Mercer Island Community Center, 11am-1pm

Keith Ganz

NYC-based guitarist Keith Ganz will present his ideas for “comping in a vocal or horn Duo plus fretboard freedom when it’s your turn to solo.”  $20 SJGS members & $25 non-members.

Keith Ganz is well known for his guitar chops and experience as a vocal accompanist.  His credentials include choice stints with Harry Connick Jr., Kurt Elling, Luciana Souza, Peter Eldridge.  Keith’s most recent collaboration with Kate McGarry received a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Keith in town backing our own Jazz ambassadress Kelley Johnson who’s home now after her whirlwind tour for the US State Department. 

Here are some videos featuring Keith you might enjoy:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoAM2ZINnNg
• http://kcrwmusicnews.vox.com/library/video/6a00e398a7497d0001011016667b45860c.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rioz1yAPdfE

Sign up, below.

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John Stowell

 Two guitarists playing together is a long standing tradition in the Jazz world.  It’s also a great way to learn, share and enjoy making music with another like-minded SJGS-er.  Freshly off the road with fellow Swedish guitarist Ulf Bandgren, Mr. Stowell will present ideas for us to explore and incorporate into our own Duo guitars playing situations. This will be a hands-on clinic where participation is encouraged although not required.

$20 SJGS members; $25 non-members.

RSVP through the SJGS event sign-up form below.

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Click here to see and hear John and Tim Lerch playing duos on youtube!

Gene Bertoncini

Gene Bertoncini will teach an all-day intensive “master class”.

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Jon Hamar is one of Seattle’s first call bassists…and no wonder: Master’s from Eastman. Flawless technique. Composer. Band leader. Exquisite choice of notes.  http://www.myspace.com/jonhamarmusic
Part of our gig as guitarists is to back up others and developing bass lines is a portion of our tool chest. What better way to learn about creating strong bass lines behind another instrumentalist or vocalist than from a bass player…and then one of Jon’s caliber?
Jon will begin by covering essential walking bass accompaniment methods, starting from connecting root notes and gradually advancing through melodic devices that define chords and extend scale harmony.

All those attending will come away with strong hands-on knowledge of the fundamentals and then some, ready to apply them at the very next playing opportunity.
Attendance for SJGS members is only $20 and $25 for non-members.

Visit his website at http://www.jonhamar.com

Location: Roberts Music Institute, 13417 N.E. 20th St Bellevue WA 98005-2014. (425) 614-4764

Time: 1PM, $25 (includes copy of Don’s new book)

Here’s an excerpt from a review of Don’s book titled “Mastering the Dominant Chord“:

Discover why the study of dominant 7th chords will offer you the “keys to the kingdom” for truly understanding the workings of music. This one magical little chord gives music it’s movement, energy and tension. Knowing how dominants work will also greatly improve your dealings with other chord types including major and minors. 

 Pictures from the event.  Click on thumbnails to get med-size version, and then click again to get 1024×768 photos.

Don Mock clinic, Oct 2009

Don Mock clinic, Oct 2009

Sunday September 20, 2009.

1-3 PM, Mercer Island Community Center

Tony Beaulaurier is a Puget Sound area native and earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in music from Central Washington University. In addition to his private teaching studio, he also has experience instructing at several regional community colleges. Classes taught at the collegiate level include music theory, history of rock music, history of jazz, introduction to music, jazz improvisation, class guitar and class piano.

On a performance level, Tony has performed in a variety of jazz, rock and classical ensembles. He currently performs with his jazz trio and as a solo classical guitarist.

Tony Beaulaurier, "Sight Reading for Jazz Guitar"

Tony Beaulaurier & students

Tim Lerch on Strategies for Solo Guitar: Arrangement and Improvising Ideas.

“We have a little orchestra sitting in our laps yet we are often limited by technique and imagination as to how to get the most out of it. Since we spend much of our playing time alone, we owe it to ourselves to explore the possibilities of solo performance.”

This clinic will explore some of the many strategies for solo guitar arranging and improvisation such as Texture variation, Counterpoint, Inner voice movement, Rhythmic variations, Time feel, Re harmonization and Modulation.

Maybe you have some tried and true approaches that you would like to share. Sometimes a simple idea that we overlook can open up lots of possibilities.

As always, please RSVP if you are planning to attend so that our clinicians can adequately prepare for attendance.

Here’s a group photo.  Thanks to everyone who attended!

Tim Lerch "Solo Guitar" clinic, group photo