Guy Tortora is a blues and Americana songwriter and performer who is born and raised in Pasadena, California and is now based in London. His work sits in original songs and interpretations of other writers across blues, jazz, folk and roots traditions.

Career and style

Tortora establishes a place on the UK and European blues-and-roots circuit, playing in small clubs, theatres and festivals. He performs either in a stripped-down acoustic format, solo or with bass or keyboards, and also appears in band settings.

He works in acoustic and electric settings, using fingerstyle guitar and also playing bottleneck and slide. His approach is understated rather than showy, leaving space for the songs, whether they are his own compositions, older standards and traditional material, or songs by writers such as Eric Bibb and Kreig Viesselman.

Band work and collaborations

In the UK he appears with the Guy Tortora Band, a four-piece group made up of musicians from the UK and Europe. With this band he has performed live with Eric Clapton, Pee Wee Ellis, John Cleary and Eric Bibb.

Recordings

His two solo albums receive a warm response in blues and roots reviews, and a third album is released in 2008 and also draws strong reactions from reviewers and audiences.

Critical description

Comments on his playing and writing emphasise the subtlety of his guitar work and the strength of the songs, along with the soulfulness of his performances.