Yussi Wenger

Born in Frauenfeld, Switzerland, Yussi Wenger began playing guitar in 1985 and studied at the Jazz Conservatory St. Gallen before moving to Los Angeles, where he graduated with honors from the Musicians Institute. He went on to study classical guitar, arranging and orchestration at L.A.V.C., took up mandolin, banjo and other exotic string instruments, and developed a deep interest in flamenco. Indian master Hari Har Rao tutored him in sitar, and in 1994 Axiom of Choice invited him to join the band for their debut album "Beyond Denial."

In 1995 he designed a series of guitars with luthier Boaz Elkayam, released Yussi & Django's "Bandidos de Amor," and played on Ricky Martin's "A Medio Vivir" — featuring the hit "Maria" — and later on Ricky's Grammy-winning "Vuelve." Since then he has played on more than 150 albums and performed or recorded with a long list of Latin and Middle Eastern stars, including Cristian Castro, Lucero, Robi Rosa, Cheech Marin, Paulina Rubio and Benise.

Yussi composed the score for the feature drama Stellina Blue and has written music for TV shows such as TMZ, Extra, The Bachelor and Miss Universe, with placements across Nat Geo, the Food Network, the Sundance Channel and films including Two Weeks Notice and Collateral. He also appears on screen in the films Paulie and Love & Basketball, and gives more than 230 live performances each year.

His original compositions blend Spanish and Middle Eastern guitar melodies with powerful Latin and Persian rhythms — an energetic, improvisation-rich style in the tradition of the Gypsy Kings, Ottmar Liebert, Strunz and Farah (with whom he has studied) and even John McLaughlin. The music has sweetness, soul, precision and youthful energy.

His solo and band albums — Bandidos de Amor, El Pirata, Velvet Rebel, Atomik Inferno, Exotic Wizard, Galactic Vampire and Phantom Radio — are all released on the X DOT 25 Music label. He plays an array of exotic string instruments including the Sitar, Bouzouki, Cuatro, Tres, Requinto and Mandolin, and since 2003 has been an active faculty member at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood.