Ralf Illenberger

by Linda KohanovInspired by the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, this German guitarist essentially taught himself to play from records, later adding Leo Kottke, J.S. Bach, and Keith Jarrett to his list of influences. Honing his chops in local dance bands, Illenberger graduated to concert dates and eventually released seven albums in Europe before signing with Narada Records in the U.S. His style is an intelligent mix of pop and jazz, making him one of the better adult-alternative instrumentalists on the market.