Ropeadope

Strictly speaking, this probably shouldn't be filed under "jazz," but skip HAS been called the "greatest living jazz guitarist in America" (JazzTimes mag), so it probably will. but it really shouldn't. like the best American music, much of what was made right in the same room where this recording took place has always had a hard time when it comes to classification. same with skip. In our conversations preceding and during the sessions, Skip and I would find ourselves trying to describe the special hold on our imaginations that artists like Charlie Rich, Pops Staples, John Hartford, The Masqueraders (look 'em up), Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley, Shirley Scott and so many (and yet so few) others have had (all of who recorded in the same room that skip did when he made this new recording). skip would say things like "artistry always defies explanation." as if he has to explain? Skip Heller is a bad-ass guitar player but to me, calling skip a guitar player, or musician is limiting. he is an artist like Pollack or Picasso, and this record is gonna show you why (and how).

About the Artist