Chris Amelar (Guitars) has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies graduating Magna Cum Laude with Honors from William Paterson University where he studied with jazz luminaries such as Rufus Reid, Vic Juris, Joe Lovano, Dave Samuels, Harold Mabern, Art Farmer, Percy Heath. In addition to teaching private guitar and bass lessons, he has conducted group classes and clinics around the country for The National Guitar Workshop, and founded the ‘Jamming for Juniors’ pre-school music program used at schools throughout NJ. He has performed for President Clinton, and with guitarist Andy Timmons (G3, Olivia Newton-John), Glen Burtnik (Styx), Christian music legend Phil Keaggy, and various artists at BB Kings, The Bitter End, The Blue Note and The Knitting Factory in NYC, as well as at NJPAC, the JVC Jazz Festival, and Z100’s Zootopia Concert at the lzod Arena. He also performed all guitar parts on Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess’s album, LISTEN, and founded and recorded five CDs with the group 3D Ritmo de Vida, the latest of which was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award. He is also the author of a long list of instructional books and videos, including Mastering Contemporary Rock (Alfred Pub), The Guitar FX Cookbook (Hal Leonard Pub), and Rock Guitar Jammin’ (Hal Leonard Pub). He has also been a contributing author of numerous articles, interviews and transcriptions for Guitar World Magazine and Guitar School Magazine.