I met Carvel back in the late 1970’s. We were playing together in the NLU Jazz Band. Carvel always played great! Always the right part and with feel and emotion.

Although I’ve been in Nashville since 1980, I have kept in touch with Carvel. Carvel has always played with the best musicians around the Northeast Louisiana area. He has been one of the top guitarist I’ve had the pleasure of working with!

I highly recommend this website!

Lonnie Wilson: Nashville Music Producer, Drummer, Singer, Songwriter

As a drummer, Lonnie has played on over 400 hit singles, received numerous awards. He is twice the winner of the ACM Drummer Of The Year, Modern Drummer Magazine Country Drummer of the Year and 4 time winner of the Music Row Magazine Drummer of the Year award. Lonnie has performed on hundreds of top 10 hit singles recorded by artist like Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Joe Diffie, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill and many more. As a songwriter, Lonnie has enjoyed much success and has received ASCAP awards for hit singles including “Love you Out Loud” by Rascal Flatts, “Texas Size Heartache” by Joe Diffie, and “All My Friends Say” by Luke Bryan.

From the first time I played music with Carvel, he earned my total respect as a guitarist and arranger. What you see is a prepared package ready to play all styles, read any charts put before him and deliver performance creativity at a top notch level.

We’ve played together many years in recording studios, jazz gigs and Christian music as well as touring thousands of miles internationally. I’ve witnessed Carvel’s heart and knowledge for teaching guitar, conducting seminars and performances in many countries such as the Middle East, Europe, Central and South America. His methods are a proven testimony.

Mark Lane Smith: Drummer and drum educator

Mark played with recording Artists Percy Sledge, Bobby Vinton, Petra, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Randy Travis, Charly McClain, Lorrie Morgan, Pam Tillis, Mark Feldman (Award Winning Jazz Violinist), Billie Jo Spears (International Band of the Year) and many Grand Ole Opry Artists. Drum educator for over 35 years in Louisiana, Nashville, Tn. and Overseas with several Grammy Award winning students.

I took lessons from Carvel back in the early 80's. He was a great teacher. Guitar, music, life, professionalism - he taught all of it!

Stephen Lowell Brannen: Professional guitarist and instructor at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.

Born and raised in the Deep South, and the son of a preacher, Stephen grew up with music all around him. He studied composition, guitar performance, and music production at colleges in Louisiana, Texas, and Tennessee. Since then he has played guitar professionally for over 30 years - in Nashville, for the Air Force, and currently in Southeastern Tennessee.

He is at home playing pretty much any style of music including rock, country, jazz, folk, Broadway, Classical, and more. He has appeared on Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, the Grand Ole Opry, numerous radio and television appearances, and stages large and small all over the world.

Carvel Avis and I have played music together since around 1978. We were getting our Music Degrees at Northeast Louisiana University and performing and recording music in North Lousiana.

Carvel's area of expertise was Music Theory and Composition and Guitar. I believe this allowed for a creative approach to his playing and teaching style. When you observe Carvel as a musician you first notice a freshness and uniqueness in his music.

He is totally comfortable in all styles of playing and teaching. Expect something NEW and exciting when you listen to Carvel Avis. And YES!! he is a Master Performer!!

This website will set a new, fresh standard for upcoming guitarists.

Lawrence Gibbs: Associate Professor of Single Reeds at Louisiana Tech University retired (2016)