Dr. Victor Kioulaphides is an award winning composer and concert double bassist who left his country for New York on a world class cruise ship. He met a plain faced, box shaped girl who let him paint her nude until the ship ran into a giant box of un-microwave-safe-good-morning-america coffee mugs. The End.

Israeli guitarist Yuri Liberzon comes on the show to talk about his new album and living in California, the Sunshine State! Right?

Ekachai Jearakul won the GFA last year and is currently on a world tour. Before his Carnegie Hall debut, he stopped by for an interview. He is from Thailand; a land of gilded temples, white beaches and sweet, exotic drinks. I am from Stockton and am applying for an inside sales position at a jewelry store in midtown. Fingers crossed.

Damien Kelly comes from Ireland: a country of pleasant green hills, crisp afternoons, warm traditions, and old, proud houses.  I come from Stockton: a county of sweaty green dew rags, crips after school, warm crack pipes, and old folks homes.

The guitar professors from Mannes College of Music and Princeton University come to Brooklyn on a rainy day, drink old milk with watered down coffee, and give an interview to a broke 38 year old with gout. Let’s go Mets though.

A Classical Guitar Insider EXCLUSIVE: It’s the first time Michael shares his side of the story about that thing in 1986. That thing where he became “the guy Segovia kicked out of the masterclass at USC.” He also won the first GFA, has a robust guitar program at the University of New Mexico, and just recently cut his hair. He’s an all around great guy and I wouldn’t kick him out of anything.

Hunter College guitar professor Mariano Aguirre sits down and talks about how much he loves teaching, playing in ensembles and running the Mannes Guitar Festival. I talk about quitting a teaching job because they had a staff only copy machine (no faculty allowed). That was the last straw. Later dude.

Pablo Sainz Villegas is probably the best performer on the circuit these days. He captures the audience with broad and expressive phrasing, a vulnerable character, Mediterranean good looks, and the perfectly tailored Italian suit. I look like a free range chicken egg with a gambling problem. And I’m not in a good mood. 

University of Wisconsin guitar professor, Elina Chekan, moved to the U.S. from Belarus, learned english, went to Yale, and is completing her Doctorate. I moved to Brooklyn last week and am struggling with a wall fixture from IKEA. 

Grammy nominated recording engineer David Bowles takes time out from a three day lecture at NYU about spherical recording techniques and explains in scientific terms what I’ve been telling you hipsters for years: Records are not better than CD’s. Sorry Mustache Kid, you’ll have to find something else to spend your money on. Maybe hats? 

USC Professor and founding member of the Grammy winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Scott Tennant, talks about how William Kanengiser makes the the cutest little pancakes, how Andrew York is taking time off from the ensemble to invent an ethical dolphin saddle, and how John Dearman is changing his name to John Dearperson. 

July 16, 2015: Ryan’s Daughter 350 E. 85 St. New York, NY 10128 $15 comes with free drink. Party afterwards in the venue. 

Gizem Gokoglu (not pronounced Gizem Gokoglu), a brilliant young composer from Turkey, explains how she had to choose between engineering and composition. I had to choose between working in mens’ suits at JC Penny and catering at birthday parties in Yonkers. 

Juilliard Guitar Professor Tali Roth thinks I’m from Texas. I’m not from Texas everyone. I just struggle with my weight. I’m from California. 

With the instrumentation of an early European jazz ensemble, this group of fusion players reference Andalusia, Americana and Django Reinhardt. It's Django Unchained!  

I hate Apple's recording software, but I love the head of University of Washington's guitar department, Michael Partington. Just pretend it's an NPR phone interview from 1993 and you should be fine. 

Bay Area guitarist Giacomo Fiore argues that new music is not too new and I ask Chris Roberts from the San Fransisco Examiner if it’s ethical for Fanfare to charge musicians for positive reviews. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

EMI recording artist Xuefei Yang explains to me that China is a country that is not in Africa and that Africa is not a country either. USC Professor William Kanengiser comes on to talk about the new Los Angeles Guitar Quartet release, and I buy a chair for the park. 

ders of my favorite ensemble in New York, violinist Colin Jacobsen from the Brooklyn Rider, The Knights and Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road. But before I do that, I complain for 20 minutes about journalists that charge for positive reviews in magazines. Then I fantasize about going into real estate.  

Manhattan School of Music Professor Mark Delpriora takes time out from stroking his beautiful beard and dressing well to talk to us about the 70’s, Staten Island, King Crimson and Class Piano.

TJ and I tell it like it is in this no-holds-barred attack on everything you believe in (if all you believe in is atonality, all-Bach-concerts, and spring mattresses. Other than that we're probably on the same page).  

If you don’t want to hear grown ups talk about drugs, leather pants, dropping out of college, or putting a classical guitar through a wood chipper on stage, you shouldn’t listen to me and multi media artist Dominic Frasca.  

My first interview with people outside of the guitar world! I try and keep up with WQXR’s New Works Presenters The Brothers Balliett as they dance circles around my musical knowledge. Also it’s my birthday so listen. 

The legendary nylon string jazz guitarist talks about being in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Band, playing with Burt Bacharach, Paul Desmond and  every other huge name in jazz, and getting hip surgery.  

Mak Grgic (pronounced Mahk Gergich) is the young up and comer who’s new album of transcriptions of film music is shining a new light on the classics (pronounced classics).