WHY WE CHOSE THESE GUITARISTS

ALEX MISKO

Alex Misko, a modern fingerstyle guitar prodigy, represents a remarkable new generation in his craft. He utilizes every part of the guitar, from the adjustable tuning pegs to the multi-use tailpiece, with a deft touch that brings out every melodic and rhythmic subtlety. His collaborations were the high point of IGN XXVI and we are thrilled to present him again.

JOCELYN GOULD

Jocelyn is one of Canada’s shining lights. Her playing style is unique — relaxed but with a keen understanding of the jazz repertoire and the technique she needs to bring out every cool emotion. She is a veteran of several IGN North American tours and we are delighted to have her back.

KARAI GUEDES

Karai comes from the gaucho region of southern Brazil where the music is exuberant, and Karai is its leading exponent. We were taken aback by the strength of his playing and singing and IGN XXVIII caps a five year pursuit to bring him aboard. We know American audiences will love him.

PEDRO JOIA

Pedro personifies the IGN ideal — someone who is deeply rooted in his culture, with the creativity to expand his playing style. He was immersed in Portugal’s national music, fado, and studied with the Flamenco greats. The result is a warm, flowing style that captures both the tenderness and the depth of his music. Pedro’s style is unique to IGN and we are happy to introduce him to our audience

Full Bios

Alex Misko

Alex Misko, a modern fingerstyle guitar prodigy, mesmerizes audiences worldwide and represents a remarkable new generation in his craft. From viral videos to Carnegie Hall, his music bridges the old and new, captivating people online and at his live shows. With six albums, global tours, and a one-of-a-kind instrument, he’s a true guitar maestro.

Still in his 20s, Misko’s performances have garnered widespread recognition both in his homeland and abroad. Drawing inspiration from the pioneering musicians who shaped and expanded the genre, Misko breaks new ground while staying true to the essence of the music, keeping the legacy of the genre as strong as ever.

Alex’s musical journey is both awe-inspiring and straightforward. He began playing at the age of 12, studying classical guitar with a private teacher for three years. After discovering modern “Fingerstyle” guitar music online, he went on a self-taught journey to master it.

In 2015, Misko’s video featuring an original composition, “Guitar + Pen Tapping Song,” rapidly gained over a million views, becoming his first big online success while he was still a high school student. Then, in 2016, his video cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” received more than 30,000,000 views on Facebook, marking a significant milestone in his entry into the international guitar scene. His next album’s first single, a rendition of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper,” gained over 80,000,000 views on Facebook and YouTube within a month in 2017.

Since then, Misko’s YouTube channel has experienced exponential growth, now boasting around 900,000 followers. In October 2018, he was honored with the prestigious title of “Guitarist of the Year” by the renowned UK magazine “MusicRadar.”

In November 2019, he released his third solo album, “Roundtrip,” recognized for its innovative sound and mature compositions, a pinnacle of his musical work at that time. In January 2020, he shared the stage of the iconic Carnegie Hall alongside world-renowned harp player Alexander Boldachev. This initial collaboration later blossomed into a dynamic duo, leading to the creation of an exciting live show where such different instruments work as one. Since then, aside from their solo work, Alex & Alex perform together at festivals worldwide, both guitar and classical music-oriented.

Throughout the years, Misko has released six albums and actively performed across the globe, everywhere from America to Japan, playing concerts and also teaching at workshops and lectures. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic and not being able to travel, Alex continued to build his profile and audience, maintaining his connection with fans and exploring new grounds in collaborations. In 2021, Misko released the album “Take Your Time” with one of the most promisingEuropean bassists, Dmitriy Toporov, following the success of several popular videos and singles from the duo.

Around the same time, the German brand “Baton Rouge Guitars” and Alex created a never-seen-before instrument to realize all the new ideas that a single normal guitar could not handle. They called it Frankenstein Guitar, and this is something worth seeing. It is the only acoustic guitar in the world that allows a player to do quick tuning changes on the fly thanks to the unique triple detuning system, modified with a percussive drum-kitsystem and 14 pickups to bring its sound on stage in its true massiveness.

Misko tirelessly collaborates with fellow musicians like Jon Gomm, Mike Dawes, Andrea Valeri, and Alan Gogoll, aiming to strengthen the guitar community to make it a friendly, supportive, and joyful place for everyone, regardless of where they come from. In 2023, he made the significant move from Russia to Germany. This decision marked a new chapter in his career, allowing him to work with other European artists easily and do more extensive tours.

The same year, the Alexandr Misko Signature Guitar was released in collaboration with “Baton Rouge Guitars,” based on the experimental Frankenstein. Misko’s goal was to create a unique but affordable guitar tailored for modern fingerstyle playing, giving other musicians the possibility to follow in his footsteps but create something new and different thanks to this new instrument.

With a special style that seamlessly blends technical innovation and musicality, Misko’s original compositions resonate with listeners from all walks of life, as his music transcends cultural barriers and speaks a universal language.

Jocelyn Gould

JUNO Award winning guitarist Jocelyn Gould “has quickly become an international favorite with her hard swinging, imaginative approach and technical mastery” (Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz Magazine). Her joyful energy has captivated music fans around the world and her passion for music is as infectious as her unique ability to connect with audiences. Jocelyn has absorbed the influences of the jazz guitar greats and has woven them into an exciting personal sound, citing Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Joe Pass, and Kenny Burrell as primary influences on the guitar.

