Like Charlie’s tone in the video? We used Neural DSP Archetype: Cory Wong (Clean Machine and Bass DI). Get 30% off all Neural plugins using code “VERTEX” at neuraldsp.com Table of Contents 00:00 "Spanish Joint" by D'Angelo 02:29 The Story Behind Charlie's Work with D'Angelo 12:03 "The Root" by D'Angelo 18:58 Charlie's Work with John Mayer 25:31 Charlie Listens to "In Repair" for the First Time 28:20 Charlie's Work with Dionne Farris 30:32 "Always Something There to Remind Me" by Dionne Farris and Charlie Hunter 35:04 Charlie's Work with Curt Elling 37:55 "Boogie Down" by Curt Elling & Nate Smith 39:14 Charlie's Most Used Guitar Effect 46:51 The First Time Mason Saw Charlie Perform 52:48 Novax Guitar Appearing in the "Room for Squares" Album Cover 56:13 Thank You to Charlie! 56:52 Thanks for Watching!
In about 2012 I was fresh out of university where I studied jazz guitar, but I was really getting into funk and blues. I had fallen in love with Charlie because of his crossover thing between all those genres. I heard he was doing a clinic at Carlton University in my hometown of Ottawa Ontario, and was doing a show later that night. I managed to get into the clinic, but had been unable to get a ticket for the show which had sold out. I went to the clinic and had my mind blown by Charlie. Afterwards I was talking to a friend of mine about how I wasn’t able to get a ticket for that night show and from across the room, Charlie heard our conversation, came running over and said “I’m gonna put both of you on the guest list “. Well, that night, Charlie and Scott Amendola played a completely ridiculous night of music. I was super inspired by it. At the end of the evening, Charlie came over to me and said “hey man, I hope you liked the gig “. He is so humble, and yet such a monster at the same time.
Yes, That is he. I am an old bandmate/Friend I saw him recently for the first time in 25 years. He a killer player But an awesome human. Scott is also. Cheers.
ThankYou,Charlie! I’m a Guitarist and I’m a Fan have brought his dvd live . I had a chance to meet Charlie couple of years ago at Guitar Summit in NC.,and he’s so Cool & Down to earth, a Great Musician even a Greater human being.💯🙏🏾🎸
I like the humble thing, but it - weirdly enough - can get bit too much to the point that it’s almost “I don’t care”. How hasn’t he seen the “Untitled” video lol? Just a regular session for him I guess. I respect it, but to be fair it’s hard to understand lol.
Never heard of Charlie Hunter, but my goodness am I glad this slipped into my algorithm! very nice interview. This is the kind of stuff I like, when I can hear context, memories, and origin stories while hearing the music from its source. Love it!
All of his projects / bands have released very good albums. He covered the classic Bob Marley album Natty Dread. It’s a great chill time kind of album. Definitely worth a dive if you enjoy funky jazz and amazing guitar playing.
Voodoo is one my favorite albums of all time and I had no idea it was Charlie hunter and NO idea that we was playing the bass and guitar at the same time. So awesome.
I was in highschool when voodoo came out, and I was already deeply entrenched in the neo soul sound and culture. I can tell you for a fact that people were completely consumed by the music. Of course dangelo gave the ladies some good visuals, but Spanish joint and that album were adored even back then. It was not a slow burn, we immediately knew that this music was special. I remember playing it in my room and my father walked in and asked what it was. We started playing it on the house system after that.
@gomarcphil - I love your comment. I remember playing this album and my Dad came and asked me what it was too! He thought it was Al Green (similarities in vocal tone) but he loved it! 👌🏾💜
Man can I just say how nice to see these types of interviews. We all too often don’t give artists their flowers in time, and this guy deserves his flowers. I’ve admired Charlie Hunter for years and loved his style, when I watch him play I can just see the man was born to play music, and seeing how passionately he plays around and finds interesting little pockets is amazing. He takes me on an adventure every time I hear one of his grooves. You can also hear how he’s almost surprised that you love his music so much, because he’s really not in it for fame or fortune, or admiration, he’s just found his true passion! Great vid ❤
We had that slated to talk about but he said the guitar was so cut up and comped it wasn’t at all what he played in the studio so we ended up skipping that song.
I saw Charlie at a tiny bar in Cincinnati that I wasn’t even old enough to be in back in 2008-2009. Maybe 30 people there and I just sat and stared at him from like five feet away the entire time trying to wrap my mind around what he was doing. After all these years and practice, it’s still all black magic to me today.
Finally we meet the artist on many of D'Angelo's hits and yes, I thought there was a bassist playing on Spanish Joint too. Nice when two talents get together to make the magic
Spanky Alford did the majority work for D'Angelo. Alford was a complete beast. Its cool this guy came in an laced it for a few songs . Later, my guy, Isaiah Sharkey, who's a beast also. He got the call to play with D'Angelo for a few years, now playing with John Mayer for years on Tour...
Man that early 90’s Jazz , Soul , Funk Hip Hop sound that Charlie and the musicians of that Era were part of were the soundtrack to my young adult life and really inspired me to want to play and take music seriously. They were all doing such innovative music but also paying tribute to the greats. I’m sure at the time they didn’t realize how profoundly important the music was going to be. I believe it was probably the last great Era of recorded music. Thank you Charlie & Mason for the interview and for taking me back!
