEX SKOLNICK, RON JACKSON AND GEORGE COLE

SF/NY GUITAR TRIO: ALEX SKOLNICK, RON JACKSON, GEORGE COLE

Three supremely talented guitarists together for an epic, engaging and memorable show (suitable music lovers of all ages). Highly regarded by the music industry, each artist brings their unique style that culminates in a well rounded, entertaining collaboration. A superb guitar trio touring in promotion of their 2025 release.

ALEX SKOLNICK: “Though he’s pretty much a household name in heavy metal, Alex defies categorization by musical genre.” (Making Music, Jan 2015). “Skolnick runs the guitaristic gamut from lush chord melodies to Wes Montgomery-style octaves to screaming Sonny Sharrock-esque skronking” (Downbeat Jan 2017). Alex Skolnick is both an original member of Bay Area thrashers Testament (which he joined at age sixteen) and a respected New York improviser of multiple styles. Emerging as one of the original melodic thrash guitarists (alongside Marty Friedman), Alex later moved to New York and earned a BA in Jazz from The New School, studying with such prestigious artists as George Garzone, Cecil McBee and Reggie Workman. Now a longtime resident of Brooklyn New York, he has gone on to release several critically acclaimed albums with the Alex Skolnick Tri. In 2005, he reunited with Testament, the impact of which has eclipsed the band’s initial run). When not supporting the likes of Slayer and Megadeth on tour with Testament, Alex can be found headlining The Blue Note in Milan, Agharta in Prague, New York’s Iridium or various elegant venues across the world. He is also a first call player for jazz/rock projects including the Stu Hamm/Alex Skolnick/ Chad Wackerman power trio, Jane Getter Premonition featuring alumni from Pat Metheny Group (Mark Egan) and Miles Davis (Adam Holzman), as well as “Celebrating Allan Holdsworth,” in which Alex is one of several guitarists with the prestigious position of filling in for the late, great innovator at a series of shows with his (Holdsworth’s) touring band. Alex is also the leader of the critically acclaimed world acoustic project, Planetary Coalition (featuring various international artists from across the globe including Rodrigo Y Gabriela and Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez). In 2016, Joe Satriani chose Alex (his former pupil), to be a primary guest instructor at his annual G4 Experience, alongside Eric Johnson, Mike Keneally and Steve Vai, followed by by a stint as the sole guitarist on faculty at Warwick Bass Camp, in which he taught and played alongside Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report) and Dennis Chambers (John Scofield/John McLaughlin). As an an educator and speaker, Alex has been invited to give keynote addresses at academic events such as Dayton University’s Metal and Cultural Impact conference as well as joining various PhDs at the International Society for Metal Studies in Helsinki. As a writer, Alex is an editor and contributor to UNBUILT, a biannual lifestyle and cultural magazine that includes his friend and fellow “metal intellectual,” D Randall Blythe (vocalist of Lamb of God). He has also written for The Talkhouse, Guitar World, Guitar Player and other publications. Alex has his own line of ESP signature guitars and is featured on the back cover of ESP’s 2017 catalogue (Metallica’s James Hetfield is on the front). Whether carefully listening and playing alongside the world’s top instrumentalists or loudly shredding with Testament or Metal Allegiance (the Nuclear Blast signed supergroup of which he’s a core writer and producer), it’s safe to say that Skolnick has found his own niche as a guitarist. https://alexskolnick.com/