Jocelyn’s debut album, Elegant Traveler<, won the 2021 JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Solo. Her albums Sonic Bouquet and Portrait Of Right Now were nominated for 2024 and 2025 JUNO Awards for Jazz Album of the Year: Solo.

2025 saw Jocelyn tour full time as a leader and supporting musician throughout Europe, North America and Japan playing in venues such as Massey Hall in Toronto, Birdland and Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City, the Montreal Jazz Festival, Pizza Express SOHO in London, UK, Le Duc Des Lombards in Paris, and Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen. She released a solo guitar and voice album in the fall of 2025, which is her 5th release as a leader. 2026 will see Jocelyn continue to tour internationally and release her 6th album, So Delighted, which is her first organ trio album.

Jocelyn has performed and recorded as a supporting musician with GRAMMY-nominated vocalist Freddy Cole, JUNO-winning trumpeter and vocalist Bria Skonberg, GRAMMY-winning pianist Geoffrey Keezer, DownBeat Trombonist of the Year Michael Dease, Etienne Charles, Caity Gyorgy, Benny Bennack III, Jon Gordon, Rodney Whitaker, Will Bonness, Randy Napoleon, Diego Rivera and many more.

Jocelyn is an experienced educator and was a full time professor and the Head of Guitar Department at Humber College in Toronto from 2019-2024. She is the guitar faculty at the Brevard Jazz Institute in North Carolina and the Seiko Summer Jazz Camp in Tokyo, Japan. She has been a guest artist at Jazz Institute Berlin, the Leeds Conservatory of Music, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Michigan State University, University of South Carolina, North Eastern State University, Ohio University, University of North Carolina, Broward University, and others.

Jocelyn Gould is a Benedetto-endorsed artist.

Karai Guedes

Karaí Guedes first gained international attention at an early age, performing as a soloist at the prestigious Festival de Invierno de Corrientes, one of Argentina’s most celebrated music festivals. At just 12 years old, he appeared in a special tribute to legendary Brazilian guitarist Raphael Rabello, produced by TV Cultura, where his emotional interpretation of Meu Avô captivated audiences and established him as one of the most promising young guitarists of his generation.

Rooted in the musical traditions of the South American borderlands, Karaí’s artistic identity reflects the rich cultural heritage shared by southern Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile. His playing seamlessly combines technical virtuosity with the expressive language of the gaúcho tradition, a style deeply connected to the region’s folk music.

As a composer, Karaí draws inspiration from traditional South American rhythms such as chamamé, chamarrita, milonga, rancheira, and vaneira. Raised in the galpão missioneiro—the traditional gathering place built by his parents—he was immersed from childhood in an environment where music was an essential part of everyday life, shaping both his artistic voice and his connection to the cultural landscape of the region.

Alongside these influences, Karaí has long admired the work of flamenco legend Paco de Lucía, whose artistry has inspired generations of guitarists and continues to influence his own musical approach.

Joining International Guitar Night (IGN) marks a significant milestone in Karaí Guedes’ career. The tour will not only create opportunities to collaborate with some of the world’s leading guitarists but will also introduce his music to American audiences, marking his debut in the United States and expanding the international reach of his artistic journey.

Pedro Joia

Pedro Joia began studying the guitar at the age of seven with Paulo Valente Pereira at the Academy of Music Amateurs in Lisbon, also studying with Manuel Morais. At the age of fifteen, he moved to the National Conservatory to complete his classical guitar training. Shortly thereafter, he began studying flamenco guitar on his own and soon took courses with renowned Flamenco guitarists Paco Peña, Gerardo Nuñez and, most importantly, Manolo Sanlúcar. By the time he was 19, he began performing both as a soloist and with other instrumental ensembles.

From 2003 to 2007, Pedro lived in Rio de Janeiro where he played and recorded with some of the most important MPB (Musica Popular Brasileira) artists including Ney Matogrosso, with whom he performed two extensive tours, Simone, Gilberto Gil, and many others. This experience greatly expanded his knowledge of and proficiency in performing all forms of Lusofone music, which he continues to perform today.

In 2008 received the coveted Carlos Paredes Prize with his album “À Espera de Armandinho”, a solo recording in which he transcribed works by the great Portuguese guitarist and composer, Armandinho, who was one of the great musical artists in Portugal during the first half of the 20th century.

As a soloist, Pedro has performed with several orchestras and chamber groups such as the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestra of Venezuela, Classical Orchestra of Madeira, Chinese Orchestra of Macau and Sinfonietta Orchestra of Lisbon. He also performs regularly with the Arabesque Quartet playing original works and transcriptions for Guitar and String Quartet.

In 2015 Pedro developed a close musical relationship with American Classical flutist Susan Palma-Nidel, performing together in New York and New Hampshire, USA.

Since 2013 has performed in concerts all over the world with the internationally renowned Fado Artist, Mariza, for whom he was musical director for 7 years. Pedro also performs regularly with the Portuguese collective Resistência, combining these activities with his own personal projects, such as solo concerts or with the Pedro Jóia Trio.

In 2020 he recorded an album dedicated to José Afonso, one of the greatest popular composers of Portuguese music (Zeca, Sony music, 2020) and received the Carlos Paredes prize for the second time in his career.

Pedro Jóia is the musical director and composer of the play Amore, from Pippo Delbono Theatre company – Emilia Romagna National Theatre, Italy.

In February 2024 released his new album – Mosaico (Mosaico, Sony music 2024) to great acclaim.

During 2025 and 2026 Pedro performed internationally in Austrália, Singapore, Pakistan, Índia, USA, Uruguay and Brazil.