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.