Those of you who caught Motel's performance at Unbuckled 7 will no doubt remember the scorching axe work of John Lee. The self-described "Chinese-Irishman" is a fixture on the local music scene, playing with a multitude of bands around town.

The 28-year old guitarist's journey began at the age of ten, when MTV hair bands like Warrant, Poison, and Motley Crüe inspired the young Lee. In high school, he became a fan of improvisational music through the playing of Jerry Garcia, which in turn led to an interest in jazz. More recently, he cites the music of Son House, Deerhoof, Wilco, and Jim O'Rourke as being important influences. Lee's passion for music drove him to enroll at New York's New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he had the privilege of studying with some of the city's finest, including guitarists Kurt Rosenwinkel, Wayne Krantz, and Dave Fiuczynski, as well as saxophonist George Garzone and percussionist Jamey Haddad.

While Lee occasionally fronts his own group, he is most in demand as a sideman because of his ability to blend into any ensemble, irrespective of genre. Local music fans can often find him at the Bossa Bistro & Lounge, where he plays with several groups in the scene surrounding that great venue.

Visit John online at: www.myspace.com/chineseirishman

See him next: Friday, June 27 with Mojai at Ragtime; Every Thursday during happy hour at 18th Street Lounge with the Black & Tan Fantasy Band, which features Three Stars alum Will Rast, Jerry Buscher (Fugazi), and Ashish Vyas (Thievery Corporation).

Questions for John:

You play in a number of projects around town as a sideman. Who are some musicians you look forward to playing with, and why?

I love playing with musicians who have lots of energy, confidence, yell things out loud, and laugh when I play. Dan Ryan [bassist for Le Loup and Mojai] is one of those musicians, as well as drummer Quincy Phillips from The Young Lions.

You also lead your own group once in a while. What are your eventual goals as a band leader? Where do you want to take your original material?

I lead my own group here and there. My old band Caveman used to tour all around and we just played mainly my music. It is hard to be a band leader. You really have to have everything together in terms of communicating with other musicians on every level. I would like to become a better leader myself and get a couple of bands together for my instrumental music and for my more song-oriented, less improvised music.

What is your approach to music, in terms of both playing and composing? How does the ensemble you are working with affect your mindset, both as a player and a writer?

When I compose instrumental music, I try not to think too much. I just compose what I feel in the moment. I don't criticize my writing. I love all styles of music and they all come out in my own when I compose and improvise.

When I play, I think of music as language. Notes are words of their own and I just speak. A lot of times I'm yelling, making jokes, cursing, or even preaching. I listen to the other musicians around me and we all try to make something beautiful happen. At times, I might be playing things that are fancy or intellectual but I'm really a soul guitar player from the gut.

What are your short and long term plans as far as your music is concerned? Any recording or touring in the works?

Right now I'm a full-time musician, no other job, nor do I teach. I love it. Eventually, I will get sick of the current situation, and hope for bigger and better things. I have nothing planned, but I would like to make a recording of my songs with lyrics and record a bunch of my instrumental music as well.

As far as touring, I would love to get back to Europe and play improv music. I have been all around America, it wasn't easy. My back is giving too many problems to be sleeping on people's floors for months at a time!

What are your thoughts on the state of D.C.'s local jazz scene? Who are the musicians you most enjoy?

D.C. has some great jazz musicians and there are tons of places to play. I feel like there is potential in this city for music nightlife to take off. I really enjoy hearing The Young Lions and Will Rast play. Will makes the keyboard sing. There's also this harmonica player Hugh Freely, that guy is nuts.

Image courtesy of John Lee