NOLA blues artist Chris Vincent brought his unique “troubadour’s soul” to the Red Bank Women’s Club for an intimate, technique-driven slide guitar master class hosted by JSJBF
Slide Guitar Master Class presented by Chris Vincent
by Joseph Vincent Riggio
On Saturday December 6th 2025, after delivering 2 sets of acoustic blues at JSJBF member venue The Chubby Pickle for the Blue Collar Blues Night Series, NOLA artist Chris Vincent presented a Slide Guitar Master Class to an intimate group of two young musicians. Chris has a unique approach to guitar and a troubadour’s soul that came through with every (slightly accented) word and technique that afternoon. The setting was at the Rd Bank Women’s Club which was a perfect fit for the occasion.
The slide guitar master class clinic was an engaging and thoughtfully paced experience that catered to players at different stages of their musical journeys. The session brought together a diverse pair of students — Francesca, a 12-year-old guitarist with two years of experience, and Conor, a college-age player who has been playing since at least middle school — creating an environment that highlighted Vincent’s ability to teach across age and skill levels with ease. Both students came with electric guitars and amplifiers but opted to not use the amps, keeping the setting that much more focused on the “feel” of the techniques rather than relying on amplification.
Vincent began by grounding the clinic in tradition, introducing the students to the influential blues artist Son House and other classic blues masters, providing important historical context for slide guitar. From there, he moved into practical technique, demonstrating the basic placement of the slide on the pinky and clearly explaining where to start and stop sliding depending on the key and musical situation. He also reviewed alternate tunings, breaking down concepts in a way that felt accessible without ever being simplistic.
Throughout the class, Vincent was incredibly generous and patient, taking time to ensure both students understood not just the “how,” but the “why” behind each technique. His teaching style reflected his trademark duality — simultaneously laid back but intense — creating a relaxed atmosphere that still conveyed deep focus and musical intention. The clinic concluded with Vincent performing his own songs, showing how all of the techniques discussed came together in real musical contexts. This final demonstration tied everything together and left the students with a clear sense of how slide guitar functions as a living, expressive tool rather than just a set of exercises.
The JSJBF was happy to present this class as part of its continued support of Jazz and Blues and of up and coming young artists.