Fishman Artist // Jacques Stotzem
Jacques Stotzem - this name has friends of acoustic guitar music sitting up and taking notice. No wonder, because the Belgian is not just a fantastic steel string guitarist who knows all the technical tricks of the trade; even more, he is an excellent musician with an extraordinary hand for exorbitant compositions.Born in 1959 in Verviers, Belgium, Jacques Stotzem began independently studying the guitar at the age of 16, inspired by a television appearance by the American fingerstylist Stefan Grossman. However, he quickly left behind the limitations of the existing fingerpicking literature and began to develop his very own composition and playing style. Strong ballads await the listener, as well as powerful acoustic rock music with a touch of blues and jazz. At the same time, despite all this stylistic diversity, one quality weaves through Stotzem's music like a red thread: the rare talent of fusing technical brilliance with unbelievable musical perfection.
To date, Jacques Stotzem has recorded eight albums and is a guest at all the important festivals in Europe and the USA on a regular basis. The international music press has been exceptionally in accord when assessing Stotzem's musical creations: critics write about qualities ranging from "heart stopping intensity" (Acoustic Guitar Magazine) to "exciting, moving, incredibly tasteful, and inspiring" (Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine).