Fantasies are an essential component of life and, admittedly, some are more exciting than others. After years of putting it off, I decided I was going to, once and for all, learn how to operate Pro Tools. This is where the fantasy part comes in. I thought I was going to purchase Pro Tools 10, pop it into my new MacBook Pro and start recording. Geez, was I wrong.

Frank Zappa famously proclaimed that “jazz isn’t dead, it just smells funny.” And while that certainly may have been true in the fusion heyday of the 1970s and '80s, there's a younger breed of jazz musicians making music that is forward-looking but far less odorous. Here are five videos of contemporary jazz guitarists you should check out.

I’m a bit of a guitar gear head, always looking for some way to spruce up my setup, and I'm constantly searching for older vintage heads and guitars. I love trying new gear that I’ve seen before and finding out what other people are using.

Dropped by her label and discouraged from years of touring, O’Connor took a break and went into a funk that she’s come out of in grand style. I Want What You Want was released November 8 (on her birthday, no less). Produced by Tom Beaujour (editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine and owner of Nuthouse Recording), O’Connor draws you in with her introspective lyrics and sincere delivery.