Voodoo is one of my favorite albums, from start to finish. i was 13 years old when it came out, and i listened to the entire album every day for years... so much so that the CD stopped working at one point. one of my favorite things is learning new things about the album. i did not know that charlie played this hybrid instrument..... so freakin amazing!
I first saw Charlie Hunter Trio open for Primus in 1994. It's the only time I've seen him play standing up! It was incredible and I've been a fan ever since!
very cool! "Spanish Joint" looks like it's based on a "reverse" Partido Alto rhythm, that rhythm is generally considered Brazilian in origin, (Brazilian musicians usually play it rhythmically reversed in reference to the chord changes on the first tune. Most Brazilian melodies and chord changes are written syncopated around the downbeat and anchored on the middle of the bar (if you have the phrase in a 4/4 bar).
Generic metal chugger enthusiast here...this is not my usual go to for guitar players but man I'm blown away!!! What awesome talent! How is he playing bass lines while simultaneously playing guitar licks? I'm definitely a fan now 🤟
as a huge metal head and rnb lover, deff check out D'angelo's albums if u havent, there are a lot of metal influence in there, heavy bass groves and more
Charlie's been doing his thing for over 30 years, and totally underrated in the general crappy "best guitarist" rankings that are everywhere. Not sure if it'll help, but check out Groundtruther, a project he did with a drummer named Bobby Previte and a keys player named Wayne Horvitz. A lot "crunchier" than other stuff he's done, not metal, but a bit more "out" than his other recordings and sideman gigs
I didn't realize the beast factor that is Charlie Hunter, yet he's so passive and cool and approachable. Respect sirs, and thanks for a great interview.
what a humble man. So instantly likable. And when he plays, we are all aware of a virtuoso but his playing is somehow arresting, like a childlike happiness to it, impossible not to fall for charlie's music
Charlie is such an original musician. He is the coolest person, so humble. I have had a chance to meet him through the years and seen him evolve. He is so creative he is constantly changing it up.
Oh wow! Thank you so much! What an honor to see this! This is one of my favorite songs of all time and it's been in my playlist since I was 18 years old. This is such beautiful music. I'm so thankful that they created it..Spanish Joint is literally on every playlist i have all my life. I was also at this album release party in New York. Everyone from Lauryn Hill to Erykah Badu to Q-tip was in the room that night. It was so legendary. Me and my friends had our own private release party and we would just listen to the album over and over again for hours in my living room in our first apartment after we graduated college. Thank you so much for letting me see who the creator was of this! ❤🙏🏾🙌🏾🤗
Charlie has been a huge influence on me, since the Prawnsong record with his trio. All the twists and turns of his musical travels have been amazing. I was fortunate enough to meet him on tour, and he was every bit as genuine and sweet, as he appears in this and other videos. What a great soul!
I’ve been a fan for years and see Charlie at club shows everytime he’s in town. I had no idea he was on those D’Angelo tracks. Makes total sense now when I hear it!! So good!!
Amazing work! Really great video. Its a miracle you got Charlie to sit down and talk about himself. A true dedicated student of music. More grind than a pepper shaker. The people's champ.
@vertexeffectsinc Great interview! I can't believe he never heard "In Repair" until this haha! Charlie is such a fantastic & humble guy, especially for how much of a monster musician he is. I met him in 1998 after a show he did; I was just a crazy teenage guitar nerd and he talked with me for like 10 minutes about music, practicing, technique, and his mindset on approaching the guitar. It blew my mind and I've always been so grateful for his generosity that night. Cheers Mason
I first heard Charlie in the early to mid 90's at the Up and Down Club in SanFrancisco. I was trying to have a conversation with a co-worker but the damn bass player I was hearing was so funky that I got up from the table, pushed my way through the crowd and stood in front of the band with my jaw hanging open. There was no bass player.
Charlie Hunter’s guitar tutorials in Guitar Player magazine back in the day taught me soooo much about playing guitar. He is such an incredible musician.
@@lmarquezgiron Not really, people are confusing underappreciated with underrated - if Charlie was underrated this video wouldn't exist and the same goes for other session musicians. If a session musician isn't rated highly, they won't get work.
Charlie is not only a quintessential and formative part of my musical and guitar tastes, but he’s also just the coolest and most down-to-earth dude. This video beautifully highlights all of that and more. Thank you!
I've been addicted to this tune and all of Voodoo, really, since I saw this video hahaha. Such an amazing tune, on so many levels. I believe that Questlove is on drums and his playing is just absolutely perfect. And everything else, hahaha! The horns parts are sick. The depth of Charlie Hunter's groove is INSANE. Love, life and health to D'Angelo and everybody else on this album. Peace out party people 🤩😘
My brother was studying Jazz guitar back in the late 90’s, I remember him coming home with Charlie Hunters album of Bob Marley covers, it was so radically different to anything I was into at that time and I just couldn’t stop listening to it! When Voodoo came out, I did not realise who was on guitar for my two fave tracks but now that I know, I hear him all over it & just appreciate the shit outta these fun facts I never knew!! Ty, new sub right here & lifelong fangirl of Charlie & D’Angelo ❤
This was great! First saw Charlie live solo back in the late 90's at the Casbah in San Diego. I'll never forget him escorting his mom in before the show, very classy. What I notice now is Charlie seems much more laid back and smiles way more playing these days. Not sure if it was the old 8-string Novak he used to play but he seemed very focused, 'working hard' technically, and never smiled back then. Great to see him smiling and having so much fun these days. The recent Kurt Elling tour was awesome!!! Keep it up Charlie, we love you!!!!✌🏼
So glad to see people appreciating Charlie! I was fortunate to be around SF in the early ‘90’s when his trio (w/Dave Ellis & Jay Lane, then later Scott Amendola-I think!) played every Tuesday at the Elbo Room. My buddy’s gf had gone to High School with Charlie and thought we were strangely obsessed to be going every week. We said, “you have no idea how good these guys are!”
Charlie Hunter will always be James T. Kirk, aka T.J. Kirk, along with Scott Amendola, Will Bernard, and John Schott for me in my 90's Bay Area life. I see he's been up to a few things in the intervening years, but seek out those old albums now if you never heard them before! Thanks for the cool interview and catching me up and letting me reminisce all at once.
Just met Charlie a week ago in a gig he did at Evanston IL… such an awesome dude!!! And super chill and humble as well! He advised me on what type of guitar to get to get into hybrid stuff and was super nice to talk to
Listen, even as a keyboard player, I was/am inspired by Charlie Hunter's work on Voodoo. Funky and Loose, yet Tight! (Like a Questlove on guitar! Another part of the brilliance of D'angelo, is that he basically had a band full of Questloves!) Charlie's best attribute is that he does not rely on strumming... he finds MELODY in his comping chops. It's about time he got some love
He has great solo work and he is a very humble session musician for Mayer, Primus and even Frank Ocean. Sometimes he’s not even credited for the actual song I think?
When he’s jamming on something there to remind me it’s like this kind humble musical joy is exuded from him and around him when he just keeps saying something like that, something like that, something like that. So good.
I love hearing from Charlie, he's a huge influence for me too. He strikes me as a true player for the musics sake, very down to earth and humble. I wish you had asked more questions about his creative approach and his influences, how he practiced the counterpoint we all love him for, etc. Too many questions about other artists and tech-y details from decades ago for my taste. Grateful for the video nonetheless 🤘
Charlie Hunter (born May 23, 1967) is an American guitarist, composer, producer and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, and melodies. Critic Sean Westergaard described Hunter's technique as "mind-boggling...he's an agile improviser with an ear for great tone, and always has excellent players alongside him in order to make great music, not to show off." Hunter's technique is rooted in the styles of jazz guitarists Joe Pass and Tuck Andress, two of his biggest influences, who blended bass notes with melody in a way that created the illusion of two guitars. Charlie Hunter's affinity for guitars was cultivated from a young age, largely due to his mother's profession as a guitar repairer. He and his mother and sister lived for several years on a commune in Mendocino County, California, then settled in Berkeley. Hunter attended Berkeley High School and took lessons from rock guitarist Joe Satriani. At eighteen he moved to Paris. He has stated that busking in Paris gave him on the job training. Returning to San Francisco, he played seven-string guitar in Michael Franti's political rap group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. In 1992, they were one of the opening acts for U2's Zoo TV Tour. For his self-titled 1993 debut album, Charlie Hunter Trio (PrawnSong 1993), Hunter played a seven-string guitar for the duality effect, locking down the bottom with drummer Jay Lane and mixing melodically with saxophonist Dave Ellis (saxophonist). But on his trio’s 1995 sophomore release, Bing, Bing, Bing! (Blue Note, 1995), he unveiled his custom-made Novax eight-string guitar. Designed by Ralph Novak, the instrument featured fanned frets and separate pickups for its guitar and bass portions. Picking bass notes with his right thumb while fretting them with his left index finger (while at the same time fingerpicking guitar chords and single notes with his right hand’s remaining four digits as he frets with his left hand’s other three fingers), Hunter achieves the real sound of two-for-one. Hunter played with the side group T.J. Kirk in the mid-’90s, a band that derived their name from the cover material they exclusively played: Thelonious Monk, James Brown, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. T.J. Kirk released a self-titled 1995 debut and their 1996 follow-up, If Four Was One received a GRAMMY nomination. Hunter’s next project was an instrumental remake of Bob Marley’s Natty Dread album in its entirety. Also featuring saxophonists Kenny Brooks and Calder Spanier, the 1997 release beat the odds by becoming arguably Hunter’s best album. Teaming with vibraphonist Stefon Harris and percussionist John Santos, Charlie Hunter & Pound for Pound released “Return of the Candyman” (Blue Note 1998). A departure from Natty Dread, mainly due to the work of Harris, the disc featured a vibes-heavy cover of Steve Miller’s “Fly Like an Eagle.” In between tours he recorded a 1999 duo album with drummer/percussionist Leon Parker and a self-titled 2000 album that featured Parker and an otherwise ensemble cast. Hunter also contributed greatly to the 2000 comeback album by drummer Mike Clark (drummer), Actual Proof. Hunter concluded his run at Blue Note with 2001’s Songs from the Analog Playground, which saw him collaborating with vocalists for the first time, ranging from labelmates Norah Jones and Kurt Elling to Mos Def.
