D'Aquisto's Last Guitar - Max Light
Video Description:
Max Light plays "My Son", written by David Bradley for Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
Max Light is a guitarist based in Brooklyn, NY.
- His recent release, “Chaotic Neutral” (AGS Recordings 2024), was called “complex, shrouded in mystery and endlessly intriguing” and “essentially a master class in cutting paths through tricky meters” by Downbeat Magazine in a 4-star Editor’s Pick review.
- Guitar Player magazine called him “an outstanding player and facile improviser with a brainiac-like thirst for knowledge” in a 7 page feature written by Bill Milkowski.
- Jazzwise Magazine declared “Max Light might already be emerging as a model for the generation around the corner” in John Fordham’s 4-star review.
He won 2nd place in the 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition, judged by Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Lionel Loueke etc. His sophomore recording as a leader, “Henceforth” was released June 15 2023 on Steeplechase Records.
- The album features Noah Preminger, Dan Weiss and Kim Cass.
- The New York City Jazz Record called the album “Stunning” and declared Light “One of the most promising young guitarists to arrive on the scene in recent years.”
- Jazztrail said “Max Light is a talented instrumentalist and composer to follow closely, and this well-planned album doesn’t disappoint.”
His debut trio recording, "Herplusme," was released February 14, 2020 on Red Piano Records, featuring Simon Willson and Matt Honor.
- UKVibe gave the album 4/5 and said “Herplusme gives the guitarist an excellent platform to showcase his talents and with superb interaction and support from Honor and Willson. The trio work intuitively well together, performing well and showing great promise throughout this recording.”
@maxlightmaxlight https://linktr.ee/maxlightguitar
Guitar: 1994 D'Aquisto "Centura"
James "Jimmy" D'Aquisto apprenticed under master luthier John D'Angelico in New York City starting in 1952, and eventually came to be considered one of the greatest archtop builders of our time.
- His guitars have been owned by Jim Hall, Grant Green, Joe Pass, and George Benson, among many others.
- This guitar, one of his “Centura” models, was the last guitar that D’Aquisto ever built, finished in 1994.
@theblueguitars https://www.instagram.com/theblueguitars/
This video series invites a handful of New York based musicians to come and explore the instrument, connecting the rich history of Jimmy D’Aquisto’s luthiery to the future of jazz guitar.
Credit: Filmed, engineered, mixed and edited by David Blake