American master guitarist Jim Campilongo leaves Norah Jones behind to tour with his own band

His folk-rock 4-Tet takes BlueShore at CapU December 11

Jim Campilongo

 
 

Jim Campilongo, the lead guitarist for the Little Willies—the alt-country band that features Norah Jones on piano and vocals—is a player’s player, the kind of gifted musician, who gets profiled by The New Yorker and inspires Fender to release a limited-edition guitar in his name (in this regard, he joins a rarified group including Jeff Beck, David Gilmour, Andy Summers and Jimmy Page.)

Campilongo’s distinctively rootsy, atmospheric style can be heard on 12 albums as leader or co-leader. “His compositions tend to start in familiar-seeming places, then slowly shift to a place where time floats and inspiration and imagination take over,” states Stereophile magazine. “It’s a brew of rock ’n’ roll, country, jazz, blues, R&B and flat-out experimentation.”

As an in-demand side player, Campilongo, who recently moved from New York to San Francisco, has played with Martha Wainwright, Gillian Welsh, Teddy Thompson, Burning Spear, J.J. Cale, Golden Palominos, and Emmylou Harris.

Campilongo says it’s all about tone. “It’s trying to be beautiful,” he told Stereophile. “I’ve always wanted my guitar to have a nice sound. Even if it’s searing, there’s a warmth to it, I hope. I’ve been playing guitar for 47 years. If I played darts for 47 years, I’d be the king of the pubs. So, I’ve been playing guitar for 47 years, and I want it to sound sweet.” 

Campilongo’s latest album, Two Guitars, with long-time collaborator Luca Benedetti, has chocked up many high-profile raves. “Two aces playing duets that emphasize melody, taste and joy,” says Vintage Guitar Magazine. “Campilongo and Benedetti are enormously accomplished players with massive creative palettes,” states Guitar Player Magazine.

Before Campilongo performs at the BlueShore at CapU on Decemeber 11, with his 4-Tet–which features Benedetti, bassist Andy Hess (John Scofield, Gov't Mule) and drummer Dan Rieser (Rosanne Cash, Youn Sun Nah)–those new to this gifted musician’s sound should give a spin to The Best of Jim Campilongo, Volume One. Released in 2020, it perfectly sums up a guitarist whose heroes include Roy Buchanan, Chet Atkins, Django Reinhardt, Hank Garland, and Howard Roberts, plus Buddy Emmons and Buddy Charlton on pedal steel.


The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $35 here.

Show sponsored by BlueShore Theatre at CapU.