About a year ago, I was watching the concert channel Palladia on TV and saw a concert from Royal Albert Hall in England featuring blues/rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa.The more I watched, the more my curiousity was piqued,and the more impressed I became. I called my wife Helen of England into the TV room, and told her to spend a few minutes watching. As we watched Bonamassa, I remember turning to her and saying, "This guy is no joke, he's the real deal." Shortly after that he was joined on stage by Eric Clapton, who seemed to be nodding in approval and the two played together. I mentioned at the time I thought it looked like Clapton was more or less passing the baton to Bonamassa. We decided right then if we ever had a chance to see Bonamassa in person, we would go.

      Last weekend, Joe Bonamassa came to my town, and I got good seats so I could really see him working that guitar. First thing I liked was that Bonamassa's tickets read "8PM Sharp!" At 8PM, right on cue, and right on time, out walked Joe Bonamassa with his band which included a drummer, keyboardist and bass man. He then gave us a 2 hour-15 minute concert that was beyond fantastic. I was completely blown away. I have seen many, actually most of the great rock guitarists in the last 40 years. I have maintained through the decades that Jimi Hendrix is the greatest of all time. I have seen Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Mark Kopfler, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Keith Richards, Pete Townshend, Tom Morello, and many, many others, whose names escape me, but you get the drift. I am prepared to say, after watching that concert, that Joe Bonamassa is not only the greatest blues/rock guitarist going today, but is the greatest since Hendrix! You have got to see this man to believe it. He can make the guitar scream and wail, he can play in numerous styles, he throws in some classical on an accoustic as well. He doesn't need electronics, but uses some for fun. He plays the blues, he plays hard rock, he plays, well, anything, and does it all at the highest level. Not only that, but he sings well too. I rarely have been as awestruck by anything I've seen in sports or entertainment as I was by watching Joe Bonamassa in concert. As he said, he has never had what could actually be called a hit off his 12 albums, but who cares. I was unfamiliar with much of his music, but enjoyed it all. 

   Since going to see Bonamassa, I've been reading up on him. He is 34 years old, got his first guitar at 4, and was actually playing Hendrix and Stevie Ray by the age of 7. On youtube, you can see for yourself, Bonamassa playing in bands when he was 12 and subject of TV news pieces.I don't know how I missed him, but I'm glad I am clued in to him now. Joe Bonamassa is the goods folks. Check him out and let me know what you think at: richmarotta@clearchannel.com