The Craig Thatcher Jazz Project performs in the “Jazz Upstairs” series, 7:30 p.m. March 22, Rodale Community Room. Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown. The concert is sold-out.

Thatcher, an International Clinician-Ambassador for C.F. Martin & Co., Nazareth, guitar instructor and recording artist, is well-known for his guitar work. Thatcher has performed with a slew of top performers: Simone, Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, John Mayall, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Savoy Brown, the Spencer Davis Group, and David Bromberg, to name a few.

Thatcher and company present tributes to the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, Cream, George Harrison, and Jimi Hendrix. He also performs as a duo with Nyke Van Wyk. Besides numerous local and regional gigs, Thatcher has performed in nearly every state and some 35 foreign countries.

Of the “Jazz Upstairs” show, Thatcher says, “I’m not a traditional jazz guitar player. I studied it in college and use it in teaching. The guys in this show can all play jazz great.

“I bring a funky blues approach to the music and a finger-style of guitar play. We’ll play a bunch of funky jazzy blues type things, a couple of standards, and some originals I have written. We’ll do some tunes from the Crusaders, Grover Washington and others.”

Reflecting on his roots, Thatcher says, “Bucks County Community College, for about a five year period in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, had some amazing professors in music, three guys from Julliard, and Ed Flanagan.”

That would be Dr. Ed Flanagan, now associate dean of student affairs and associate professor of jazz studies at Temple University Boyer College of Music and Dance.

Thatcher continues, “It was an amazing opportunity. I was preparing to finish at Temple, but I went on the road with a band and never came back.”

Asked about his influences, Thatcher says, “Well, it comes from all different places; Clapton, Hendrix, B.B. King, rock and blues playing, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, lately, especially Frisell. With my bass player, we’re kind of heading off in that direction.

“One of my overall influences is Mark Knopfler as a guitar player, his taste, tone, ideas, creativity. I met him in London and spent some time in his studio. We even got to play together.”

Playing sax with the Thatcher Project is Pete Fluck, a local music fixture. Fluck headed up PF and the Flyers and is part of Zen For Primates whenever they materialize. He’s played with Steve Brosky’s Big Li’l Band and with Kato, among many, many others.

Says Thatcher of Fluck, “We go back over 30 years. He’s a great player. He can do rock, funk, jazz. He pulls off all kinds of great stuff.”

Don Plowman, who’s been with Thatcher for more than 10 years, will be on drums. He has played with various Navy bands and with the Virginia Symphony Pops Orchestra. He plays with Mike Dugan and the Blues Mission.

Cliff Starkey is with the group on keyboard.

Thatcher says, “Cliff is another fantastic player. We played with Nina Simone’s daughter, Simone. We toured together around 2005-6. We’ve been playing together ever since. Cliff was the keyboard player on the Emeril Lagasse show for nine years. He was the main guy. The breadth of artists he worked with is amazing, from Chick Correa to Sammy Hagar.”

Starkey also played for President Bill Clinton as part of the group Groovemasters.

Rounding out the ensemble is bassist Chico Huff, who has performed with a wide variety of notables, including Terrance Blanchard, Antje Duvecot, Jeff Golub, the Jefferson Airplane, Dr. John, Chuck Leob, Carly Simon, John Swana, James Taylor and many more.

Says Thatcher, “Chico Huff is a very well-known Philly player. It’s not just jazz. He’s the first-call guy. Has the Jaco [Pastorius] thing down.”

Thatcher is enthusiastic about the group and the “Jazz Upstairs” concert: “The key is surrounding yourself with great people who happen to be great players.”

Tickets: Miller Symphony Hall box office, 23 N. Sixth St., Allentown; millersymphonyhall.org; 610-432-6715