The little-known guitarist that Matteo Mancuso calls “a killer mix of Bumblefoot, Guthrie Govan, and Tom Quayle”
Matteo Mancuso is no stranger to rubbing shoulders with guitar royalty. At just 28 years old, the Italian virtuoso has already jammed with legends like Joe Bonamassa and Steve Vai, cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting modern guitarists we’ve seen in recent years.
In a recent chat with Guitar World, Mancuso spotlights a handful of young players he believes are shaping the guitar landscape, singling out one in particular as a rare blend of some of the most technically gifted players in the game.
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“There are quite a few young people that I really admire,” Mancuso says. “One of the ones that comes to my mind is Max Ostro. He’s an amazing player — he’s like a killer mix of Bumblefoot, Guthrie Govan, and Tom Quayle in one complete package.”
But Ostro isn’t the only emerging talent on Mancuso’s radar.
“Another guy I like is Josh Meader. This one is Australian. He’s more on the jazz [side], but I think, technically speaking, he is one of the best I’ve ever seen. He’s playing [saxophonist] Michael Brecker and [jazz pianist] Oscar Peterson lines – things that are not ‘guitaristic’. I’ve seen him play everything from Cory Henry keyboard solos to Allan Holdsworth [songs] – he’s a very versatile player.”
The Italian virtuoso also highlights Antoine Boyer, a French guitarist known for his mastery of gypsy jazz and classical styles.
“He always has a nice sound and he’s a killer improviser,” says Mancuso.
Elsewhere, Mancuso also reflects on the surreal experience of playing alongside his guitar heroes Vai and Bonamassa, saying: “I was a little bit nervous at first, I have to say, especially when I was playing with Joe and Steve – they are my favorite guitar heroes. But it was one of my favourite musical experiences I’ve had so far.”
“Plus, they are really nice guys, you know… there’s the guitar legend behind them, but in reality, they are just regular people and I really appreciate that they are just really nice, both on stage and outside the stage.”
Asked about his dream collaboration, the 28-year-old admits he would “love to play with Eric Johnson one time” as “he’s one of my favorite players”.
“I know that he knows about me, and I’m just incredibly happy because of that. It would be a dream come true to work with him on a tune, or just play together.”
Matteo Mancuso previously spoke about how modern guitarists are better off compared to the previous generations of rising stars, thanks to the power of social media.
“We have an advantage as a generation because everything is available on the internet,” he explained. “We’re probably better off than the previous generation – not because we’re better, but because it’s easier for us to reach a certain level faster.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
