About

John Chapman's 20-years of world-class performing and recording experience in pop, rock and rhythm and blues steel string acoustic and electric guitar playing with a pick allows him to meld the more traditional finger-style sounds of Classical, Brazilian, Spanish and Latin guitar employing both pick and finger style only or a hybrid picking style on his beautiful hand crafted nylon string Classical/Spanish guitar, allowing him to authentically perform many more styles than traditional classical guitarists.

His versatility of techniques and performing experience with musicians whose bands include; Blood Sweat and Tears, Branford Marsalis, Buddy Guy, David Bowie, Dave Mann, Harry Belafonte, Joey Calderazzo, Natalie Cole, John Lucien, John Scofield, Leslie West, Mike Stern, George Porter, Sheryl Crow, Spyro Gyra, Sting, Tina Turner, Tower of Power, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers and many others, with performances from New York to San Francisco, New Orleans to Nashville, his guitar playing airing on national and international TV and radio clearly differentiates Chapman from the “a-typical classical wedding and events guitarist”.

Chapman creates an exciting solo guitar sound and mood when you hear him infuse Bossa Nova and Smooth Jazz with Funky Rhythm and Blues on his nylon string classical guitar. Chapman authentically performs all major guitar styles including: Jazz Ballads and Standards, Latin Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Brazilian Bossa Nova and Samba, Classical and Spanish Classical, Nuevo- Flamenco, Rock, Reggae, Pop, Folk, Funk New Orleans, R&B, and even some Bluegrass, Country and Western Swing.

Some of Chapman's guitar influences come from: Stevie Ray Vaughn, George Harrison, Keith Richards, Steve Windward, Jimmy Page, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Kenny Burrell, BB King, Albert King, Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Knofler, Walter Becker, Larry Carlton, Hiram Bullock, Robben Ford, Brent Mason, Steve Kahn, Django Reinhardt, Paul Jackson Jr., Wes Montgomery, Marcus Miller, Chet Atkins, Andres Segovia, Romero Lubambo, Paco De Lucia and others.

Chapman being a composer himself draws his playing style from many great Jazz, Latin, Classical and World music composers and improvisers some favorites including; Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johann Pachelbel, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Bach, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown, Sonny Rollins, Grover Washington Jr., Jimmy Smith and Duke Ellington, Gershwin, The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Carol King, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Fela Kuti and so many more.

Chapman truly enjoys the great lack of restriction in exploring the vast expressive improvisational possibilities inherent when performing solo nylon string classical guitar gigs, and is gifted with the growing versatility of tackling new techniques that only solo Spanish, Latin and Classical finger-style repertoire can offer, creating growth in his overall musicianship.

John also performs electric, steel string acoustic, and nylon string classical, with singers, varied instrumentation in all musical styles with his John Chapman Trio/Quartet/Quintet or larger ensemble and with other bands as a sideman guitarist. John handpicks top-musicians creating custom bands at client’s requests. Chapman also composes original instrumental and vocal music, and also works as a songwriter, arranger, and recording engineer at his small music production studio.

Chapman embraces each musical opportunity with a deep sense of gratitude and truly loves getting to know his wedding and event clients and sharing in their love for beautiful and skillfully performed music. John enjoys sharing his experience by instructing guitar and bass students at JohnChapmanMusicEd.com, and collaborating with talented professional musicians and creative individuals in the San Francisco Bay area and beyond.

John Chapman could be loosely categorized as a utilitarian naturalist troubadour who enjoys a healthful lifestyle and continuously learns from all disciplines that grow his emotional, intellectual and spiritual capacities. John enjoys uncovering deep connections in him in awareness of the interconnectedness of all living things and through his devotion to excellence, nurtured by the complete application of each moment during acts of creation. Some activities John enjoys time spent in solitude and with family and friends discovering disciplines outside music arts some that include; biking, hiking, cross-training, cooking, history, science, psychology, ecology, and exploring the vast beautiful nature preserves in the SF Bay Area and beyond.