Hey Kids, 

So if you are a regular Music Connection reader, you know that every year we do a Guitar & Bass roundtable, or “JAM.” It’s where we get some special cats on the phone (or in person!) and geek out on anything with a fretboard (unless you’re talking to Tony Levin). I’ll reveal this year’s participants one by one, as I interview them, and I hope it’s good enough of a tease for you to rush to the stands and buy your copy (or just read it online here). 

First off, did any of you see that smokin’ chick playing that smokin’ guitar for Carrie Underwood at the Grammy’s? That was none other than the 23 yr-old ORIANTHI PANAGARIS. She started playing the axe at a super young age back in her native Australia. An ambitious and resourceful young girl, as soon as she was ready she was sending CDs to Carlos Santana. Santana was so impressed he decided to take her under his wing, and before you know it, she’s getting attention by Paul Reed Smith and jamming/writing with Steve Vai. I caught up with her at the 19 Entertainment offices on Sunset Boulevard, which is like, American Idol headquarters practically. (note the AI stuff in the office)

When I walked in, she was behind the desk as if I was showing up for an interview…for a JOB!

Ori is somewhere between Jennifer Batten and Kelly Clarkson and we hope you love what she has to say in the interview. In the meantime, check out her MYSPACE PAGE HERE
And here she is playing the NAMM show in 2006
ORIANTHI AT NAMM

Tags: american idol, carlos santana, carrie underwood, jennifer batten, orianthi, PRS, steve vai

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 at 4:06 pm and is filed under Daniel Siwek's Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.