Avant-Gardeners

Andy Summersblendshisinstinctsfora pophookwithmorecerebral,leftfield influences.Buthe’snottheonlyplayer mixingFridaynightwitherudite.Here’s ourpickofthreeplayerswhohavesure mainstreaminstinctsbutalsoknowhow towarpyourmind… JimCampilongo ThisintriguingNewYork Tele-toterisamusical collaboratorofjazz-popdiva NorahJones,buthissolowork,suchashis superb Orange albumfrom2010,isfullof bitter’n’twistedTeletonesandlanguid bluesthatbelonginaswampyother-world oftone.Ifyouhaven’tcheckedoutthis greatplayer,whowalksinthefootstepsof RoyBuchanan,youreallyshould. MarcRibot ThesnarlingTeletonesofMarc Ribot’splayingcanbeheard alloverthebackcatalogueof TomWaits–butthemoresleazilyabstract sideofhisplayingcomesoutbeautifully onWaits’ MuleVariations from1999, especiallyontrackssuchasthesmokily narcotic BlackMarketBaby. AdrianUtley ThisBristol-basedguitarist mayhavemadehisnamewith Portishead’ssparseand moodytrip-hop,buthe’saneclecticsonic explorer.Hisbackgroundwasinjazzguitar, andrecentlyhe’sbeenperformingand recordingmassed-guitarorchestra versionsofminimalistcomposerTerry Riley’smesmerising InC. Iusuallyhaveabout12out–but,mostly, guitar-wiseitwouldusuallyhavebeena StratoraLesPaul.IcertainlyusedtheLes Paulonmostofthesolos;there’salsoa CollingsguitarIreallylike:theirtakeonthe 335[theI-35].I’mabigfanofCollings guitars.Sothosewouldbethemainguitars –Idon’tseealotofneedtostretchoutside ofthatforthisthing.Amp-wise,there’sa fewdifferentampsthatIpluginto–I’vegot myactualstagerig,whichisthepedalboard withaloadofpedalsandaMesa/Boogie 2:90ampwithtwo2x12cabinetswith sealedbacks,whichIalwaysuselive.Then IalsousetheRolandVG-99[guitarsynth] quitealotontherecord–andthentheamps wouldeitherhavebeenanoldFender Concertampora’59Deluxe,Princeton… AndthenI’vealsogotaMesa/Boogie–can’t rememberwhatit’scalled.It’sextremely