Charlie Hunter Threesome

“Agile improviser with stunning technique...” — guitar virtuoso Charlie Hunter will celebrate the final of the 12th edition of the Blue Note Poznań Competition!

Guitarist, producer and composer appreciated for his innovative approach to the instrument. He was widely recognized for his pioneering technique of playing on a self-designed eight-string guitar, which simultaneously allows him to play chords and lead bass and melodic lines.

As a young guitarist growing up in San Francisco, Charlie Hunter was looking for a way to stand out. His main inspirations were the jazz giant Joe Pass and the fluidly playing Tuck Andress (from the vocal-guitar duo Tuck & Patti). Both were six-string guitarists who masterfully woven bass lines into standard melodies, making them sound like two musicians playing at the same time. Hunter, however, wanted to go one step further and decided to find an instrument that would allow him to act as both guitarist and bass player at the same time. On his 1993 debut album (simply titled Charlie Hunter), the musician played a seven-string guitar, achieving the effect of duality — together with drummer Jay Lane, he built a solid rhythmic foundation.

His eclectic style seamlessly blends elements of jazz, funk, blues and rock to create a distinctive sound that captivates audiences around the world. Hunter won critical acclaim, among others, for the SuperBlue project created with Kurt Eling. In 2024, he continued to collaborate with artists such as Victoria Victoria, Butcher Brown, Jubu Smith & Calvin Napper, Sam Fribush, Maritzaida and Candice Ivory.

He has also appeared in the iconic Tiny Desk concert series alongside Cartoons, Kiefer and Nate Smith, once again proving his extraordinary ability to seamlessly blend genres. Visiting extensively around the world, Hunter is also involved in music production and mentoring young talent on SideHustle Records.

The artist plays fanned-fret instruments specially adapted to his technique, created by Hybrid Guitars Co., a company he founded in 2015 with luthiers Clay Conner and Wes Lambe.

Band composition: Charlie Hunter — hybrid guitar Nate Clark — saxophone Marcus Finnie — drums

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Blue Note Poznań Competition is one of the most important jazz competitions in Poland and has been helping to discover talented artists for more than a decade. This event gives space for a broad presentation of new directions and a fresh look at contemporary music. Learn more about the contest >>

The organizers are the Blue Note Poznań club. Project co-financed from the budget of the City of Poznań #poznanwspiera.