Painted Sky is the 1997 CD release from Maryland-based guitarist Tobias Hurwitz that sports a combination of funk, jazz, heavy rock, and blues on nine instrumental tracks and one vocal number ("I'm Your Machine"). In addition to the inventive original numbers, Hurwitz checks in with some strong cover tracks, including a hard-edged, howling, instrumental version of Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'," George Clinton and P-Funk's "Maggot Brain" (with frenetic, improvised soloing) and a two-minute Bach piece ("Invention #8") with the dual guitars of Hurwitz and fellow G.I.T. alumnus Glenn Riley. Painted Sky serves up Hurwitz' guitar talent on a silver platter, as he undercuts some of his harder edges with subtle jazz touches, and takes full advantage of dynamics, drawing on over 20 years of playing experience.
Tobias began playing guitar in 1977 at the age of 14, and it was love at first touch, as he has not put the instrument down since. In 1987, Tobias graduated from the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood. He was named "Best Guitarist In The Mid-Atlantic" by the "Music Monthly" readers poll in 1996 and "Baltimore's Best Guitar Teacher" by "The City Paper" in 1994. He is the author of "Learn How To Transcribe For Guitar", published by the National Guitar Workshop and marketed internationally by Alfred Publications. Tobias is also a contributing writer for "Guitar Magazine" and "Guitar One Magazine". He currently works as an instructor at the National Guitar Workshop and fronts the Tobias Hurwitz Band. Tobias also endorses Ernie Ball strings and Paul Reed Smith guitars.
Hurwitz' goals for the future include continuing to improve his skills on the guitar and sharing his knowledge of music with others.
Tobias Hurwitz
35 Gilland Court
Perry Hall, MD 21236
United States