Tom Guerra

Tom Guerra [1] of Hartford, Connecticut is an American guitarist.

Since the late 1970s, Guerra has been a popular guitarist on the New England club circuit, playing with a host of leading blues, rock n' roll and R&B acts. Influenced by Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossoff, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and Joe Walsh, Guerra first gained notoriety after being featured in Guitar Player magazine (3/91). Over the years, Guerra has recorded or played with Rick Derringer, The Dirty Bones Blues Band', Max Weinberg, Mark Nomad, The Easton Brothers with Muddy Waters bassist Charles Calmese, Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson from The Allman Brothers Band, Second Son, Guitar Shorty, Adolph Jacobs of The Coasters, and The Delrays, for which he received acclaim from Buddy Guy.

In 1999, he formed Mambo Sons with singer Scott Lawson. Their debut album, released in late 1999, featured guitar legend Rick Derringer and was immediately met with positive reviews. Mambo Sons second disc "Play Some Rock & Roll!" was named top indie release of the year by NYRock magazine, and their third "Racket of Three" was called album of the year in Pattaya Thailand by legendary rock and roll author Mott the Dog.

In 2009, at the request of legendary guitarist Johnny Winter, Tom created the liner notes for Johnny's latest release "Vol. 4 - The Bootleg Series."

On Aug. 1, 2009, Mambo Sons released a 20 song double album entitled "Heavy Days," which will no doubt satisfy their fans and attract legions more. Songs on the two disc set include "The Early Train," "She Just Wants to Ride," "Overend Watts" (about the legendary Mott the Hoople bassist Peter_Watts_(musician)). and an energetic live cover of the Jimi Hendrix classic Stone Free.

"Heavy Days" was named "CD Release of the Week" by the Hartford Courant. In this review, rock writer Eric Danton said "Accordingly, Guerra is the focal point here, and deservedly so: he peels off blistering slide guitar licks on opening track "She Just Wants to Ride," dials in an acoustic-Zeppelin feel with the faintly Eastern-sounding riff on "Love is Strange" and unleashes enough funk on "I Love My Family" to make Sly Stone proud."

In early 2010, Cleveland's "Rock and Roll Report" named "Heavy Days" the best straight ahead rock and roll recording of the year.

All records have been critically acclaimed as the group currently enjoys considerable cult status in the Northeast United States, if not widespread popularity, as well as a substantial fan base throughout Eastern Europe and Asia. Website is http://www.MamboSons.com

Tom writes for both Vintage Guitar and Modern Guitars magazines, and has recently become an endorsee for Brian Moore Custom guitars and DST-Engineering amplifiers. Besides his work with Mambo Sons, he has recently co-written songs for singer Glen Carroll's debut cd.

Contents

Early years

In 1991, Tom gained widespread exposure when he was profiled in Guitar Player Magazine's "Spotlight" section (3/91), which brought emerging talent into focus.

Said Mike Varney, GP writer and founder of Shrapnel Records: "Tom's riveting solos utilize a mature blues vocabulary that incorporates wah-wah, open tuned slide guitar, and dirty and clean Strat tones. His music should be very appealing to most electric blues fans."

Discography

Tom Guerra appears as the featured interview in the April 2007 "ToneQuest Report" magazine.

External links

References

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