Photo by Matt ShallenbergerIf you want to chat with Scott Metzger these days, odds are it will have to be at one of his concerts or in the studio as the New Jersey-bred guitarist’s schedule is jam-packed with recording sessions and live shows from the ever-growing list of projects to which he’s lending his talents to.

When Metzger’s longtime band RANA stopped regularly touring in 2003, he found himself in a stressful position. “There was a very big period where I didn’t know what the next chapter would be,” he says. “Since then, I just dove into playing with as many great players as I can.”

Recently, he began working with talented and diverse number musicians who he’s met from a wide variety of musical worlds over the course of his career. “Networking used to freak me out, but now it means making new friends who I can make awesome music with.”

Meztger’s projects include an instrumental group called Wolf Trio which he describes as having a “‘60s boogaloo kind of feel to it” and recording and performing with The Statesmen, a high-energy soul band fronted by Jonah Smith and Josh Dion. Other projects on Metzger’s docket include co-producing and performing on roots rocker Rob Holzer’s new album, playing shows and recording with genre-defying vocalist Megan Palmer and backing old roommate Serena Jean on the recently released Town & Country.

This past October, the guitarist gigged with the Stanton Moore Trio. November found him on the West Coast backing singer/songwriter Kelli Scarr, who he met at NYC’s famed Wetlands Preserve rock club. (He also contributed to the soulful singer’s latest LP, Piece.)

Despite all the time Metzger has spent with singer/songwriters, he hasn’t completely stepped away from the jam and rock scenes. RANA, Band of Changes and the Led Zeppelin cover band Bustle in Your Hedgerow still perform occasionally and he’s set to embark on Jam Cruise 9 with Jimi Hendrix tribute act Some Cat from Japan in January.

Don’t expect Metzger to take his foot off the gas anytime soon. “I’ve got a workaholic tendency,” he says. “I’m always wanting more and always looking to the next thing.”