Guitarist · Performer · Teacher
About
A San Francisco native, Jeff Magidson was born into a family of musicians and began his musical journey on piano and drums before choosing the guitar as his primary instrument. At a young age, he developed his craft performing in local clubs.
In 1983, he spent a year in France, where he was invited to play with blues and jazz bands across Europe. He eventually settled in France and gained recognition with the group Sweet Mama. A specialist in slide and bottleneck guitar and Dobro, his style reflects influences from Muddy Waters, Roy Rogers, Ry Cooder, and Johnny Winter.
After performing as a one-man band and opening for artists such as Calvin Russell and Joe Louis Walker, he founded the band John Doe in 1994, recording three well-received blues-funk albums and appearing on FIP, France Inter, and RTL.
After returning to San Francisco, he joined the Hot Club of San Francisco and became director of a West Coast music school. He continues to perform with Duo Gadjo, The Mighty Mules, and the Robinson Street Trio.
Listen
Books
Published by Hal Leonard as part of the Guitar Method series, edited by Dave Rubin. A comprehensive guide to the style of Django Reinhardt — covering technique, repertoire, and the art of improvisation in the manouche tradition.
Find the Book
Music
Contact