Supported by KNKX. World-renowned guitarist Stanley Jordan has developed a new live show called "Stanley Plays Jimi." This is a tribute show, but it’s not pure imitation. Instead, Stanley builds on the legacy of Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead in a creative way.

It may be surprising that Stanley Jordan would take on a project like this. After all, Stanley is already a well-known guitarist with a signature style, four Grammy nominations, a cameo in a Blake Edwards film Blind Date, and a host of TV appearances over a long career including Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, Jay Leno and Johnny Carson to name a few. But Stanley explains, "I feel a strong connection to both Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead for numerous reasons.”

It may be surprising that a rock legend like Hendrix or a band like the Grateful Dead would get so much love from a jazz legend like Jordan. Stanley’s 1985 album Magic Touch was #1 on Billboard’s jazz chart for 51 weeks, and Stanley has shared the stage or recorded with jazz artists such as Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Billy Cobham. But again, hearing it from Stanley, "I actually played rock and blues before I played jazz. In fact, Jimi's constant searching for new sounds inspired me to move toward jazz in the first place." Jerry Garcia also held a special place in young Stanley's world. "Don't get me wrong," Jordan says. "I was a huge Hendrix fan, but Jerry's clean melodic style was a nice alternative to Jimi's frequent use of distortion. And I've often felt that Garcia was influenced by Les Paul, another one of my favorites.

Stanley says, "The Dead's repertoire is an important part of the Great American Songbook. Over time people are realizing this more and more." One thing that's helping folks to appreciate it is the growing number of bands doing Grateful Dead tributes, and in many cases taking the music in new directions. Stanley Plays The Dead is definitely part of that trend. Jordan explains, "One mark of a good song is that it can be reinterpreted in many ways and it still holds up. These songs definitely fit that description."

In recent years Stanley has performed with many artists in the rock and jam band worlds, including the Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Moe. and more. Stanley says, “Returning to my rock roots has been an absolute joy artistically, and with this project I’m taking that to a new level.”