Marc Ribot

As I was finishing up some questions for Tim Sparks, I was reminded of the wonderful record that he did for John Zorn with Bill Frisell and Marc Ribot - Masada Guitars.

One thought led to another, and I came to the realization that some of my favorite records feature Ribot on guitar.

Marc Ribot is generally regarded as an avant-garde player, and he can really get way out there...but he also has a very rootsy sensibility. In his group Los Cubanos Postizos, he explores Cuban Son music - with an emphasis on the work of Afro-Cuban pioneer Arsenio Rodríguez. As a sideman, he has contributed to the often eerie soundscapes of Tom Waits, the avant-garde chaos of John Zorn, the funkiness of Medeski, Martin, and Wood, and the cajón fueled rhythms of Peruvian Susana Baca.

All in all, his playing is a breath of fresh air. Artful without being pretentious, engaging yet accessible, he takes chances and risks - and that makes it exciting.