Form a Jazz Guitar Society [in your neighborhood of the world]
Form a Jazz Guitar Society [in your neighborhood of the world]
By: Michael Biller
Being a Jazz guitarist can be a lonely proposition in many neighborhoods of the world. Clubs tend to book other more traditional instruments. Horns often shun us guitarists in favor of a Piano-Bass-Drums rhythm section. Same story with singers. The guitar part in a big band is usually an afterthought. Phones dont ring off the hook with gig offers as a sideman. We head back to the Jazz woodshed alone.
Whats a Jazz guitarist to do?
Well, we can easily grab our respective guitars, point our feet to another friendly guitarists place and jam together for a few hours. Find a local coffee shop for an informal pass-the-hat type gig and somebody in the room is bound to introduce themselves as a closet Jazz guitarist. Suddenly there are three and so the Jazz guitar geography grows.
Creating a Jazz guitar friendly scene in our respective neighborhoods is our own responsibility. If we as Jazz guitarists dont do it, then who else will? Jazz guitarists of the world unite!
There really is strength in numbers.
In my adopted home town of Seattle, WA USA, the Seattle Jazz Guitar Society [SJGS] began merely as an offhand idea during a living room Jam session. Tal Farlow was coming to town and somebody made a comment about maybe organizing a clinic. A brief telephone call later and friendly Tal was open to hosting an informal gathering. Another call and a local Community College volunteered a room. Word of mouth spread. 28 attendees showed up donating what their wallets could afford. The SJGS had begun.
The Seattle Jazz Guitar Society.
Soon the SJGS had a monthly Jam session at a local pub, a newsletter and more clinics lined up. Enduring through various ebb and flows of activity, the SJGS is now officially a Non-Profit Corporation dedicated to the cause. And it is a cause: since its inception the SJGS has operated entirely with an all-volunteer crew.
Through the years weve had the honor of hosting many world-class guitarist/clinicians including John Pizzarelli, John Pisano, John Stowell, Larry Coryell, Tuck Andress, Jamie Findlay, Kevin Eubanks, Paul Meyers, Tim Lerch, Ron Peters with Greg Glassman, Bruce Forman, Mimi Fox, New West Guitar Trio, Frank Vignola, Frank Potenza, Ron Eschete, Dan Faehnle, Dan Balmer, Howard Alden, Fred Hamilton, Greg Ruby, Marco de Carvalho, Ricardo Peixoto, Ryan Hoffman, Jimmy Bruno, Wayne Johnson among the notables.
Additionally, the SJGS has partnered with other local Non-Profit Arts organizations to bring Gene Bertoncini and Jack Wilkins for weekend mini-festivals of study and concerts at a local community Concert Hall. We look forward to organizing more events of this kind going forward.
Perhaps more than anything, the Seattle Jazz Guitar Society has brought together over 300 local area guitarists interested in this improvised music we call Jazz. Were not alone anymore.
Form your own Jazz Guitar Society.
We all know too many world-class Jazz guitarists who dont have opportunities to get heard enough due to economic realities of the music business. You want to listen and learn. So do we. I encourage you to form a Jazz Guitar Society in your community. Small or large; formal or informal; it really doesnt matter as long its alive.
Here in Seattle we decided to seek legal status as Non-Profit entity. This has helped us raise funds through tax-deductible contributions and corporate matching programs plus access goods and services at reduced rates. However, it isnt necessary. I suggest simply getting something started in whatever format works best for your members and community.
Coda.
Last but not least stay in touch with other similar Jazz guitar organizations especially around your geographical area. Working together we can all help create a patchwork of active hubs for Jazz guitarists to tour and help make all our lives musically richer in the process.
Article Source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/music_and_movies/article_1042.shtml
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