Among guitarists and critics, Woody Mann is considered a modern master. While the blues are his touchstone, he seems to draw inspiration from every direction, blending a myriad influences with ease and grace. Pioneering finger-style legend John Fahey said it well: “You can hear classical, jazz and blues approaches somehow converging into a single sparkling sound – a sound completely his own. Woody takes a fresh approach to his blues re-creations and his own compositions defy category. If there was a category simply called ‘great music’ Woody…would belong there.” Woody Mann received his first musical schooling in the living room of Rev. Gary Davis, the now legendary blues, gospel, and ragtime guitarist. Though Davis died in 1972, his guitar mastery proved to be an indelible influence on his young student and friend. The passion, energy and artistry of Davis’ early work became a lasting touchstone for Mann as he embarked on his own musical journey. Mann soon went on to perform with modern day blues musicians John Fahey, British great Jo-Ann Kelly, as well as early masters of the genre, such as Bukka White and Son House. Mann complemented the tutelage of Rev. Davis with formal training at New York’s celebrated Juilliard School. In addition, Mann completed a period of intense study with noted Chicago-born pianist Lennie Tristano, who introduced him to the world of jazz and its infinite possibilities. During this time, Mann’s early musical grounding began to blossom into an improvisational style all his own. Since then, he has pursued a rich and diverse career, which ranges from playing with jazz great Attila Zoller, accompanying songwriter Dori Previn, and teaching guitar to legendary recording artist Paul Simon. Mann has recorded extensively and performed everywhere from the orchestra pits of Broadway to festivals, clubs and concert stages worldwide. Mann’s reach as a teacher, producer, and writer has been just as sweeping; he is currently a visiting artist at Berklee College of Music in Boston, has been a faculty member at the New School in New York City, conducted workshops throughout the world, founded International Guitar Seminars and schooled countless guitarists through his acclaimed books and DVDs including The Art of Acoustic Blues Guitar series, The Complete Robert Johnson, The Blues Fakebook and the recently published Lisboa – the Guitar of Woody Mann – a collection of his original compositions. The remarkable ease and grace with which he blends a wide pallet of influences was summed up in a recent Acoustic Guitar Magazine review of his recent recording Road Trip… ”Mann has absorbed so many guitar styles that he can change moods on a dime, weaving lyrical single string lines and chord harmonies that can take his tunes across the musical divides between genres…” He has not forgotten those early lessons in the Rev. Davis’ living room, however, or the jazz traditions that were his wellspring. He has since become one of the world’s most renowned guitar masters and song story tellers – updating the past with his own unique contemporary improvisational style. “Don’t miss the chance to see him; you are unlikely to hear anything – or anyone – better in the fields that Mann has chosen to master.” -The London Times