Nancy King and Paul Meyers come to SJGS

Nancy King and Paul Meyers come to SJGS

What a better way to start off the new year than participating in an educational clinic that’s bound to provide deeper understanding of accompaniment … hosted by NYC based guitarist Paul Meyers and iconic vocalist Nancy King from Portland, OR.

It’s a duo clinic, or actually a group lesson.  After a brief introduction guitarists and vocalists will split off into separate rooms for instrument specific instruction and coaching.  Both groups will then re-band and practice together in a hands-on way.

Paul will discuss workable intros and endings.  Examples of both will be written in the hand out so that you can review these afterward and develop ideas of your own.  Paul will also include examples of comping to give you an idea of the many ways of backing up a singer … or another instrumentalist.  To meld theory with practice, attendees will study a well known composition and develop the first 8 measures in several ways illustrating a range from traditional to more modern comping/thinkingPaul will also present written examples of solo styles using 1. only single notes; 2.single notes with chords interspersed; 3. chords with single notes interspersed; and 4. only chords.

This clinic represents a wealth of education in a single sitting over 2-1/2 hours for less than a single 1:1 lesson.  Because it is a hands-on group class and not a lecture, seating will be purposefully limited to 10 attendees for each instrument group.  SJGS members $25 [non-members $30] prepaid in advance and due to the SJGS latest by Saturday 07 January.

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For photos, check our Facebook photo album, here.

Mordy will present ideas for exploring chromaticism in your playing, inside-outside concepts that you can use from chords and single lines, comping and soloing, reharmonizing a standard, writing a piece of your own.  Mordy is a great teacher and his clinics are full of useful and well throught through material…you will learn something!

Only $20 with RSVP and SJGS membership. $25 with one or the other. $30 “drop-in” with neither.   As always, if you’re planning to attend please RSVP no later than 24-hours before the event so that we can plan accordingly.  RSVP to michaelbiller <at> comcast <dot> net

Mordy Ferber comes to 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

 $20 SJGS members / $30 non-members.

Mordy Ferber Compositions

Mordy Ferber will discuss compositional elements and techniques that you can use to develop coherent solos.  It’s not about “cutting the changes” but rather creating a parallel and equally intriguing counter melody to the original … in the moment!   If you’d like to become familiar with Mordy’s own compositions, his books are available locally at www.soundislandmusic.com

“Mordy is a wonderful musician who digs deep in his writing and playing with a clear sense of communicating to the listener.”
 - Dave Liebman

“I love his sound and his feeling.  He writes beautiful compositions.  Mordy is committed to the highest level of quality and creativity.  He is not afraid to take risks.”
 - Jack DeJohnette

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

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…

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.

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.

Reserve your spot now:

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.

Reserve your spot now:

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

Neil Andersson

Host Neil Andersson explores the music of Django Reinhardt.   A look at three classic compositions: Nuages, Djangology and Manoir de mes reves.  As points of departure, Neil will discuss Django’s chord use, comparing the original forms with subsitutions and embellishments.  Additionally Neil will address how Django moved through the chords including idiomatic phrases, contemporary ideas, and unique two-finger soloing.

Neil Andersson is one of the founding members of Pearl Django. That was in 1994.  Now 16-years later, eleven records, countless gigs and many miles of touring since, Neil is leaving the busy band life to balance music with his “other” career as a visual artist: www.neilandersson.com. A true Renaissance man…with an MFA from the Art Institute of Chicago…and one wicked guitar player.

Neil Andersson and SJGS

Neil Andersson and SJGS

Neil Andersson and SJGS