Italiano
Curtis Jones, Jr. (AKA Cortini) grew up in the small historic gold mining mountain town of Dahlonega, Georgia, just north of Atlanta.
Dahlonega has a long musical heritage with an emphasis on Appalachian music, and is home to many musicians. Curtis is a multi-instrumentalist best know for his guitar work but also highly skilled on mandolin and bass.
He has traveled the world for the past 20 years performing his original music and amazing audiences with his rapid-fire guitar technique.
Curtis recently tried out a Manne Semiacustica and was totally amazed.
His family and heritage is partly Italian and he has always appreciated fine Italian art and design.
Many great Italian jazz guitarists have inspired Curtis throughout his career, but he never realized such wonderful high-octane Italian-made guitars existed until now.
“When I opened the case and saw the Semiacustica guitar inside, I thought, ‘Man….this is like seeing a beautiful work of art’. Then I picked up the instrument and starting playing it, and I was completely blown away by its unique tone, effortless playability, fine workmanship and how perfectly balanced if felt in my hands. I knew that very moment that I had to own this guitar.
I have played enough jazz guitars to fill an arena, and hands down, the Semiacustica by Manne is the best jazz guitar I have ever experienced. I have been searching for this tone my entire career. This instrument truly inspires me like no other jazz guitar.”
Curtis has become a highly influential guitarist, particularly in the worlds of bluegrass and new acoustic music. He has toured and or recorded with some of the biggest names and best artists in the genre including members of Alison Krauss’ Union Station band and Blue Highway.
Curtis spent seven years on the road as a member of the Schankman Twins band. He was also a full time member of the super-picking group Bluegrass ETC, and his time with this group started his travels in Europe. Since that time, he has toured all over the globe, most recently with country and bluegrass music star Patti Loveless.
Curtis Jones is a prolific composer and songwriter.
Development of his unique guitar style was heavily influenced by Django Reinhardt and Al Di Meola, but it is impossible to put a label on Curtis’s music. He is a highly versatile musician, incorporating elements of Flamenco, Gypsy, Jazz, Bluegrass and Classical music into his many original compositions. He is also in high demand as a music teacher, both as a teacher for Georgia Pick-And-Bow, a special traditional music program within the Dahlonega public schools, and also teaching many private students.
Curtis is currently putting much of his time and effort into a new band project called Insonnia (www.insonniaband.com). The group focuses on almost all original music composed by Curtis and the other band members. Their new CD entitled Moonlight Trance was just released and is now available online at this link.
Curtis Jones, Jr. has now become the latest Manne endorser from the USA. We are proud and delighted to welcome Curtis into the Manne family of artists.
