Welcome back to Guitardoor.com, where we celebrate the world-class talents and “guitarist’s guitarists” who command the highest respect from their peers. Today, we focus on a true virtuoso’s virtuoso, a player of incredible technical command, sophisticated compositional skill, and a deeply expressive, vocal-like approach to the instrument: the phenomenal Marc Bonilla. From his acclaimed instrumental solo albums to his work as a film and TV composer and his high-profile roles with prog-rock legend Keith Emerson and the supergroup Asia, Bonilla is a complete musician who combines the fire of rock with the intelligence of fusion and the emotional depth of a master storyteller.
Marc Bonilla’s powerful and melodic style of instrumental rock is a showcase for his incredible versatility, a quality that has allowed him to step into the monumental shoes of some of rock’s most legendary players. Nowhere is this more evident than in his work with the powerhouse original drummer of the band Chicago, Danny Seraphine. In Seraphine’s celebrated project, California Transit Authority (CTA), Bonilla took on the awe-inspiring task of performing the guitar parts of the late, great Terry Kath. This is a role that requires far more than just technical skill; it demands a deep understanding of raw rock and roll power, gritty blues feel, and a sophisticated funk and soul sensibility. Bonilla’s ability to honor Kath’s legendary playing while bringing his own unique voice to the music is a testament to his immense talent and his deep respect for the history of the instrument.
The guitar playing of Marc Bonilla is a masterclass in dynamic, expressive, and narrative-driven performance. He is a player who truly tells stories with his instrument, a quality that puts him in the same esteemed category as his hero and primary influence, the great Jeff Beck. Bonilla’s sound is not about relentless speed, but about crafting a powerful emotional arc, using his flawless technique to serve a greater musical purpose. His signature is his incredibly lyrical and vocal-like phrasing, achieved through a masterful and artistic use of the whammy bar for smooth, singing swells and a beautiful, controlled vibrato. This is complemented by a fluid legato and a surgically precise alternate picking ability that he can unleash for breathtakingly fast and complex passages. His sound is powered by a variety of high-end boutique guitars and the rich, articulate, high-gain tone of modified Marshall and Bogner amplifiers, which provide the perfect platform for his singing, violin-like lead voice.
The Essential Tickets
Marc Bonilla’s solo albums are a treasure trove of brilliant instrumental guitar work. To get a sense of his incredible talent as both a player and a composer, these three tracks are a perfect starting point. The powerful, driving instrumental “White Noise” from his debut album EE Ticket is a fantastic exercise in dynamic control. To approach playing it, focus on a tight, aggressive picking hand for the main riff, but for the soaring lead melodies, the key is mastering the use of the whammy bar for smooth, vocal-like swells, mimicking the human voice.
His brilliant, high-energy rock arrangement of the classic ballet piece “Slaughter on Memory Lane “ is a lesson in phrasing. The first step is to learn the core classical melody, then concentrate on articulating it with a powerful rock attitude, using aggressive pick attack, slides, and expressive bends to give it weight.
For the epic and cinematic title track of his second album, “American Matador,” the approach is to think like a film composer. The track requires incredible dynamic range, from the delicate touch needed for the clean, Spanish-tinged intro to the raw power demanded by the heavy sections, all while crafting a beautiful and unforgettable singing melody in the solos.
In the end, Marc Bonilla’s legacy is that of one of the great, if sometimes criminally overlooked, virtuosos of his generation. He is a musician of incredible depth and versatility, equally at home composing a soaring film score, rocking a stadium with a progressive rock legend, or crafting his own intricate instrumental masterpieces. He is a true “guitarist’s guitarist,” a player revered by those in the know for his phenomenal technique, his sophisticated musicality, and a deeply expressive and soulful voice on the instrument that is truly his own.
Cover Photo Credit “Marc Bonilla” by Allan Bromberg_Grand Oak Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