I remember seeing him live in Philadelphia at some obscure bar circa ‘01-‘02 and he was on stage by himself. I remember trying to figure out who was playing all the other instruments. Nope! All Charlie. His version of Bonus Round is one of the greatest pieces of music I’ve heard in life.
Like Charlie’s tone in the video?
We used Neural DSP Archetype: Cory Wong (Clean Machine and Bass DI). Get 30% off all Neural plugins using code “VERTEX” at neuraldsp.com
Table of Contents
00:00 "Spanish Joint" by D'Angelo
02:29 The Story Behind Charlie's Work with D'Angelo
12:03 "The Root" by D'Angelo
18:58 Charlie's Work with John Mayer
25:31 Charlie Listens to "In Repair" for the First Time
28:20 Charlie's Work with Dionne Farris
30:32 "Always Something There to Remind Me" by Dionne Farris and Charlie Hunter
35:04 Charlie's Work with Curt Elling
37:55 "Boogie Down" by Curt Elling & Nate Smith
39:14 Charlie's Most Used Guitar Effect
46:51 The First Time Mason Saw Charlie Perform
52:48 Novax Guitar Appearing in the "Room for Squares" Album Cover
56:13 Thank You to Charlie!
56:52 Thanks for Watching!
*kurt elling
Absolute fantastic interview. Tone on point 💯. Thank you 🙏
Fantastic interview. Such an inspiring musician!
@@DonaldMohrMusic where was it spelled incorrectly? In the video it all appears to be with a "K"?
fixed now@@VertexEffectsInc
In about 2012 I was fresh out of university where I studied jazz guitar, but I was really getting into funk and blues. I had fallen in love with Charlie because of his crossover thing between all those genres. I heard he was doing a clinic at Carlton University in my hometown of Ottawa Ontario, and was doing a show later that night. I managed to get into the clinic, but had been unable to get a ticket for the show which had sold out. I went to the clinic and had my mind blown by Charlie. Afterwards I was talking to a friend of mine about how I wasn’t able to get a ticket for that night show and from across the room, Charlie heard our conversation, came running over and said “I’m gonna put both of you on the guest list “. Well, that night, Charlie and Scott Amendola played a completely ridiculous night of music. I was super inspired by it. At the end of the evening, Charlie came over to me and said “hey man, I hope you liked the gig “. He is so humble, and yet such a monster at the same time.
Yes, That is he. I am an old bandmate/Friend I saw him recently for the first time in 25 years. He a killer player But an awesome human. Scott is also. Cheers.
How cool is that! Thanks for sharing.
Wow. So killer. What a great exprience!
A REAL ONE
ThankYou,Charlie! I’m a Guitarist and I’m a Fan have brought his dvd live . I had a chance to meet Charlie couple of years ago at Guitar Summit in NC.,and he’s so Cool & Down to earth, a Great Musician even a Greater human being.💯🙏🏾🎸
D’Angelo was a giant during the genre of Neojazz…this album was and still remains a classic!!!
Was?😮
Probably another genre he would not want to claim for his sound just like neo soul...
Neo Soul!!!!!
Mind blown 🤯 All these years I thought it was a bass player and a guitarist. WOW!!!!!!
Absolute animal. Maan. Pino too.
Same
Me too!!!
Me too. Wow.
Me too that's crazy right is that normal
I love how Charlie is so throw away about his contribution to Voodoo.. he has no idea, and it doesn’t really phase him. Absolutely brilliant!
its like old session musicans talking about seminal recordings they were on, its just another session
Sounds like he didn’t get paid
Voodoo is the bomb! Those dudes can do no wrong
I like the humble thing, but it - weirdly enough - can get bit too much to the point that it’s almost “I don’t care”. How hasn’t he seen the “Untitled” video lol? Just a regular session for him I guess. I respect it, but to be fair it’s hard to understand lol.
@@pifflepockleis that the reason? That doesn’t make him humble than lol.
There isn’t ever enough content or attention paid to this man. In my opinion he’s carrying a big torch for jazz music into these modern times
Yeah, this is amazing
Couldn’t agree more. And he’s just as awesome of a human as he is a player!
@@taylorrobertsguitaristHow'd you get all that from an hour interview? 😂😂😂
We’re friends. I’ve opened for him twice.
@@taylorrobertsguitarist Oh. Well, you could've said that. Nobody would've doubted you. 😅👍🏾Just sounded weird in such limited context. Lol.
Never heard of Charlie Hunter, but my goodness am I glad this slipped into my algorithm! very nice interview. This is the kind of stuff I like, when I can hear context, memories, and origin stories while hearing the music from its source. Love it!
All of his projects / bands have released very good albums.
He covered the classic Bob Marley album Natty Dread. It’s a great chill time kind of album.
Definitely worth a dive if you enjoy funky jazz and amazing guitar playing.
