Mimi Fox will conduct a special clinic focusing on the art of creative comping. For guitarists wishing to improve their playing behind/with other guitarists, vocalists, bassists, horn players, pianists etc this is a “must attend” event.

Why study comping with Mimi Fox? Well, she also happens to be an excellent drummer. So guitar+drums=rhythm … a terrific combination for extending one’s knowledge of comping.

During the course of the two hours, Mimi will cover key aspects of comping including rhythm, walking bass lines, modal comping, 4 to the bar “Freddy Green” style, Latin/Brazil ideas and several modern styles with their interjection of color notes/substitutions.

Mimi Fox teaches "Creative Comping" for SJGS

Mimi Fox teaches "Creative Comping" for SJGS

Johm Stowell and Ulf Bandgren @ SJGS

The absolutely ready-for-prime-time Jazz guitar duo of Gothenburg-Sweden-based Ulf Bandgren and Portland-Oregon-based John Stowell is making a rare appearances in Seattle on Sunday 26 June.

Where: Mercer Island Community Center
When: 12:00-2:00pm
Donation: $20 SJGS members; $30 non-members.

Photos from the event…

John Stowell and Ulf Bandgren @ SJGS

John Stowell and Ulf Bandgren @ SJGS

John Stowell and SJGS member

John Stowell and SJGS member

John Stowell, Ulf Bandgren, & SJGS members

March 5 Saturday, 12pm – 2pm @ Mercer Island Community Center

SJGS clinic with Paul Meyers and John Stowell
$20 SJGS members; $30 non-members

Paul Meyers and John Stowell

Photo highlights from the event …

John Stowell and Paul Meyers @ SJGS

John Stowell and Paul Meyers @ SJGS

John Stowell and Paul Meyers @ SJGS

John Stowell will discuss substituions and their application in several familiar tunes.  Substitutions covered will include harmonic and melodic minors and triads, used in the context of a blues, some simple standards, and a modal tune.  Guitarists in attendance will be invited to join John.   $20 for members; $30 for non-members.

John Stowell and George Stone

John Stowell and Rob Dickerson

John Stowell SJGS Clinic

Sheryl Bailey

Wed., Nov. 10, 2010, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Roberts Music Institute
$35

SJGS co-sponsors this clinic, which is designed to help you with your overall fingerboard knowledge, and geography.  This will ultimately aid in developing flowing lines throughout your phrasing.  Sheryl Bailey is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music and is recognized as one of the top jazz guitarists in the country!

Call RMI: 425-614-4764 or or visit www.robertsmusicinstitute.com

Photos from the event …

Sheryl Bailey RMI-SJGS Clinic

Sheryl Bailey, Jay Roberts, Jill Roberts, Tim Lerch Jam

Sheryl Bailey RMI-SJGS Clinic

Tim Fischer comes to SJGS

Sunday, 24 October 2010, 4-6 PM, Mercer Island Community Center

Los Angeles-based guitarist Tim Fischer will present a two-hour clinic on adapting the harmonic and rhythmic language of the Miles Davis “first quintet” for a guitar/bass/drums rhythm section. 

The clinic will explore the following topics:

• Composing introductions and endings
• Comping behind horns, bass, and self-comping by imitating a pianist’s left hand
• Exploring coordinated guitar/drum hookups behind soloists and as shout choruses
• Arranging for a trio in the style of Red Garland.

Written materials containing notated examples will be provided.   Please RSVP below; there will only be enough printed material for confirmed participants.

Tim will present the clinic alongside bassist Emilio Terranova and drummer Tina Raymond, collectively known as 3TET.  Audience members interested in experiencing the concepts firsthand will be encouraged to play with the trio.

The trio will be performing at Lucid in University District the evening of the clinic from 8:30 – 11:30 PM, with a reduced cover of $5 for SJGS members.

More information about Tim Fischer can be found on his website at http://www.timfischermusic.com

Be sure to check out his many transcriptions here.

 Here are some photos from the event…

Frank Potenza comes to SJGS

Frank writes:  “How well do we really know the tunes that we play?  The criteria by which I judge this for myself and my students has changed over the years that I’ve been playing and teaching professionally.  I used to think that it was sufficient to know the melody and the basic, stock chord changes in the original or common key.  I now feel that simply knowing a tune and truly internalizing and owning a tune are worlds apart.  This clinic will provide  some new avenues of pursuit in the quest for real mastery of the songs we play.”

Visit www.frankpotenza.com for more info on the artist.

Photos from the event and from a house concert later that evening …

Frank Potenza @ SJGS

Frank Potenza @ SJGS

Frank Potenza Seattle House Concert

Mercer Island Community Center, 1pm-3pm

Mordy Ferber

 Mordy will discuss his ideas using several well known modal type tunes that we all play…or should play.  He’s a very insightful teacher and has a great DVD titled “Make The Tune Your Best Friend” available on Mel Bay.

$20 SJGS members & $25 non-members.

Sean McGowan

We’re pleased to announce a clinic with Sean McGowan 12-2pm on Sunday 11 April 2010 @ the MICC [Mercer Island Community Center at Mercerview]. Fee is $20 SJGS members and $25 non-members payable at the door.

Sean McGowan is an award-winning fingerstyle guitarist in Denver CO. He is a full time professor at the University of Colorado Denver where he teaches jazz guitar and advanced improvisation. Sean also contributes lessons to Acoustic Guitar magazine.

Sean’s clinic will address a variety of harmonic concepts and extended techniques to create and arrange jazz standards for solo fingerstyle guitar. Techniques will include melodic phrasing, bass lines, voicings, playing multiple parts, harmonics and right-hand fretting.

For those who use a pick [plectrum] most of the time, here’s an opportunity to expand your musical vocabulary by exploring a different approach. For those who have “pumped nylon” and survived Sean will explore alternatives on his archtop. For everyone, this clinic is an opportunity to learn something new from an upcoming voice on our instrument.

Sean graduated with a DMA in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.   He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music Performance at the University of Colorado Denver.  Sean is a frequent lesson and article contributor for Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Teacher and Jazz Improv magazines.  Be sure to check out his incredible playing on myspace and youtube.

Photos from the event …

Sean McGowan's Extended Technique

Sean McGowan's Extended Technique

Rhythms of Brazil

 Join guitarist Marco de Carvalho and percussionist Jeff Bush for an exploration of Brazilian rhythms.

$20 for members / $25 for non-members

This is a great opportunity to unlock yourself from the “let’s play Latin” generic syndrome and bring your ears to hear|learn|participate with some of the “real stuff” of that amazing country called Brazil.

Come learn how Marco covers melody and harmony while locking up with Jeff on percussion. And listen to Jeff use nearly every extension in his body to engage time while challenging Marco.

You’ll leave with a far better understanding of several important Brazilian rhythms. Next time that someone calls a “Latin tune” you’ll be able to play it with confidence…and in a multitude of ways.

Marco de Carvalho and Jeff Bush clinic for SJGS on Brazilian rhythms