Stages: Ruminations, Rants, and Reminisces on a Life in Music

"I first heard Paul Asbell's stunning guitar playing at Hunts in Burlington, Vermont in 1982. There was a depth to his music and a connection to history that I wasn't yet capable of

even understanding, but found utterly mesmerizing. When I moved to Burlington, Paul became my guitar teacher. There are so many stories that Paul has accumulated in his astonishing life in music. Thankfully, we can now read many of them in this terrific book!"

-Trey Anastasio, founder and guitarist for Phish and the Trey Anastasio Band

"Paul Asbell quickly carved himself a respected place in the late 1960s Chicago blues scene when it was still mostly a black club music, populated by legends like Magic Sam,

Earl Hooker, Otis Rush and Sam Lay. Happily, Paul has compiled his experiences into a book full of information, insight, generosity of spirit, wryness and wisdom. The historical details are rich and immaculate, with the same solid quality present in Paul's music."

- Dick Shurman, producer and Blues historian

"Being able to see, hear and play with artists like Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells, Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, and Paul Butter eld, as Paul has-and then be nurtured, befriended and hired by them-is an honor few achieve. I loved reading these stories. They follow Paul's journey, beautifully laying out his personal growth and development as he becomes a guitarist of great maturity and depth."

- Duke Robillard, legendary guitarist and founder of Roomful of Blues

"This memoir eclipses any I've ever read. If you want true tales about how the tastiest sausage is made in the music world, this book is for you!"

- Mark Hoffman, co-author of Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolf