Carl Filipiak — Biography

Carl Filipiak has earned critical acclaim as one of today’s most dynamic jazz guitarists. Jazziz Magazine has included him among a renowned list of guitar players in their nominations for “New Fusion Blood,” and JazzTimes calls him “a dazzlingly versatile guitarist.”

Many of his recordings and performances have paired him with some of the industry’s finest musicians including Dennis Chambers, Victor Wooten, and Grammy nominee Bob Berg. His six independent recordings on Geometric Records have garnered him reviews in such prestigious publications as 20th Century Guitar, Billboard, Guitar Player, Guitar World, Jazziz and JazzTimes. Turner Broadcasting and NBC Sports have featured Carl’s music in several televised events including the Olympics.

Carl performs at various festivals and venues along the east coast and has been honored regionally with several awards. He has received the esteemed WAMA award from the Washington Area Music Association for “Best Jazz Instrumentalist”, “Best Guitarist” from from Baltimore Magazine and “Best Jazz Musician” from The City Paper.

Actively involved in music education, Carl is an endorser and clinician for Fender Guitars. He has released his own instructional guitar video “Use What You Got!” and is a contributing author and consultant for several music publishers. His recent works include an instructional book and companion CD for Mel Bay Publications and collaboration on a comprehensive book on guitar from Balafon Books in London.

For over 25 years Carl has evolved musically—creating a unique style and sound influenced by his rock roots and passion for jazz. If you want great music follow him down the road that he’s staked out for himself and you’ll hear world-class writing, arranging and guitar playing.

For anyone interested in Carl's career prior to 1987, check out Joe Vacarino’s newly self-published book, Baltimore Sounds: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Baltimore-area Pop Musicians, Bands and Recordings 1950–1980.

Discography
“Electric Thoughts”
“Blue Entrance” (featuring Dennis Chambers)
“Right on Time”
(featuring Dennis Chambers & Bob Berg)
“Hotel Reàl” (featuring Dennis Chambers, Will Calhoun, Bob Berg & Gary Thomas)
“Peripheral Vision”
(featuring Dennis Chambers)
“Looking Forward Looking Back”
(featuring Dennis Chambers)
“I Got Your Mantra ”
(featuring Dennis Chambers)

With Other Artists
CD – Randy Runyon Jr., “Arrival”, Art of Life Records
CD –Randy Runyon Jr., “Animal Zoo”
CD – Chris Dudley, “Lovely Daze”, Geometric Records
CD – Dennis Chambers, “Big City”, Pearl Drums
Video – Pat Petrillo, “Complete Drum Workout”

Clinics with
Dennis Chambers (Santana, Steely Dan, Brecker Brothers, John McLaughlin, John Scofield)
Chester Thompson (Weather Report, Genesis)
Dan Gottlieb (Pat Metheny)
Chad Wackerman (Allan Holdsworth)
Carmine Appice
Larry Bright
Pat Petrillo
John Thomakos

Venues
8 x 10 Club (Baltimore, MD)
Artscape (Baltimore, MD)
Avalon Theatre (Easton, MD)
Barbaras (Nashville, TN)
Bayou (Washington, D.C.)
Berks Jazz Festival (Reading, PA)
Blues Alley (Washington, D.C.)
Carter Baron Amphitheater
Catalinas (Hollywood, CA)
Chestnut Cabaret (Philadelphia, PA)
Chris’ Jazz Cafe (Philadelphia, PA)
Gerald Veasley’s Jazz Base (Reading, PA)
IMAX Jazz Cafe (Washington, D.C.)
LA Convention Center (Los Angeles, CA)
The Mint (California)
Presidential Day JazzFest (Philadelphia, PA)
RamsHead (Annapolis, MD)
Recher Theatre (Towson, MD)
State Theatre (Virginia)
Western Maryland Blues Festival (Hagerstown, MD)

Video
“Use What You Got!” (eLine Productions)

Books
“Guitar – A Complete Guide for the Player” (Balafon Books)
“Private Lessons / Rock Fusion Guitar”
(Mel Bay Publications)
Chapter in “Play Acoustic” by Dave Hunter
Chapter in “Totally Guitar: The Definitive Guide” by Dave Hunter

Performed and/or Recorded with
Dennis Chambers
Bob Berg (Miles Davis)
Bill Boulblitz (Robben Ford & The Blue Line)
Gary Thomas (Miles Davis)
Victor Wooten (The Flecktones)
Scott Ambush (Spyro Gyra)
Will Calhoun (Living Color)
Gary Grainger (John Scofield)
Greg Grainger
Paul Reed Smith (PRS Guitars)
Cindy Blackman (Lenny Kravitz)
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Chris Dudley (BSO)
Marvin Smitty Smith (Tonight Show Band)
Sandip Burman (Facing East)
John Wubbenhorst (Facing East)
Hilary Jones (Tribal Tech)
Randy Runyon Jr.
Benji Porecki
Paul Hannah (Rumba Club)
Matt Scannell (Vertical Horizon)
Greg Hatza (The Organization)
Walt Namuth (Buddy Rich Band)
Peter Tork
(The Monkees/Shoe Suede Blues Band)
Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes
Vincent Loving (Randy Brecker)

Opened for
Eric Johnson
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Freddie Hubbard
Wynton Marsalis
Chick Corea
Tribal Tech
Danny Gatton
Sonny Landreth
Al Dimeola
Steve Morse
Roberta Flack

Television and Films—
Music or Appearances
• “Miles of Music”
• 1999 PRS Promo featuring Santana and many others
• “The Lottery Incident”
(Independent film by Jeff Eline)
• “Tears of a Clown”
(Independent film by Jeff Eline)
• “Liberty Heights” (Barry Levinson)
• “Men Don’t Leave” with Jessica Lange
• Featured on Maryland Public Television “Artworks” with Rhea Feikin

Current Projects
• Release of “I Got Your Mantra” on September 17, 2007
• Produced Randy Runyon Jr CD for Art of Life Records (July 2007)
• Endorsing Fender Guitars and Amps and Dean Markley Strings.
• Looking forward to playing with Lafayette Gilchrist and the New Volcanoes in 2010
• Carl is pleased to appear on Randy Runyon Jr.’s album “Animal Zoo” featuring Dennis Chambers and Mike Pope
• Carl and the Jimi Jazz Band are working hard on their second release with Art of Life Records, featuring Steve Zerlin, Frank Young, and special guest Dennis Chambers