Gyan Riley is a virtuoso guitarist and composer from Northern California who has performed both as a soloist and in ensemble with various artists such as Zakir Hussain, Michael Manring, Dawn Upshaw, the San Francisco Symphony, the Falla Guitar Trio, the World Guitar Ensemble and his father, the pioneering minimalist composer Terry Riley.

His latest album, Stream of Gratitude on John Zorn’s Tzadik Records, is an astounding recital of original works that draw upon and expand the rich legacy of classical music for solo guitar, with dedications to artists such as J.S. Bach and John McLaughlin. Gyan’s diverse body of work embraces original compositions, contemporary classical repertoire, and improvisation. As a composer, Riley’s style brings together elements of virtuosic classical guitar, Indian raga, jazz, flamenco, and American fingerpicking.

Shane Perlowin is a voraciously eclectic guitarist, composer and improviser, based in Asheville, North Carolina. Though involved in a large variety of ongoing musical enterprises, he is most widely known for his avant-noise-rock project Ahleuchatistas, which has released six albums on different labels, including his very own Open Letter Records, Tzadik Records, and Cuneiform Records.

In 2010, Perlowin self-released his debut solo album The Vacancy in Every Verse, which features looped ambient textures, fiery noise, solo acoustic guitar, and a guitar/bass/drums trio. Perlowin’s solo acoustic guitar music is rooted in the American finger-style tradition of John Fahey and Mississippi John Hurt, but mixed with his own idiosyncratic twists, drawing influence from 20th century atonal classical music, traditional Chinese music, African music, and avant-garde jazz.