For over three decades, the California Guitar Trio (CGT) has captivated audiences worldwide with their innovative and genre-defying instrumental music. Since their formation in 1991, this unique ensemble has fearlessly traversed musical boundaries, seamlessly blending rock, jazz, classical, and world music influences into a singular and captivating sound. Whether incorporating elements of surf rock or spaghetti western soundtracks, the California Guitar Trio consistently demonstrates their adventurous spirit and unparalleled musical versatility.
Comprising Bert Lams, Tom Griesgraber, and Paul Richards, the California Guitar Trio has cultivated a deep and personal connection with their listeners. Beyond their exceptional musicianship and intricate interplay, CGT concerts are renowned for their engaging storytelling and lighthearted humor, creating an inclusive atmosphere where audience members feel like active participants in the musical experience. This unique approach has resonated with fans globally, contributing to the California Guitar Trio’s impressive discography of 21 albums. These recordings have garnered over 115 million streams across major platforms like Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music, showcasing the diverse and ever-evolving nature of their musical explorations.
The trio’s latest live album, “Live In Scottsdale – On Tour With King Crimson,” captures the energy of their opening sets during the 2021 tour with the legendary King Crimson. This recording features the current CGT lineup, with Tom Griesgraber showcasing his virtuosity on the Chapman Stick. In contrast, their recent studio album “Elegy” highlights the California Guitar Trio’s acoustic sensibilities, presenting a collection of beautifully crafted original pieces alongside inventive arrangements of songs by iconic artists such as The Beatles and Radiohead.
The California Guitar Trio’s music has achieved significant global recognition, extending beyond concert halls into popular culture. Their compositions have been featured as soundtracks for Olympic Games broadcasts and on prominent news networks including CNN, CBS, NBC, and ESPN. Remarkably, their music has even reached outer space, as NASA utilized CGT tracks to rouse the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor, demonstrating the universal appeal and uplifting quality of their sound.
Each member brings a distinct musical background to the California Guitar Trio, enriching their collective sound. Paul Richards, originally from Utah and now based in Los Angeles, draws upon his deep roots in rock, blues, and jazz, honed during his studies in jazz guitar at The University of Utah. Beyond music, Paul is also an avid landscape photographer, capturing the beauty of the world around him.
Bert Lams, hailing from Belgium, is a classically trained guitarist who graduated with honors from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels. His classical precision and artistry form a cornerstone of the California Guitar Trio’s intricate arrangements. Bert currently resides in Jupiter, Florida, with his family.
Tom Griesgraber, the sole California native in the group, is a virtuoso of the Chapman Stick, a unique instrument that blends guitar and bass elements, invented in California by Emmett Chapman. Tom’s expertise on this instrument adds a distinctive textural and harmonic dimension to the trio’s sound. He is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Hideyo Moriya, born in Tokyo, initially immersed himself in surf music and British rock before pursuing formal music education at Berklee College of Music. While currently on hiatus from touring and residing in Chiba, Japan, Hideyo remains an integral part of the California Guitar Trio’s history and musical journey.
The paths of Lams, Richards, and Moriya converged through Robert Fripp’s challenging Guitar Craft courses in 1987, where their shared musical vision began to take shape. They toured together as part of Fripp’s League of Crafty Guitarists, further solidifying their collaborative bond, before officially forming the California Guitar Trio in Los Angeles in 1991.
Expanding their collaborative horizons, the California Guitar Trio has also joined forces with the Montreal Guitar Trio in a captivating six-guitar ensemble. These performances showcase inventive arrangements of both groups’ repertoires, along with new compositions specifically written for this unique format. Their collaborative album, “In A Landscape,” released in 2019, exemplifies the power and innovation of this “phenomensemble,” featuring groundbreaking arrangements for six guitars. The California Guitar Trio continues to push the boundaries of instrumental guitar music, captivating audiences and inspiring musicians worldwide with their genre-bending artistry and collaborative spirit.
