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What have you done in the past year to become a better musician?In 1969 I quit Question Mark & the Mysterians. I wanted to keep playingbut wanted to learn different styles like jazz and blues. I put a lot of timeinto practicing and listening to George Benson, Tal Farlow, Chet Atkinsand Wes Montgomery. My philosophy is to always be learning and neverquit playing.What do you notice when you hear a recording of yourself from fiveor 10 years ago?I did a blues album a few years ago. We did a song by Alvin Lee called“Bluest Blues.” I played a singing guitar style that I really liked. In the ‘80sI would hear these melodic metal guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satrianiand that’s what I tried to do with that tune.Have you added any gear that has changed your sound or style?When I play rock & roll I use my Strat. But when I play smooth jazz I’vegot an Ibanez George Benson-type model. I tried using a full-bodiednatural wood guitar. But I had lots of feedback problems because it washollow. I went and bought a miniature full-size one now and it works great.Have you had a mentor?Les Paul and Chet Atkins. I bought Chet Atkins albums to learn how heblended the bass and melody line. Eric Johnson and Joe Bonamassaare some favorites of mine too. You can always learn from everyonebecause everybody’s different.What is your most underappreciated quality?I’ve been playing smooth jazz now for about four years and am still kindof new at it. As a musician there’s always that little doubt in your mind thatyou’re gonna be looked upon as a rock player who plays jazz, but may notbe up to par.What’s your worst onstage mishap?I was playing with this band in the ‘70s and the drummer would light hissticks on fire. He kept telling me to try that with the guitar. I played slide,so he attached a wire to the end of my slide and, when he lit the wire,it would burn as I played. I agreed without even trying it. The wire waswrapped in cotton and he soaked it in lighter fluid. He lit it up and therewas this big-ass flame! As I played the slide started getting hot. I’m goingreally fast across the fret board and it flew off my hand into this red velourcurtain. The curtain caught on fire and I ran up to the bar and grabbed apitcher of beer to douse the thing. It was embarrassing!What was it like having a mega-hit like “96 Tears”?It was Number One on October 22nd, 1966. We were neck and neck withthe Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville.” I was just a 16-year-old kid fromSaginaw, Michigan. Once I heard it on the radio it was a great feeling!We went on the road and met all these great bands like the McCoys, theOutsiders and Shadows of Knight. We opened for Sonny & Cher and metthe Mamas & the Papas. We were just lucky to have a hit. I was more of afan than an artist.The funny thing is, I don’t really listen to myself. But occasionally you hearsomething from five, 10 or 40 years ago, and my first thought is wow! Iwasn’t bad! When I listen to recordings I did with Janis Joplin in ‘62 and‘63, I thought it wasn’t too bad. Compared to what a lot of people do todayin terms of flash and technique, it’s not in that realm. But it does what itneeds to do.Have you added new gear that has changed your sound or style?Most of the gear I use these days, especially with the acoustic guitar, is totry and make it sound as much like itself. For a number of years I’ve beenusing Fishman’s Matrix pick-ups. I use their 60-watt loud box on stage asa monitor for myself. For electric, back in the day, volume made a lot ofstuff happen that we don’t need today. I’ve been using Alfonso HermidaZendrive pedals and they’re controllable and sound as much like overdrivinga real amp as anything I’ve ever used. You can get nice soundswithout annihilating the front row of the audience or your band mates.Louie Rosano, of Louis Electric out of New Jersey, can build great ampsand modifications for me in the blink of an eye.How would you say (or with what techniques) you best expressed apsychedelic electric guitar style in the ‘60s and ‘70s?The Airplane started out as a folk-rock group. Paul (Kantner) was playinga 12-string and I had a Rickenbacker on the first album. As thingsevolved we became more of a rock & roll band. I was playing a Gibson345 Stereo, with each pick-up having its own channel. My lead tone wasdesigned to be heard over the rest of the guys in the band.How has running a guitar school improved or affected you?I never really learned how to practice constructively. I need to either beplaying or teaching, where I do stuff slowly and articulately. And so whenI’m teaching people stuff, I’m actually realizing what it is they’re doing—almost like a tai chi thing—and I’m practicing all the moves really slowlyand meticulously.“Every day thereis something thatrequires that Ilisten to myselfvery carefully.”Jorma KaukonenJefferson Airplane, Hot TunaContact: Cash Edwards, cashedwards@austin.rr.comFrom his embryonic beginnings as a folk-blues guitar purist to his electricand psychedelic innovations with the Jefferson Airplane, Kaukonen hasremained an ardent student and devotee of the six-string. With longtimecollaborator and bassist Jack Casady, he has fronted the Airplaneoffshoot Hot Tuna for over 40 years. Since 1989, Kaukonen and his wifeVanessa have been owners and proprietors of The Fur Peace Ranchguitar camp in Southeast Ohio. The staff includes world-class instructorsfrom all genres such as G.E. Smith, Tommy Emmanuel, Jesse ColinYoung and Kaukonen himself.What have you done in the past to become a better musician?Every day there is something that requires that I listen to myself verycarefully. I have standards that I aspire to and it’s a work in progress. Moreimportantly, I listen to a lot of other people. My mind is open to differentmusical genres and instruments. Obviously the guitar is my first love, but Ilisten to all kinds of stuff.What’s the first thing you notice when you hear a recording of yourselffrom five or 10 years ago?SCOTTY HALLGuitar Jam Extra!For a Music Connection interview with jazz bassist Amanda Ruzza (LeniStern, Global Noise) go to http://musicconnection.com/guitarjamextra.April 2014 musicconnection.com 43