Stanley Jordan developed his interest in music playing the piano. Since then he's tapped into acoustics.
Sometimes he plays two at the time.
The guitar virtuoso will also use his "touch" - or "tap" - technique to add brilliance and sound to his melodies at 7:30 tonight in Pruis Hall.
"Attendees will see a fascinating fingering technique on the electric guitar," Robert Myers, director of Emens Auditorium said. "This is an artist that I have considered for many years. He is an incredible talent."
From Beethoven to an incredible arrangement of "Stairway to Heaven" and melodies from his latest album, "State of Nature", Jordan offers a wide repertoire for a public in search of new music experiences.
Patrick Farrell, a junior music performance major who plays the trumpet, has known of Jordan for some years and is willing to go to this concert.
"He's probably one of the greatest jazz guitarists of our time right now," he said.
Jordan's musical upbringing first directed him to the piano bench.
Born in California and showing signs of extraordinary talent and genius, Jordan first came into contact with music at the age of three, playing around on the piano at his home.
At the age of seven, he had his first piano lessons. He started playing the guitar at the age of 11 and later he would develop a different way of tuning and playing it.
Hans Sturm, a double bassist and music professor at Ball State University, met Jordan some years ago, playing together for some time before the release of Jordan's Grammy nominated first album "Magic Touch" in 1985.
After working and performing with Jordan, Sturm is familiar with the guitarist's style.
"He plays with the touch technique on the guitar, which is like a piano technique, that's how he got the idea," Sturm said. "So because he hammers on with his hands, not strumming the guitar or plucking the guitar, he is able to play, for instance, two guitars at the same time, or the guitar and piano at the same time and it's really quite brilliant."
Jordan also holds a great interest for music healing and is the spokesperson for the American Therapy Association.
"I know the genius that he is and the kind of intensity that he brings, and the intellect that he brings to any project that he undertakes," Sturm said. "So that I'm sure that whatever he is doing in this area [music therapy] is going to be ground breaking and really going to be helping people a tremendous amount."
If you goWhat: Stanley Jordan's TrioWhen: 7:30 p.m.Where: Pruis HallAdmission: BSU students $5 with valid ID
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