Paul Gilbert, Blues Saraceno: NAMM show 2026 | full set

Paul Gilbert & Blues Saraceno: Biographies & Album Information

Paul Gilbert: Biography & Discography

Paul Gilbert is an American virtuoso guitarist, educator, and co-founder of the influential heavy metal/shred band Racer X (alongside drummer Scott Travis) and the multi-platinum arena rock band Mr. Big. Discovered as a teenager by Guitar Player magazine, Gilbert quickly became known for his astonishing alternate-picking speed, pristine string-skipping precision, and deep sense of melodic composition and humor. After achieving massive commercial success with Mr. Big (including the Billboard chart-topper "To Be With You"), he launched a celebrated solo career in the late 1990s that spans instrumental shred masterpieces, vocal-driven power pop, blues tributes, and classical-fusion crossover works.

Racer X – Street Lethal (1986) & Second Heat (1987): Landmark neoclassical speed metal albums establishing his legendary partnership with guitarist Bruce Bouillet and vocalist Jeff Martin.
Mr. Big – Lean Into It (1991): The smash-hit sophomore album featuring the acoustic global chart-dominating anthem "To Be With You" and intricate dual-instrument acrobatics with bassist Billy Sheehan.
Solo Instrumental Masterworks – Get Out of My Yard (2006) & Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar (2008): Acclaimed instrumental solo releases showcasing tongue-in-cheek conceptual challenges (such as avoiding legato) and breathtaking speed.
Recent Releases – The Dio Album (2023) & WROC (2026): Continued creative evolution highlighting his vocal guitar phrasing on heavy metal homages and expressive solo compositions.

Blues Saraceno: Biography & Discography

Blues Saraceno is an American rock guitarist, composer, and producer born in Hartford, Connecticut. Discovered at just 16 years old by Guitar for the Practicing Musician magazine, Saraceno made waves as a teenage shred prodigy before transitioning into a high-demand session player, touring member of Poison (replacing C.C. DeVille for their Native Tongue era), and member of the short-lived supergroup powered by Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. In later decades, he has become one of the most successful sync-licensing and production-music composers in the world, pioneering the gritty, swampy "Dark Country" and "Stoner Rock" genres heavily featured in television, film, and video game trailers.

Never Look Back (1989): His celebrated debut instrumental solo album recorded while still a teenager, released via the legendary Shrapnel Records label.
Plaid (1992): His sophomore solo record fusing technical shred wizardry with blues-rock, jazz-fusion, and country sensibilities.
Poison – Native Tongue (1993): The band's ambitious fifth studio album showcasing Saraceno's sophisticated blues-inflected guitar work, gospel backing vocals, and slide guitar arrangements.
Cinematic & Dark Country Catalog (2012–Present): His massive, genre-defining production albums—including Dark Country (2012), Dark Country 2 (2013), and Stoner Rock 2—which popularized modern gritty roots-metal across global media.

Full set that Paul Gilbert and Blues Saraceno played on the 3rd and final day of the Namm Show 2026 at 11 am. I was there an hour early so I could be right by the stage! You can see how the pedalboard got first and Paul getting ready. 100% pure music and live improvisation (including Blue's awesome jokes)