AS WOLFGANG Muthspiel, Slava Grigoryan and Ralph Towner (collectively known as MGT) settle in for their umpteenth interview in Australia, Towner notices that the three guitarists have instinctively chosen the same seating positions they adopt when they perform on stage.

"Wolfgang on one side, Slava on the other, and the old fart in the middle," says Towner, laughing. "No," corrects Muthspiel. "It's not 'the old fart in the middle'. It's the accomplished artist … surrounded by his young students. That's how I would put it." "Well, you are a diplomat," Towner responds, to more laughter.

From this brief exchange — and the free-flowing conversation that follows — it's evident that these artists are extremely comfortable in one another's company. As they explain, it's the kind of personal chemistry that can't be predicted, and one of the main reasons the trio has reassembled for a second Australian tour.

Their debut tour in 2005 was a riskier proposition, given that the three played together for the first time just days before the tour began. The seeds of this multi-generational trio were sown by Grigoryan's Australian promoter, who had toured Towner and Muthspiel individually in previous years. Grigoryan met them both when they were here, and dreamed of performing alongside the two renowned jazz artists.

Towner, 68, says: "That first tour together was a total experiment; we had no idea whether it would work or not."

Towner, an American living in Italy, is a towering figure in jazz circles, with a history of recordings as a solo artist on ECM, and as leader of the pioneering world-jazz ensemble Oregon.

Electric guitarist Muthspiel, 43, whose reputation extends well beyond his native Austria, says he was profoundly influenced by Towner as he began moving from classical music towards jazz. And 31-year-old Grigoryan — a brilliant classical guitarist with wide-open ears — was thrilled to team up with both players, though he was apprehensive about his own limited improvisational experience.

"I've never studied improvisation or given it as much time as I'd like to," he says. "So this was definitely a challenge — and still is. But even though it might not be great in the beginning, it's the best way of learning quickly: when you throw yourself into scary territory."

Muthspiel is quick to disagree with Grigoryan's critical self-assessment, noting that the young Australian has a real gift for improvising. "Slava understands harmonic situations; he also has a strong sense of pulse, and he can lay down a groove, which is something you can't really learn," Muthspiel says.

"Ralph and I both studied classical guitar, so we know what a high level Slava has reached on the instrument. It's rare to be around that kind of virtuosity, and for us it's really an artistic turn-on."

Grigoryan is as enamoured of working with Muthspiel and Towner: "For me, the education of being around these guys — particularly when we're performing — and just seeing what they can do spontaneously … is like a miracle every night. The improvisation, the arrangements that happen so effortlessly … It's really inspiring."

MGT play at the National Theatre, St Kilda, at 8pm tonight. Bookings: 9525 4611, or Ticketmaster 136 100. The trio's debut CD, From a Dream, is out now on Which Way Music.