Jacques Stotzem

Jacques Stotzem

Jacques Stotzem (* 1959 in Verviers , Liège Province ) is a Belgian Fingerstyle - guitar .

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Still, she taught herself to play the guitar at the age of 16. The impetus for learning to play the guitar gave him a TV show that dealt with the music of the American guitarist Stefan Grossman . At the age of 19 he decided to become a professional musician. Initially he played in various bands and accompanied singers during performances. Between 1982 and 1987 he released three albums as solo guitarist, which he produced himself. In 1991 he released his first CD on the German label Acoustic Music Records , founded by Peter Finger , with which he still works today. His publications contain almost only his own compositions, arrangements of compositions by other musicians are rare.

Since then, Stotzem has released more than ten albums. He is a regular guest at important European and international festivals. His tours take him regularly to Japan and Taiwan, where he often performs with up-and-coming artists such as Andy McKee and local greats such as Isato Nakagawa . Stotzem is regularly on tour in Germany and regularly organizes workshops in Belgium, France and Germany. He is co-founder of the “Festival de la Guitare” in Verviers. Stotzem lives in Lambermont, a district of Verviers.

Musical influences and background

Jacques Stotzem has developed his own style based on various influences from blues , ragtime , jazz and folk . Stotzem was heavily influenced by Mississippi John Hurt , Reverend Gary Davis , Big Bill Broonzy , Blind Blake and Stefan Grossman . He says he is also a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix ; there are some Hendrix pieces in his repertoire. In his more recent recordings he often works on well-known pieces from the pop and rock sectors; his 2015 CD is dedicated to Rory Gallagher .

Playing technique

Characteristic of his playing technique is the use of finger picks on the thumb and two fingers of the right hand. His playing is clear, precise and dynamic, he often alternates between plucked and struck passages. Swinging bass lines and rich chords, with which Stotzem often composes onomatopoeic, are typical. Percussive elements can also be found in some of his pieces, in which he creates rhythmic elements on the guitar body and strings. His approach to composition is based on a melody line, which he surrounds with a harmonic framework. His pieces are generally in standard tuning , open tunings he used only rarely.

Instruments and technical equipment

Jacques Stotzem plays next to his signature guitar from Martin (see below) a Lowden LSE2. The signal from the pickup and the signal from a Crown condenser microphone are sent via a stereo cable to a preamplifier , where they are mixed, and from there to an amplifier system or a Performer Pro amplifier from Fishman.

In 2003 the Irish guitar factory Avalon released a Jacques Stotzem Signature model.

The American guitar factory CF Martin & Co. has been producing a signature model called OMC Jacques Stotzem Custom Signature since 2006 .

Discography

Audio

• 1982 Last Thought Before Sleeping
• 1985 training
• 1988 Words from the Heart
• 1990 Clear Night
• 1992 Straight On
• 1994 Two Bridges , with Thierry Crommen
• 1996 Different Ways , with Thierry Crommen
• 1997 Fingerprint , with Thierry Crommen
• 1999 Connections , with Thierry Crommen and Jacques Pirotton
• 2002 Sur Vesdre
• 2005 In Concert - 2005 (Live)
• 2006 Colors of Turner , with André Klenes
• 2007 Simple Pleasure
• 2009 Catch the Spirit
• 2011 Lonely Road
• 2013 Catch the Spirit II
• 2015 To Rory: Acoustic Tribute to Rory Gallagher
• 2017 The Way to Go

Video

• 2004 Jacques Stotzem in Taiwan
• 2011 Play Like Jacques Stotzem

Collaborations

• 2006 Cyclus (Sophie Galet)
• 2005 Soleil noir (Miam Monster Miam)
• 2003 Forgotten Ladies (Miam Monster Miam)
• 1997 Marcel Dadi - homage
• 1994 Paysages Acoustiques , 10th edition of the "Stages Internationaux de Musique"

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Most of the information in this article was taken from Jacques Stotzem's website; the following sources are also cited:

1. ↑ ^{a b} Interview with Jacques Stotzem at Best of Verviers (fr.) ( Memento of the original from February 25, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 16, 2007.  
2. ↑ Website with description of the signature model (en.) Retrieved on December 4, 2015.
3. ↑ Website of the company Martin & Co. with description of the signature model (en.) ( Memento of the original from April 15, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved November 7, 2007.  

Web links

• Jacques Stotzem's website
• Works by and about Jacques Stotzem in the catalog of the German National Library
• Jacques Stotzem at Discogs (English)