George Van Eps

On the rare occasions in recent decades when guitarist George Van Eps--who died Sunday at 85--would go on tour, fans in the jazz stronghold of New York would line up outside a club in the snow for a chance to see him play. It was far easier to see Van Eps play in his home turf of Orange County, yet he wasn't always accorded the same respect here.

A plane falling on Restaurant Kikuya's lounge in Huntington Beach on Sunday would have wiped out a majority of the world's best jazz guitarists, said one of the fans packed in for the first in a monthly series of Guitar Nights. With 15 guitarists from both coasts representing a variety of styles and generations, the first Guitar Night, arranged by bassist Luther Hughes, was a historic event.

George Van Eps' closing performance at last year's L.A. Jazz Guitar Festival was such a success that its sponsor, 20th Century Guitar Magazine, and festival organizer John Pisano decided that Van Eps, the inventor of the seven-string guitar, would close the 1999 event. When Huntington Beach resident Van Eps died in November at 85 from complications of pneumonia, the last night of the five-night event became a tribute to the guitar master.

George Van Eps' closing performance at last year's L.A. Jazz Guitar Festival was such a success that its sponsor, 20th Century Guitar Magazine, and festival organizer John Pisano decided that Van Eps, the inventor of the seven-string guitar, would close the 1999 event. When Huntington Beach resident Van Eps died in November at 85 from complications of pneumonia, the last night of the five-night event became a tribute to the guitar master.

George Van Eps is more than just a guitarist. He's a one-man orchestra. At times Friday during his appearance at Vinnie's Ristorante with bassist Luther Hughes and drummer Jay Lecaire, the 79-year-old Van Eps brought so much harmonic depth to his playing that a listener without a view to the bandstand might have thought there were two, or maybe three guitarists at work. But then three guitarists wouldn't have blended sounds as smoothly as this one man did.

A plane falling on Restaurant Kikuya's lounge in Huntington Beach on Sunday would have wiped out a majority of the world's best jazz guitarists, said one of the fans packed in for the first in a monthly series of Guitar Nights. With 15 guitarists from both coasts representing a variety of styles and generations, the first Guitar Night, arranged by bassist Luther Hughes, was a historic event.

What could be more appropriate than a Father's Day appearance from George Van Eps? After all, the 84-year-old guitarist, veteran of the Benny Goodman orchestra and the Hollywood studio scene, is considered the father of the seven-string guitar. Musicians from seven-string mainstream master Ron Eschete to youthful grunge-jazz bandleader Charlie Hunter (who plays an eight-string) often cite the well-traveled Van Eps as an important influence.

The innovative George Van Eps remains one of the wonders of the guitar world. Holding forth with fellow guitarist Ron Eschete on Thursday at Mucho Gusto, the 78-year-old inventor of the seven-string guitar--whose extra string allows him to concoct his own bass-line accompaniment--entranced his audience and received enthusiastic ovations after each rendition.

Guitarists generally let you know when they're doing something difficult: They grimace with the Spandex-rending exertion of their genius; their volume goes from intolerable to excruciating; their fingers fly wheedle-wheedle-whee! up and down the fretboard; their heads fly back, eyes closed, mouths agape, as if expecting a hot dog from God. Then there's George Van Eps and his seven-string guitar. The Huntington Beach resident thinks of the instrument as a "lap piano."

An open letter to George Van Eps: I was pleased to read Jim Washburn's story about your legendary career--guitar playing--and to know that you are still at it ("Easy for Him to Play," Aug. 14). The pictures were particularly good, and yes, I, too, am turned off by the "9 million notes a second" showoffs--it's more prevalent today than ever. It seems to me that you have been making music as long as I can remember. In the '40s I heard your singing style and pre-electric guitar sound, and I still have several of your old 78-r.

On the rare occasions in recent decades when guitarist George Van Eps--who died Sunday at 85--would go on tour, fans in the jazz stronghold of New York would line up outside a club in the snow for a chance to see him play. It was far easier to see Van Eps play in his home turf of Orange County, yet he wasn't always accorded the same respect here.

William Baxter, 69, the federal antitrust lawyer who orchestrated the dismantling of AT & T and reorganization of the telephone industry. As antitrust chief in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Reagan administration, Baxter settled the government's seven-year case against the telephone monopoly and established the framework for its breakup into Baby Bells. His work on the AT & T case earned him, along with Thomas E.

What could be more appropriate than a Father's Day appearance from George Van Eps? After all, the 84-year-old guitarist, veteran of the Benny Goodman orchestra and the Hollywood studio scene, is considered the father of the seven-string guitar. Musicians from seven-string mainstream master Ron Eschete to youthful grunge-jazz bandleader Charlie Hunter (who plays an eight-string) often cite the well-traveled Van Eps as an important influence.

The youth and vigor that George Van Eps instills in his guitar artistry make it hard to believe he'll turn 84 on Aug. 7. He doesn't seem to buy it, either. "I'm just a kid," he says, laughing. Then, in his typically soft voice, he adds something that takes away the air of joviality: "I wasn't supposed to live past 20. That's what I heard a doctor tell my parents." Van Eps, who grew up on Long Island, contracted rheumatic fever at age 9 and spent over a year in bed.

George Van Eps is more than just a guitarist. He's a one-man orchestra. At times Friday during his appearance at Vinnie's Ristorante with bassist Luther Hughes and drummer Jay Lecaire, the 79-year-old Van Eps brought so much harmonic depth to his playing that a listener without a view to the bandstand might have thought there were two, or maybe three guitarists at work. But then three guitarists wouldn't have blended sounds as smoothly as this one man did.

The innovative George Van Eps remains one of the wonders of the guitar world. Holding forth with fellow guitarist Ron Eschete on Thursday at Mucho Gusto, the 78-year-old inventor of the seven-string guitar--whose extra string allows him to concoct his own bass-line accompaniment--entranced his audience and received enthusiastic ovations after each rendition.

William Baxter, 69, the federal antitrust lawyer who orchestrated the dismantling of AT & T and reorganization of the telephone industry. As antitrust chief in the U.S. Department of Justice during the Reagan administration, Baxter settled the government's seven-year case against the telephone monopoly and established the framework for its breakup into Baby Bells. His work on the AT & T case earned him, along with Thomas E.

The youth and vigor that George Van Eps instills in his guitar artistry make it hard to believe he'll turn 84 on Aug. 7. He doesn't seem to buy it, either. "I'm just a kid," he says, laughing. Then, in his typically soft voice, he adds something that takes away the air of joviality: "I wasn't supposed to live past 20. That's what I heard a doctor tell my parents." Van Eps, who grew up on Long Island, contracted rheumatic fever at age 9 and spent over a year in bed.

An open letter to George Van Eps: I was pleased to read Jim Washburn's story about your legendary career--guitar playing--and to know that you are still at it ("Easy for Him to Play," Aug. 14). The pictures were particularly good, and yes, I, too, am turned off by the "9 million notes a second" showoffs--it's more prevalent today than ever. It seems to me that you have been making music as long as I can remember. In the '40s I heard your singing style and pre-electric guitar sound, and I still have several of your old 78-r.

Guitarists generally let you know when they're doing something difficult: They grimace with the Spandex-rending exertion of their genius; their volume goes from intolerable to excruciating; their fingers fly wheedle-wheedle-whee! up and down the fretboard; their heads fly back, eyes closed, mouths agape, as if expecting a hot dog from God. Then there's George Van Eps and his seven-string guitar. The Huntington Beach resident thinks of the instrument as a "lap piano."