Sound takes over: A Conversation with Guitarists Nels Cline and G.E. Stinson

Culture Agent Podcast

From his early Jazz explorations with brother Alex to his work in support of artists such as Willie Nelson and Rickie Lee Jones, Wilco guitarist Nels Cline has constantly pushed the boundaries of his abilities as an instrumentalist, composer, and improviser. Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the top 20 guitar gods, and "World’s most dangerous guitarist" by Jazz Times, his work is consistently diverse, adventurous, and really good. G.E. Stinson was a founding member of the influential, genre-defining, and Grammy winning group Shadowfax. Known for their world music influences, well crafted arrangements, and evocative melodies, the band helped shape a whole generation of music artists. For the last 2 decades, Stinson has been exploring other aspects of Jazz and improvisation, including recent forays into ‘bit crunching’. The two have played together, on and off, since the mid 90’s and, in the upcoming Sounds Are Active release titled “Elevating Device,” they bring every bit of their attention to bear for 40+ minutes of concentrated creation. The two sat down with me and talked about their collaboration, the process of creation, their gear, extended technique, and the addictive nature of fuzz. What emerges is a glimpse into the hearts and minds of two very talented artists, with some laughs (and interjections from Vlad the Dog) along the way.