Bio It is obvious from a listen to his recent Black Sheep CD, that Shawn Needham is a very talented and versatile guitarist. On “Funkasaurus” he sounds like a fiery fusion guitarist, the cooking blues “Camille’s Tune” is boppish a la Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, and the title cut is rock-oriented and passionate. Few musicians could sound so credible in such a variety of styles while still always sounding like himself, but it is natural for Needham, an important new voice on the guitar. Shawn Needham was born in Bangor, Maine. “As far as I can remember, I always played guitar. We had a bass guitar in the house and I first goofed around with that before deciding when I was six that I wanted a guitar. I had a few brief years of basic guitar lessons and from sixth grade and throughout high school I also played saxophone, both tenor and alto in the band program.” He attended a conservatory to learn classical guitar but remembers that “after I heard the first Van Halen record, I was blown away that one could do that on guitar, and soon I switched to electric guitar. A little later on, my teacher was Alan Hager, a fantastic player. He turned me on to the fusion players like Steve Morse, Al DiMeola and Mike Stern, and then I worked my way back history-wise, listening to the more straight ahead players. In more recent times I have been studying with Charlie Banacos who has really taught me a lot.” Needham played with garage bands while in high school. After graduation he worked around Cape Cod in several diverse groups, performing original progressive rock with Cold Fusion, cover tunes with Cape Fear, and fusion with Nothing Nice. He also became a guitar teacher. By the time he left Cape Cod in 2003, he had 70 students and a one-year waiting list. “The best thing about teaching is when I find the one person who is in a similar position as I was early on, someone who is really hungry to learn.” Shawn Needham currently lives in the Midwest, close to several large cities including Nashville. He has appeared on many recordings as a sideman and previously led five privately recorded CDs but considers Black Sheep to be his first major project as a leader. “I went to California to record that CD and it was a pleasure to play with such high-caliber musicians. This is the first time that I’ve really enjoyed listening to one of my records.” Listeners will certainly enjoy this program for each selection has its own personality and, despite the diversity of styles, the set has a strong unity and is consistently creative. The guitarist really cuts loose and stretches himself. “I have a passionate style and I mean every single note I play 100%. I definitely go for it. I’m always thinking about what I as a listener would want to hear next.” Black Sheep displays Shawn Needham’s attention to detail and dynamics, his ability to change tones and moods while always grooving, and his knack for constantly coming up with the unexpected. It is an exciting step forward for the creative guitarist who is poised to have a very significant career.