David Lindley (pictured above) and Sonny Landreth (below) performed at the opening reception for "The Magic and Mystery of Slide Guitar." Additionally, Randy Raine-Reusch (below)  performed on rare Japanese slide instruments.

On October 11, 2008 at 6 PM, the Museum of Making Music hosted the opening reception for the special exhibition, "The Magic & Mystery of Slide Guitar," that explores our fascination and appeal for stringed instruments that are played with a slide.  Following the reception at 7 PM, guests viewed performances by David Lindley and Sonny Landreth, two artists who represent two very different genres and slide guitar styles. 

In addition, Randy Raine-Reusch performed on ancient and rare Japanese slide instruments -- ichigenkin and nigenkin.  Randy demonstrated nigenkin in the Museum lobby during the reception and gave a brief overview about the slide instruments in Japan, while also performing on ichigenkin at the beginning of the concert portion of the evening.

David Lindley
Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word "eclectic." Lindley, well known for his many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne, and leader of his own band El Rayo-X, has long championed the concept of world music. The David Lindley electro-acoustic performance effortlessly combines American folk, blues, and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. Lindley incorporates an incredible array of stringed instruments including but not limited to Kona and Weissenborn Hawaiian lap steel guitar, Turkish saz and chumbus, Middle Eastern oud, and Irish bouzouki. The eye-poppingly clad "Mr. Dave's" uncanny vocal mimicry and demented sense of humor make his onstage banter a highlight of the show.

Sonny Landreth
Landreth is well-known for his slide playing. His unique technique involves fretting notes and playing chords behind the slide while he plays.  He plays with the slide on his little finger, so that his other fingers have more room to fret behind the slide. He's also known for his unique right-hand technique, which involves tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers on his right hand. Landreth has worked steadily for decades and amassed a following among his fans and peers.

Eric Clapton has said he is "probably the most underestimated musician on the planet and also probably one of the most advanced."

Randy Raine-Reusch
Randy Raine-Reusch is a composer / concert-artist specializing in New and Experimental Music for world instruments. His unique voice has led him to perform in over sixteen countries on five continents. He has worked with a wide range of performers ranging from the Tianjin Symphony Orchestra to Aerosmith and Yes; and from New Music/Creative Improv luminaries Pauline Oliveros and Barry Guy, to World Music artists Sainkho Namtchylak and Issui Minegishi, the Grand Master of Seikyodo Ichigenkin. Raine-Reusch is an active writer, producer, and consultant working with museums as a specialist in non-western instruments. He is currently the Artistic Director of the Rainforest World Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.”