@@domenicgalata1470 Thanks for the recommendation!
Literally slipped into my algorithm🙌🏽
John Mayer ripped a ton off him.
Here to learn some D’Angelo history 🤘🏽
I ran up on this by accident…but I’m so glad I did!!!!!!
Well played Brother Hunter. We need artists and lovers of Jazz to help keep it in the forefront as one of the foundational 'blocks' of music. Amen !!
This man loves the music so much he has no time for the hype. What a beautiful thing.
Charlie Hunter is the people’s champ. He’s been everywhere man. What a dude 🙏🏼
Voodoo is one my favorite albums of all time and I had no idea it was Charlie hunter and NO idea that we was playing the bass and guitar at the same time. So awesome.
I was in highschool when voodoo came out, and I was already deeply entrenched in the neo soul sound and culture. I can tell you for a fact that people were completely consumed by the music. Of course dangelo gave the ladies some good visuals, but Spanish joint and that album were adored even back then. It was not a slow burn, we immediately knew that this music was special. I remember playing it in my room and my father walked in and asked what it was. We started playing it on the house system after that.
When it goes on the house system you know you got cool folks
@gomarcphil - I love your comment. I remember playing this album and my Dad came and asked me what it was too! He thought it was Al Green (similarities in vocal tone) but he loved it! 👌🏾💜
Man can I just say how nice to see these types of interviews. We all too often don’t give artists their flowers in time, and this guy deserves his flowers.
I’ve admired Charlie Hunter for years and loved his style, when I watch him play I can just see the man was born to play music, and seeing how passionately he plays around and finds interesting little pockets is amazing. He takes me on an adventure every time I hear one of his grooves.
You can also hear how he’s almost surprised that you love his music so much, because he’s really not in it for fame or fortune, or admiration, he’s just found his true passion!
Great vid ❤
Thanks so much for watching!
Charlie also plays on 'Sweet Life' by Frank Ocean. Also pretty iconic, if you ask me. Especially when the guitar joins in at the end of the tune!
We had that slated to talk about but he said the guitar was so cut up and comped it wasn’t at all what he played in the studio so we ended up skipping that song.
Ahhh so many great artists around here I’d love to hear the story of how he opened for Primus and if Frank contacted him.
@@VertexEffectsIncyou guys are amazing
wow? this guy is behind some of my all time most listened to songs
It’s so hilarious how Charlie’s played with legends and just doesn’t recall much about em! Well he’s a legend in his own right!
I saw Charlie at a tiny bar in Cincinnati that I wasn’t even old enough to be in back in 2008-2009. Maybe 30 people there and I just sat and stared at him from like five feet away the entire time trying to wrap my mind around what he was doing. After all these years and practice, it’s still all black magic to me today.
Which bar?
Finally we meet the artist on many of D'Angelo's hits and yes, I thought there was a bassist playing on Spanish Joint too. Nice when two talents get together to make the magic
My Mind was blown when I found out the sample from Electric Relaxation (A Tribe Called Quest) is Mystic Relaxation (Charlie Hunter & Pound For Pound)
Amazing. The root is my favorite song in Voodoo. Never knew who played it. What a talented and humble man
I love when Charlie is doing that comping stuff which grooves so heavy and then all of a sudden starting to solo over it..insane
So happy that this came out of nowhere on my recommended feed
Spanky Alford did the majority work for D'Angelo. Alford was a complete beast. Its cool this guy came in an laced it for a few songs . Later, my guy, Isaiah Sharkey, who's a beast also. He got the call to play with D'Angelo for a few years, now playing with John Mayer for years on Tour...
Man that early 90’s Jazz , Soul , Funk Hip Hop sound that Charlie and the musicians of that Era were part of were the soundtrack to my young adult life and really inspired me to want to play and take music seriously. They were all doing such innovative music but also paying tribute to the greats. I’m sure at the time they didn’t realize how profoundly important the music was going to be. I believe it was probably the last great Era of recorded music. Thank you Charlie & Mason for the interview and for taking me back!
Voodoo is one of my favorite albums, from start to finish. i was 13 years old when it came out, and i listened to the entire album every day for years... so much so that the CD stopped working at one point. one of my favorite things is learning new things about the album. i did not know that charlie played this hybrid instrument..... so freakin amazing!
Charlie Hunter has the essence of a legend.
I first saw Charlie Hunter Trio open for Primus in 1994. It's the only time I've seen him play standing up! It was incredible and I've been a fan ever since!
very cool! "Spanish Joint" looks like it's based on a "reverse" Partido Alto rhythm, that rhythm is generally considered Brazilian in origin, (Brazilian musicians usually play it rhythmically reversed in reference to the chord changes on the first tune.
Most Brazilian melodies and chord changes are written syncopated around the downbeat and anchored on the middle of the bar (if you have the phrase in a 4/4 bar).
Generic metal chugger enthusiast here...this is not my usual go to for guitar players but man I'm blown away!!! What awesome talent! How is he playing bass lines while simultaneously playing guitar licks? I'm definitely a fan now 🤟
as a huge metal head and rnb lover, deff check out D'angelo's albums if u havent, there are a lot of metal influence in there, heavy bass groves and more
@@ByFoul especially Black Messiah, 1000 deaths is basically blues metal
Charlie's been doing his thing for over 30 years, and totally underrated in the general crappy "best guitarist" rankings that are everywhere.
