Athens, Georgia-based guitarist Shane Parish devotes much of his time to developing his singular and expressive musicianship. He is a self-taught player who communicates through emotion, unexpected melodicism, technical whimsy, a nuanced sense of form, and rich timbral variety, simultaneously drawing from the guitar’s history and aiming for its future.
He plays solo, as a member of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet, and with his avant-rock band Ahleuchatistas. Over the years, he has released albums on labels such as Tzadik Records, Palilalia Records, Cuneiform Records, and International Anthem.
RECENT WORDS ABOUT “REPERTOIRE” (2024, Palilalia Records)
“Shane Parish is a relentless interpreter. The guitarist's catalog is full of folk songs, sea shanties and the Chet Baker Sings album thoughtfully and playfully mangled. (Parish also notated and arranged Bill Orcutt's Music for Four Guitars for, well, four guitars — their Tiny Desk is raucously joyful.)”
—Lars Gotrich, NPR
“Parish is one of our most vibrant interpreters, and Repertoire finds him as near as ever to a definitive statement.”
“On his new record, Repertoire, Shane Parish shines as a master virtuoso, arranger and interpreter on the guitar.”
“As an arranger and transcriber, Shane has incredible attention to detail and a devotion to get it right. As a performer and improvisor, he’s passionate and has terrific drive and charisma. On stage, he’s impossible not to like.”
—Bill Orcutt, quoted in Flagpole Magazine (Athens, GA)
“Parish is a tinkerer, the kind of musician who wonders what’s possible and finds ways to make his imagination become real.”
—Peter Margasak, Nowhere Street
“I am constantly amazed by not just what he can play, but HOW he plays – there is so much subtlety, emotional depth, and joy in it that it becomes infectious. His new album, Repertoire, is an absolute triumph.”