This is my real mentor- Joe Carbone. He was my guitar teacher back when I was 18 years old. He put my head and my hands through some amazing and tough challenges. I was blessed to have him as a guide in my young life, and he inspires me to this day. Joe and Joe Pass were very close friends. And I had all the benefit of it as a young kid being around it. I couldn't play a decent note unless Joe Carbone lit up a cuban cigar as we played. My lesson consisted of him giving me six standards to learn for the next week. I'd woodshed the shit out of them and come in grinning. Then he told me we're going to transpose every one of them on the spot as we played! So much for woodshedding! LOL! THAT got me chops, and then some.

Joe Carbone, on what I believe is his D'Aquisto in the Amercan Guitar Museum. It's worth as much as some of your homes, I kid you not-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6R4wuxZbjs&feature=related

The drummer and the piano player are part of my band, I'm happy to say. It's a pleasure playing with these guys. Not to mention, we've been together for well over 20 years now. Family, really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JOUShJ0IbU&feature=related

Dan