Not sure if it'll help, but check out Groundtruther, a project he did with a drummer named Bobby Previte and a keys player named Wayne Horvitz.
A lot "crunchier" than other stuff he's done, not metal, but a bit more "out" than his other recordings and sideman gigs
@@ByFoul started listening to Voodoo and I'm hooked. Thank you for the suggestions y'all!!
@@alexanderyaroslavich2703thanks brotha!
'the root' is one of the best songs in music history, for real. it's my favorite from d'angelo too
Facts
The Root song sounds like a slower version of that riff in the live version of Jimi’s Hendrix song “the wind cries Mary” looped over and over.
I didn't realize the beast factor that is Charlie Hunter, yet he's so passive and cool and approachable. Respect sirs, and thanks for a great interview.
Voodoo is one of my favourite albums....ive never even heard of this guy until this video.....insane!!!
what a humble man. So instantly likable. And when he plays, we are all aware of a virtuoso but his playing is somehow arresting, like a childlike happiness to it, impossible not to fall for charlie's music
Need Rick Beato to do a video with him
Charlie is such an original musician. He is the coolest person, so humble. I have had a chance to meet him through the years and seen him evolve. He is so creative he is constantly changing it up.
Voodoo is the one best albums of 21st century. Great interview with a legendary musician.
Oh wow! Thank you so much! What an honor to see this! This is one of my favorite songs of all time and it's been in my playlist since I was 18 years old. This is such beautiful music. I'm so thankful that they created it..Spanish Joint is literally on every playlist i have all my life. I was also at this album release party in New York. Everyone from Lauryn Hill to Erykah Badu to Q-tip was in the room that night. It was so legendary. Me and my friends had our own private release party and we would just listen to the album over and over again for hours in my living room in our first apartment after we graduated college.
Thank you so much for letting me see who the creator was of this! ❤🙏🏾🙌🏾🤗
Can't wait for this. This man is a monster, a genius bass player and guitar player in 2 hands!
It’s a good one!
The most genuinely humble dude ever.
Hey, Wonderful Interview. The year we toured with Arrested Development was 1992. Thank you.
Charlie is so insanely talented, and seems like such a great dude. Been amazing watching him through his career.
Charlie has been a huge influence on me, since the Prawnsong record with his trio. All the twists and turns of his musical travels have been amazing. I was fortunate enough to meet him on tour, and he was every bit as genuine and sweet, as he appears in this and other videos. What a great soul!
That Voodoo album, and his contribution..salute my man, classic album.
❤️
unbelievable joint lead and bass line! would never have guessed if i hadn’t watched this video haha
Saw Charlie live at Fasching in Stockholm, Sweden, back in the day. He blew me away. Absolute monster on guitar.
The best!
He seems like such a genuinely nice, happy guy. It would be awesome to team Charlie up with Tuck Andress. How awesome would that be?!
Amazing! Real musicians, the absolute best, are always this humble and down to earth.
Vodoo is a classic by D'angelo man, you cant skip a single Song.
I don't know who this man is, but he is phenominal!!! Thank you for bringing this talent to my attention.
Beautiful Spanish joint always stumped my head learning it one of my favorite songs off my favorite album charlie hunter is the shit
What a great spirit Charlie has. It's apparent why music chooses to host its force through him.
I’ve been a fan for years and see Charlie at club shows everytime he’s in town. I had no idea he was on those D’Angelo tracks. Makes total sense now when I hear it!! So good!!
He's amazing!
Amazing work! Really great video. Its a miracle you got Charlie to sit down and talk about himself. A true dedicated student of music. More grind than a pepper shaker. The people's champ.
The part that Charlie wrote on In Repair that Mayer was referring to is the post chorus at 2:39 before the solo :)
What I liked most was that he doesn't consider any tracks he played on as iconic, he just played in the moment.
@vertexeffectsinc Great interview! I can't believe he never heard "In Repair" until this haha! Charlie is such a fantastic & humble guy, especially for how much of a monster musician he is. I met him in 1998 after a show he did; I was just a crazy teenage guitar nerd and he talked with me for like 10 minutes about music, practicing, technique, and his mindset on approaching the guitar. It blew my mind and I've always been so grateful for his generosity that night. Cheers Mason
What a privilege to be in the same room as this dude. Just on a whole different planet.
It was a real honor!
I first heard Charlie in the early to mid 90's at the Up and Down Club in SanFrancisco. I was trying to have a conversation with a co-worker but the damn bass player I was hearing was so funky that I got up from the table, pushed my way through the crowd and stood in front of the band with my jaw hanging open. There was no bass player.
Musical Genius! Adding D’Angelo made it all MAGIC! Thank you for sharing your gift of music!!
Charlie Hunter’s guitar tutorials in Guitar Player magazine back in the day taught me soooo much about playing guitar. He is such an incredible musician.
Thanks Mason for spreading the word even further on Charlie!
