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Gio Guido

Italian guitarist Gio Guido leads the jazz fusion quartet Airport, blending cinematic melodies, world textures, and modern jazz improvisation.

About Me

Gio Guido is an Italian guitarist and composer, born in Naples and based in Tokyo. Renowned for his expressive playing, technical innovation, and genre‑crossing versatility, Gio has built a distinguished international career spanning jazz, funk, cinematic music, and classical guitar.

After graduating from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London in 1991, he joined The Jazz Crusaders in 1994. During his tenure with the band, Gio performed at major international festivals and contributed to two albums—Sketches of Life and Break’n da Rules. These years marked a pivotal moment in his development, bringing him into close collaboration with jazz legends and exposing him to audiences across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

In 2000, Gio won First Prize at the Monte Carlo International Jazz Soloist Competition, and the following year he was invited back as a jury member. That recognition, combined with later collaborations with artists such as Patti Austin, Bobby Caldwell, Ronnie Laws, Bobby Lyle, Angela Bofill, Vincent Herring, and Linley Marthe, cemented his reputation as a world-class guitarist with an unmistakable voice on the instrument.

A dedicated innovator, Gio developed the Up & Down Fingerstyle technique—a right-hand approach using the index, middle, and ring fingers to alternate directional strokes across single-note lines. This method, refined over years of experimentation, enables exceptional fluidity and speed without relying on traditional picks. His article on this technique was featured in Guitar World (July 2023), where it was hailed as “a fresh take on fingerstyle articulation in jazz and fusion contexts.”

In 2025, Gio launched the band Airport, a modern jazz-funk quartet featuring pianist Yasumasa Kumagai, bassist Hiroshi Ichimura, and drummer Jun Masaoka. Their debut album Runway—released under Gio's independent label Real Deal Music LLC—blends groove-driven improvisation with cinematic storytelling and classical influences. Guest violinist Miho Ohashi appears on several tracks, adding a lyrical depth to the ensemble’s sound.

Now performing regularly in Japan and preparing for a tour in southern Kyushu in late 2025, Gio continues to break musical boundaries while honoring the tradition and soul of jazz guitar. His mission is clear: to express beauty through innovation, discipline, and emotion—on his own terms.

ジオ・グイド – プロフィール（日本語メディア向け）イタリア出身のギタリスト、作曲家のジオ・グイドは、ジャズ、ファンク、フュージョン、クラシックを自在に演奏する多才な音楽家であり、現在は日本・神奈川県を拠点に活動しています。独自に発展させた右手の指（人差し指・中指・薬指）を駆使した超高速フィンガースタイル奏法により、非常に高いテクニカルスキルと音楽性を併せ持つギタリストとして国際的に知られています。

ジオ・グイドが率いるカルテットAirport（エアポート）は、ギター、ベース、ドラム、ピアノ／キーボードからなるインストゥルメンタル・グループで、2025年にデビューアルバム『Runway（ランウェイ）』をリリース。メンバーは、正岡ジュン（ドラム）、一村ヒロシ（ベース）、熊谷ヤスマサ（ピアノ／キーボード）。数曲には特別ゲストとしてヴァイオリニストの大橋美保が参加し、作品に叙情的な彩りを添えています。

『Runway』は9曲で構成され、フラメンコ的な情熱を感じさせる「Les Amants (Sonata N.3)」、クラシックギターで演奏される6/8拍子のジャズバラード「Nostalgica」など、ジャンルの枠を超えたサウンドが特徴です。シネマティックな要素、世界各地の音楽的エッセンス、現代的なジャズの即興性が融合されたアルバムは、聴く者に物語性豊かな音楽体験を提供します。

これまでにボビー・コールドウェル、パティ・オースティン、ボビー・ライルらと共演し、ザ・ジャズ・クルセイダーズのギタリストとしても5年間活動。現在は自身の音楽会社Real Deal Music LLCを通じて、演奏活動、作曲、アルバム制作、シンクライセンス（映画・TVなどへの楽曲提供）にも力を入れています。