Jacques Stotzem fingerstyle guitarist

In the acoustic guitar world today, Jacques Stotzem is one of the "fingerstyle" guitarists with the most diversified style. Born in 1959 in Verviers, the Belgian guitarist has recorded 12 CDs and is high up on the list for fans of the acoustic guitar. Readers of the influential German acoustic guitar magazine "Akustik Gitarre" have likened Stotzem to artists such as Leo Kottke, Paco De Lucia, Neil Young and Keb' Mo'. 

That's not really astonishing. His unique and highly refined playing style combines a well-developed melodic sense with a rare dynamic approach to the instrument that speaks directly to the listener. Jacques, unlike many guitar players today, possesses an in-depth sense of harmonic knowledge, which is evident throughout his compositions. All of this is cemented together by his perfect command of the instrument and by his optimistic personality.

Jacques Stotzem has become a regular guest at European and American festivals and is often invited for tours in Japan, China or Taiwan. Since 2006, the famous American guitar company "Martin Guitar", produces an "OMC Jacques Stotzem Custom Signature Model", a dream for every guitar player, a consecration for Jacques. In 2009, his CD ìCatch The Spiritî entered the Belgian pop charts and stayed for 41 weeks. His guitar-playing colleague Larry Coryell described Jacques as follows : "What he plays is pure music. As an instrument he uses the guitar, which he knows very, very well."

PRESS

"Lonely Road", an album that exhibits Stotzem's ability to create meditative musical poems rife with creative textures and beautiful tonal qualities. Highly recommended.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE, USA 04/12

"Jacques Stotzem's guitar style is unique, his compositions have as well brilliant melody line building skills, as top-notch abilities in creating structure, balance und rests in his songs. Truly a genius in his genre."

BRIDGE GUITAR REVIEWS, NL 05/07

"Even without electricity, Jacques is able to capture and reflect the energy Hendrix demanded." 

VOODOO CHILD, USA spring 2005 

"Stotzem's version of "Purple Haze" has to be heard to be believed. Hendrix would have been proud." 

AGR NEWSLETTER, UK 05/04

"Stotzem continues to impress with a voice that's wholly his own, Sur Vesdre may well be his strongest recording to date."

ACOUSTIC GUITAR MAGAZINE, USA 12/02

"For those of you who, in frustration with the whole new acoustic genre, have thrown up your hands, dismissing it as aimless open-tuning meandering, drenched in oceanic reverb, I have two words for you : Jacques Stotzem."

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR, USA 05/98

"Jacques Stotzem is a unique artist. ... I would definitely not say Jacques is making guitar music - it happens to be pure music - it's just that the instrument he uses is the guitar, which he plays very, very well."

LARRY  CORYELL