YES 🔥🔥🔥 Spanish Joint is mind blowing to see live!
Good work with the channel. Big fan.
Thanks for watching! Love me some “Digging The Greats”. Glad to see “This Christmas” make a comeback! Next year let’s get it to # 1!
Charlie is on another level, super underrated player, loved this ! ;)
All session guitarists are and will be underrated.
@@lmarquezgiron Not really, people are confusing underappreciated with underrated - if Charlie was underrated this video wouldn't exist and the same goes for other session musicians. If a session musician isn't rated highly, they won't get work.
This mans guitar looks like an optical illusion. And he sounds fantastic!
What a great interview. If you ever get the chance, see Charlie in person. His feel is otherworldly, and he's a down to earth, humble human.
I wish I knew what I was really listening to back then. Great video guys.
Beyond how incredibly influencing Charlie is, this type of video is what really makes my day! Bravo Mason and all the cool cats at Vertex ❤
Those D'Angelo moments are priceless! Goatlike status. Much appreciate your sharing
Charlie is not only a quintessential and formative part of my musical and guitar tastes, but he’s also just the coolest and most down-to-earth dude. This video beautifully highlights all of that and more. Thank you!
TJ Kirk forever!!!!
Charlie is the epitome of the word “wonderful” ❤️ and we love him deeply for his commitment to his approach ❤️
I was today years old when I found out I was a Charlie Hunter fan for the last 24 years. So good! Thank you for this video!
I've been addicted to this tune and all of Voodoo, really, since I saw this video hahaha. Such an amazing tune, on so many levels. I believe that Questlove is on drums and his playing is just absolutely perfect. And everything else, hahaha! The horns parts are sick. The depth of Charlie Hunter's groove is INSANE. Love, life and health to D'Angelo and everybody else on this album. Peace out party people 🤩😘
My brother was studying Jazz guitar back in the late 90’s, I remember him coming home with Charlie Hunters album of Bob Marley covers, it was so radically different to anything I was into at that time and I just couldn’t stop listening to it! When Voodoo came out, I did not realise who was on guitar for my two fave tracks but now that I know, I hear him all over it & just appreciate the shit outta these fun facts I never knew!! Ty, new sub right here & lifelong fangirl of Charlie & D’Angelo ❤
Charlie is such a KILLER player and best hang. Got to play some shows here and there over the years and he's always the best. Living legend!
This was great! First saw Charlie live solo back in the late 90's at the Casbah in San Diego. I'll never forget him escorting his mom in before the show, very classy. What I notice now is Charlie seems much more laid back and smiles way more playing these days. Not sure if it was the old 8-string Novak he used to play but he seemed very focused, 'working hard' technically, and never smiled back then. Great to see him smiling and having so much fun these days. The recent Kurt Elling tour was awesome!!! Keep it up Charlie, we love you!!!!✌🏼
A wonderful human
I just got a black face 64 fender Princeton and I can’t wait to record with it. Thank you dad, you will be missed.
I appreciate you doing this. I am long time Charlie Hunter fan spanning back into his TJ Kirk days and I had no idea he played on this album.
Charlie Hunter will always be one of my favourite guitarists, saw him at Ronnie Scotts years back, amazing performer!
Charlie’s so chill and positive, down to talk about anything
Man I loved that Voodoo album...so nice to see the guitarist behind it getting some recognition! Thanks so much!
One of the guitarists on it…..Spanky Alford (who was in the live band) did some of the tracks too.
@@DWS205 Your're right...I think I saw him playing with them once. Does he play a 335? Awesome player!
as did Raphael Saadiq@@DWS205
Such a great, cool and humble human being. I won't even mention how talented he is...
Wow...what a cool interview. Charlie is a humble dude.
wow 54 looking good for his age...had no idea it was just him performing the bass/guitar on Voodoo. D is one my favorite musicians.
Stunned! Spanish Joint and Root are my favorite song on Voodoo. Damn dope AF
The first time I heard "Funky Niblets", it stopped me dead in my tracks. What a true original this gentleman is!
That is an amazing album!
besides all else, his contribution to music and legend status, what a humble guy. So inspiring...
I don’t know what that thing is but that guitar is THE perfect blend of classic styling with modern features. What a beautiful instrument! 🤙
Just like Charlie’s playing!
He's never seen that music video?! And he played on the album?! Thats amazing he managed to stay focused on just playing his own awesome music.
Very modest man he deserves more recognition
So glad to see people appreciating Charlie! I was fortunate to be around SF in the early ‘90’s when his trio (w/Dave Ellis & Jay Lane, then later Scott Amendola-I think!) played every Tuesday at the Elbo Room. My buddy’s gf had gone to High School with Charlie and thought we were strangely obsessed to be going every week. We said, “you have no idea how good these guys are!”
Was right there with you...second floor of the Elbo Room!
@@MC-br1gk...full of smoke, right?
Charlie Hunter will always be James T. Kirk, aka T.J. Kirk, along with Scott Amendola, Will Bernard, and John Schott for me in my 90's Bay Area life. I see he's been up to a few things in the intervening years, but seek out those old albums now if you never heard them before! Thanks for the cool interview and catching me up and letting me reminisce all at once.