RON JACKSON: “Ron is a badass on guitar. Performing with him makes me feel like a badass too…If I could play half as good as Ron on guitar I’d be jumping through the roof. His playing style and skills are unreal!” –Sinem Saniye World renowned Turkish Pop and Jazz vocalist “I would highly recommend Ron Jackson having dealt with him over the years as a colleague in the music industry. Ron is not only a first class guitarist but has made the seamless transition to knowing in the ins and outs of the business side of jazz. He certainly has many admirable leadership qualities.” –Scot Albertson Acclaimed NYC Vocalist “Ron is the consummate musician. For years I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside him in the 21st Century Band. He’s a great composer, arranger, and versatile musician. He knows how to bring the right elements to a project.” –Ron Blake Saturday Night Live Band Versatile and sophisticated jazz guitarist Ron Jackson has performed, recorded and taught music in over 30 countries. With a varied career as a performer, composer and arranger, Highlights include shows and tours with artists such as Taj Mahal, Jimmy McGriff, Larry Coryell, Benny Golson, Oliver Lake, Russell Malone and Mulgrew Miller. Ron has been featured as a leader in jazz festivals all over the world, including the North Sea Jazz Festival, Edinburgh Jazz Festivals and Winter Jazzfest, NYC. BIO: Born in the Philippines, lived in many states as a kid, then settled in Harvard, Massachusetts, west of Boston, Ron was initially influenced by rock guitar greats like Jimmy Page, before falling under the spell of jazz and following the style and career of jazz guitar luminaries like Pat Metheny and George Benson. After attending Berklee School of Music on scholarship, studying jazz composition and arranging, Ron spent two formative years in the mid-1980’s living and playing guitar with the lively expat jazz community in Paris, France. Ron moved to New York City where he remains an active participant in Gotham’s always vibrant jazz scene. A master of the six, seven and twelve string guitars, Ron appeared on over 40 albums by such artists as Hal Singer, Graeme Norris, Ron Blake, Gisele Jackson and T.K. Blue, before founding the independent record label Roni Music in 2003 which has since released some of his eight of his albums as a leader including The Dream I Had (2003), Flubby Dubby (2008) and Akustik InventYours (2014). His latest project, Jazz Standards and Other Songs (2019) is an alluring mix of familiar jazz numbers and innovative adaptations of songs from other genre’s like his trendsetting arrangement for jazz trio of Drake’s “Passion Fruit.” Ron was grateful to be selected as the winner of the 1996 Heritage International Jazz Guitar Competition. He has also been a recipient of the 2012 Donald Knutson Memorial Development Fund and the 1991 and 2000 Meet the Composer Performance Fund. He endorses, Eastman Guitars, Kremona Guitars, Aria Classical Guitars, Paul Reed Smith Guitars and Godin Guitars. An acclaimed music educator, Ron currently teaches guitar at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The New School, Midori and Friends, and is the founder and director of the website www.practicejazzguitar.com. Ron has held master classes, concerts and workshops at Jazz at Lincoln Center-Jazz in the Schools, The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Escuela Creativa Musica in Madrid, Spain and California State University. Ron has made appearances in several major motion pictures including The Greatest Showman, Vulgar, and Fly by Night.

He has also performed in pit orchestras on many Broadway and off-Broadway shows including Avenue Q, Fosse, Shuffle Along, and Bring In `Da Noise, Bring In `Da Funk. WEBSITE: https:// ronjacksonmusic.com/

GEORGE COLE: “George Cole is a phenomenal guitar player.” - Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day “George Cole is a major guitar talent who plays everything from gypsy jazz to rhythm & blues. It’s been a great experience playing my music with him and he’s helped me take Dawg music in many new and wonderful directions. He can sing too!” - David Grisman BIO: George Cole is a versatile and multitalented guitarist / composer / singer / bandleader, an award winning Bay Area musician (BAMMIE) who first came to fame as a rock guitarist George Cole expanded his musical palette to encompass the Great American Songbook, gypsy jazz and uptown swing, and his own tasty compositions. George traveled the globe, 3 years touring, as lead guitarist for Grammy Award winning mandolinist David Grisman, receiving immediate acceptance and veneration when introduced to new audiences in bluegrass, folk and country music venues. He has long been recognized for captivating music, high-energy showmanship and a broad-ranging repertoire. George Cole Trio show is guaranteed to delight audiences with outstanding musicianship, fan-favored original music, and the best great American songbook selections. George's latest venture is his Hot Jazz Network Podcast streaming on all podcast platforms. www.GEORGECOLE.net