Alex De Grassi: “St. James Infirmary”

Contemporary fingerstyle legend interprets the early jazz classic.

July 5, 2016

Fingerstyle icon Alex De Grassi, one of the first and most influential of the Windham Hill guitarists, recently stopped by the Peghead Nation studio to talk about his Mendocino Summer Guitar Workshop, held near his home in Northern California. Geared toward intermediate and advanced guitarists, the workshop will be held at the Albion Retreat and Learning Center in Albion, California, from July 12 to 17, 2016. Featuring guest instructor Andrew York and coinciding with the nearby Mendocino Music Festival, the workshop will offer performance opportunities as well as instruction, and will include a public concert on July 14 at the Mendocino Music Festival Main Tent featuring De Grassi, York, and Brazilian guitarist/vocalist Badi Assad.

While Alex was in the Peghead studio, he played a version of the early jazz classic “St. James Infirmary,” which he also recorded on his album Now and Then.

Orville Johnson: “Salty Dog Blues”

Peghead Nation’s fingerstyle blues instructor plays a Mississippi John Hurt–inspired version of the traditional song.

Orville Johnson: “Let the Mermaids Flirt with Me”

Peghead Nation to launch new Fingerstyle Blues Guitar course on September 1.

Tim Sparks: “Chasin’ the Boogie”

Fingerstyle guitar virtuoso plays an original up-tempo blues.

Orville Johnson: “You’ll Work Down to Me Someday”

The song “You’ll Work Down to Me Someday” was recorded by Memphis bluesman John Henry Barbee in the late 1920s. Peghead Nation instructor Orville Johnson teaches you how to play the fingerstyle guitar part (including two different solos) in his Blues Guitar course, but in this video Orville just lets loose and sings the song in his own inimitable style. To learn more blues guitar techniques, including fingerstyle, lead guitar, and slide soloing, enroll in Orville’s Blues Guitar course on Peghead Nation today.

Mike Compton and Scott Nygaard: “Bring Your Clothes Back Home”

Peghead Nation mandolin and guitar instructors play John Hartford’s humorous blues song.

Molsky’s Mountain Drifters: “K.C. Moan”

Peghead Nation old-time fiddle teacher and his trio play and sing the Memphis Jug Band’s old-time blues favorite.

Mike Compton and Scott Nygaard: “Cream and Sugar Blues”

Peghead Nation mandolin and guitar instructors play classic blues mandolin tune.

Orville Johnson: “I Found a Dream”

Peghead Nation blues guitar instructor plays and sings a classic Lonnie Johnson blues ballad.

Orville Johnson: “The Glory of Love”

Peghead Nation blues guitar instructor plays and sings a Piedmont-style version of the classic pop song.

Orville Johnson: “When He Calls Me”

Peghead Nation's Blues Guitar instructor plays and sings the traditional spiritual in our studio.