Watched them at the Elbo Room! Great music scene back then.
Just met Charlie a week ago in a gig he did at Evanston IL… such an awesome dude!!! And super chill and humble as well! He advised me on what type of guitar to get to get into hybrid stuff and was super nice to talk to
As a big time metalhead that album is a banger. Yes I have listen to that album from start to finish about 50 times.
Listen, even as a keyboard player, I was/am inspired by Charlie Hunter's work on Voodoo.
Funky and Loose, yet Tight!
(Like a Questlove on guitar! Another part of the brilliance of D'angelo, is that he basically had a band full of Questloves!)
Charlie's best attribute is that he does not rely on strumming... he finds MELODY in his comping chops.
It's about time he got some love
Never heard him before. What a great musician he is!
He has great solo work and he is a very humble session musician for Mayer, Primus and even Frank Ocean. Sometimes he’s not even credited for the actual song I think?
So so SOOOOOOOO great!!!
🙏🙏🙏
An absolute beast! One of the most influential musicians in the world.....period
I can't even express how much I love Charlie's playing. Love this.
When he’s jamming on something there to remind me it’s like this kind humble musical joy is exuded from him and around him when he just keeps saying something like that, something like that, something like that. So good.
I love hearing from Charlie, he's a huge influence for me too. He strikes me as a true player for the musics sake, very down to earth and humble. I wish you had asked more questions about his creative approach and his influences, how he practiced the counterpoint we all love him for, etc. Too many questions about other artists and tech-y details from decades ago for my taste. Grateful for the video nonetheless 🤘
Charlie Hunter (born May 23, 1967) is an American guitarist, composer, producer and bandleader. First coming to prominence in the early 1990s, Hunter plays custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars on which he simultaneously plays bass lines, chords, and melodies. Critic Sean Westergaard described Hunter's technique as "mind-boggling...he's an agile improviser with an ear for great tone, and always has excellent players alongside him in order to make great music, not to show off." Hunter's technique is rooted in the styles of jazz guitarists Joe Pass and Tuck Andress, two of his biggest influences, who blended bass notes with melody in a way that created the illusion of two guitars.
Charlie Hunter's affinity for guitars was cultivated from a young age, largely due to his mother's profession as a guitar repairer. He and his mother and sister lived for several years on a commune in Mendocino County, California, then settled in Berkeley. Hunter attended Berkeley High School and took lessons from rock guitarist Joe Satriani. At eighteen he moved to Paris. He has stated that busking in Paris gave him on the job training. Returning to San Francisco, he played seven-string guitar in Michael Franti's political rap group, The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. In 1992, they were one of the opening acts for U2's Zoo TV Tour.
For his self-titled 1993 debut album, Charlie Hunter Trio (PrawnSong 1993), Hunter played a seven-string guitar for the duality effect, locking down the bottom with drummer Jay Lane and mixing melodically with saxophonist Dave Ellis (saxophonist). But on his trio’s 1995 sophomore release, Bing, Bing, Bing! (Blue Note, 1995), he unveiled his custom-made Novax eight-string guitar. Designed by Ralph Novak, the instrument featured fanned frets and separate pickups for its guitar and bass portions. Picking bass notes with his right thumb while fretting them with his left index finger (while at the same time fingerpicking guitar chords and single notes with his right hand’s remaining four digits as he frets with his left hand’s other three fingers), Hunter achieves the real sound of two-for-one.
Hunter played with the side group T.J. Kirk in the mid-’90s, a band that derived their name from the cover material they exclusively played: Thelonious Monk, James Brown, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. T.J. Kirk released a self-titled 1995 debut and their 1996 follow-up, If Four Was One received a GRAMMY nomination. Hunter’s next project was an instrumental remake of Bob Marley’s Natty Dread album in its entirety. Also featuring saxophonists Kenny Brooks and Calder Spanier, the 1997 release beat the odds by becoming arguably Hunter’s best album. Teaming with vibraphonist Stefon Harris and percussionist John Santos, Charlie Hunter & Pound for Pound released “Return of the Candyman” (Blue Note 1998). A departure from Natty Dread, mainly due to the work of Harris, the disc featured a vibes-heavy cover of Steve Miller’s “Fly Like an Eagle.”
In between tours he recorded a 1999 duo album with drummer/percussionist Leon Parker and a self-titled 2000 album that featured Parker and an otherwise ensemble cast. Hunter also contributed greatly to the 2000 comeback album by drummer Mike Clark (drummer), Actual Proof. Hunter concluded his run at Blue Note with 2001’s Songs from the Analog Playground, which saw him collaborating with vocalists for the first time, ranging from labelmates Norah Jones and Kurt Elling to Mos Def.
I'm sure you know all this,just thought I'd post it for anybody that is interested enough to click on your comment
Charlie is such a chill guy. Amazing musician!!
I remember seeing him live in Philadelphia at some obscure bar circa ‘01-‘02 and he was on stage by himself. I remember trying to figure out who was playing all the other instruments. Nope! All Charlie. His version of Bonus Round is one of the greatest pieces of music I’ve heard in life.