A couple weeks ago, jazz guitarist and Brentwood resident Larry Carlton performed at Sambuca restaurant here in Nashville for an intimate evening of top-shelf jazz guitar. There was just one problem: tickets were $40 per person and dinner was required, which pushed the entire evening's anticipated bill (for two) into the $180 - $200 territory—unattainable for most. If you couldn't afford to see Mr. 335, don't fret, as there's another top-shelf jazz guitarist in town with a smokin' Carlton/Burrell vibe. Eric Normand and his trio are currently performing a series of Wednesday evening sets inside 12 South Taproom.

Eric Normand is a Berklee grad who has played guitar for Toby Keith, Vern Gosdin, Daryle Singletary and, currently, Rhett Akins. However, when he's not on tour with Akins, gigging at the Grand Ole Opry, or recording in his studio (Music On A Hill) he is focusing on side-projects—one of which includes an experimental jazz trio. The Eric Normand Trio (Ger Hoffman on Bass, Ron Krasinski on Drums) often begin their tunes with a bluesy Kenny Burrell vibe, and transition into a slightly louder, borderline experimental (yet still very melodic) Larry Carlton vibe, and back again. Normand's guitar tone is pleasing to the ear, as his G&L tele achieves a bright 335 tone (à la Carlton) while retaining the warmth heard in Pat Metheny's hollowbody guitars. Normand doesn't cloud his solos with notes for the sake of notes. Rather, his solos are crisp, thoughtful, appropriate to the tune, and flawlessly delivered.