Pity the Genius: A Journey through American Guitar Music in 33 Tracks

By Joel Harrison

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the sounds and stories that have shaped American music.
Pity the Genius: A Journey through American Guitar Music in 33 Tracks is a deep dive into the often-tumultuous lives of 33 extraordinary guitarists, capturing their brilliance, triumphs, and struggles through biography and musical analysis of seminal tracks. From Arthur Rhames’ volcanic performances to the introspective elegance of Pat Martino, Joel Harrison encapsulates the essence of these musicians in a way that is both intimate and illuminating. The tracks he selects tell the story of American music across time and genre, representing jazz, rock, blues, country, folk, roots music, and more.

Pity the Genius is a must-read for music lovers, guitar fans, and anyone intrigued by the interplay of creativity and human experience.

Beyond the music, this book delves into the personal challenges and societal obstacles these artists faced. Whether it’s the tragic early deaths of guitar prodigies like Danny Gatton and Jimi Hendrix or the enduring influence of genre-defining musicians like Prince and Joni Mitchell, Pity the Genius presents a vivid tapestry of musical stories that have shaped the sound of America. Ultimately, this is a celebration of guitarists and the extraordinary music they gifted the world.

Guitar Talk: Conversations with Visionary Players

By Joel Harrison

Published by Terranova Press, this book represents years of intimate, musician to musician dialogues between Harrison and many of the greatest guitar exponents on the planet including Julian Lage, Ralph Towner, Vernon Reid, Wayne Krantz, Mike and Leni Stern, Brandon Ross, Miles Okazaki, Mary Halvorson, Rafiq Bhatia and more.