London Jazz Guitar Society

Bebopper

Just thought I would share some details of some masterclasses/workshops that I've organised for the next couple of months. I've led the LJGS for about seven years now - it's a real labour of love and I don't make a penny from running it and organising these events.

In recent years I've presented masterclasses with many of my jazz guitar heroes - Nigel Price, Mike Outram, Phil Robson, Peter Bernstein, Jonathan Kreisberg, Nelson Veras, Howard Alden, Sheryl Bailey, Gilad Hekselman, Lage Lund, Brad Shepik, Bobby Broom, Sid Jacobs, Rotem Sivan, Yotam Silberstein and Howard Paul (Benedetto Guitars).

It's free to sign up at meetup.com/londonjazzguitarsociety - I send out a monthly email with gig listings, new recordings from our members and friends, a LJGS YouTube playlist, a bit of gear sales etc. You also get automated invites every time I set up a new event.

Bebopper

Coming up this Sunday afternoon, we've a masterclass with Gilad Hekselman, ahead of his appearance at Ronnie Scott's.

https://www.meetup.com/LondonJazzGuitarSociety/events/260471389/

The cost for the clinic is £20 payable in advance. Your can reserve your place by RSVPing at meetup.com/londonjazzguitarsociety The page will ask for payment via PayPal when you RSVP. We are able to offer a student rate of £15. If you wish to claim the student rate, please email music (at) davidbenyahia (dot) co (dot) uk to make arrangements.

The workshop will take place in the upstairs bar at Ronnie's.

Please note that Gilad’s evening performance in the main club is not included with entry to this event. For gig tickets, you will need to book directly with Ronnie Scott’s here: https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/performances/view/5152-gilad-hekselman-trio-and-zuperoctave

Enquiries about the afternoon workshop should be directed to the London Jazz Guitar Society, either here or on meetup.com/londonjazzguitarsociety

Gilad Hekselman has been developing a reputation as one of the most promising guitarists in New York since his arrival in 2004. He has shared the stage with some of the greatest artists in the New York City jazz scene including Chris Potter, Eric Harland, Mark Turner, Anat Cohen, Ari Hoenig, Esperanza Spalding, Christian McBride, Jeff Ballard, Ben Wendel, Gretchen Parlato, Avishai Cohen, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, Tigran Hamasyan, Aaron Parks, Becca Stevens, John Scofield, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danilo Perez & Peter Bernstein among many others.

Gilad has played all major jazz clubs in New York City including the Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Dizzy's Club and Smalls. He is constantly touring world-wide and has played most of the major jazz festivals.

Ask For Chaos, Gilad's most recent album, was released in September 2018 and features both his current working bands: The first is ZuperOctave, a bass-less band exploring electronics with the goal of still keeping the music organic and flexible. The other is the gHex Trio, continuing the classic guitar trio sound that Gilad has become known for, but also bringing something fresh to the music.

Bebopper

I'm bringing one of NYC's leading jazz guitarists and teachers, Brad Shepik, to the UK this August for three gigs and a London masterclass.

Friday 9 August - LONDON
Jazzlive at The Crypt - https://www.jazzlive.co.uk/guide.html

Saturday 10 August - NOTTINGHAM
Peggy's Skylight - https://www.peggysskylight.co.uk/events/classic-jazz-mediterranean-meze-with-brad-shepik-trio

Sunday 12 August - LONDON
Masterclass for the London Jazz Guitar Society - https://www.meetup.com/LondonJazzGuitarSociety/events/260541148/

MONDAY 12 August - MANCHESTER
NQ Jazz at The Whisky Jar - https://nqjazz.com/#/brad-shepik-trio-120819/

Raised in Seattle (where he studied with the legendary guitarist and composer Ralph Towner) and resident in New York City since 1990, Brad Shepik has led groups at most of the major American and European festivals and clubs. His sideman credits extend to over 70 recordings and include influential collaborations with Paul Motian (Electric Bebop Band), Dave Douglas (Tiny Bell Trio), Charlie Haden (Liberation Music Orchestra), Joey Baron, Jochen Rueckert and Mark Turner.

An in-demand musician, Brad’s current projects include Rambler (with Chris Cheek and Ben Monder), the Brad Shepik Organ Trio (with Gary Versace and Mark Ferber), Jamie Baum’s Septet+, The Balkan Peppers and many others.

In addition to his talents as a performer and composer, he is much in demand as a teacher and is a long-standing professor on New York University’s jazz programme, where his influence is heard in a number of rising talents on the American jazz scene.

Nitefly

Ooh, ta for the heads-up - i'll try and make the Manchester gig.  I was in the Whisky Jar a couple of weeks ago, good venue.

lukedlb

Does anyone know if Gary Potter still plays?

Bebopper

lukedlb said:

Does anyone know if Gary Potter still plays?

Gary's still playing, but he seems to keep a low profile. He was at Le QuecumBar in London (dedicated gypsy jazz venue) earlier this year.

Bebopper

Nitefly said:

Ooh, ta for the heads-up - i'll try and make the Manchester gig.  I was in the Whisky Jar a couple of weeks ago, good venue.

Hopefully I'll see you there (I'll be tagging along with the band). Really looking forward to it. Brad's a monster musician. 

I really like NQ Jazz at The Whiskey Jar. Emily and Kyran who run it are lovely people. I brought Jonathan Kreisberg and Nelson Veras there in March. Kreisberg's back there with his quartet in November (I'm not involved in that one). 

lukedlb

Bebopper said:

lukedlb said:

Does anyone know if Gary Potter still plays?

Gary's still playing, but he seems to keep a low profile. He was at Le QuecumBar in London (dedicated gypsy jazz venue) earlier this year.

Good to hear. A great, great player. 

Bebopper

I have a couple of very special guests this month.

On Monday 18 and 19 November, I present Pasquale Grasso on his first visit to the UK. He performs at BopFest, London. On 18th, he appears in a quartet by his brother, saxophonist Luigi Grasso. On 19th, Pasquale gives a masterclass in the afternoon. In the evening, he performs both solo and trio sets.

Fewer than 20 tickets remain availability for each show. http://bopfest.co.uk for details.



Pat Metheny says of Pasquale Grasso: "The best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life is floating around now, Pasquale Grasso. This guy is doing something so amazingly musical and so difficult.

Mostly what I hear now are guitar players who sound a little bit like me mixed with a little bit of Sco and a little bit of Frisell, using a couple of amps onstage with a little bit of delay. Then they say they don’t listen to me or Sco or Frisell; all they listen to is Grant Green. I kind of go, “Really?” (laughs) What’s interesting about Pasquale is that he doesn’t sound anything like that at all. In a way, it is a little bit of a throwback, because his model – which is an incredible model to have – is Bud Powell. He has somehow captured the essence of that language from piano onto guitar in a way that almost nobody has ever addressed. He’s the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years. That’s exciting for me."

Source: https://www.vintageguitar.com/26318/pat-metheny-2/

Bebopper

I'm hosting a Zoom workshop with the great Phil Robson this Saturday, 23 May. Phil's been a leading player on the UK scene for the last 25 years and is now based in New York.

2pm to 3.30pm. £15. Details and booking at https://www.meetup.com/LondonJazzGuitarSociety/events/270670515/