Belgian guitarist Dirk Laukens has a great website for jazz guitarists and people who want to be jazz guitarists. I've been a subscriber to his forum for a few months now and find it to be a great reference resource. Forum members are polite, knowledgeable and eager to help. You can find tons of useful information just reading past posts on a huge number of topics.
The site has much more to offer beyond the forum though, for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. You can download his online, "The Jazz Guitar Chord Book" to use as a reference for instance. I recommend that you subscribe to the newsletter, and forum both. There are free online guitar lessons, a "Licktionary", guitar solo transcriptions and free sheet music. Check out the section on guitar gear, and don't miss the free jazz guitar mp3 section.
I've gotten a lot of responses from last week's posting on "Obscure Guitar Links", so I thought I'd add some more (again, so busy, devoted readers of my humble blog won't have to search on their own). The world is full of great musicians that aren't "famous", and (need I say?) full of famous musicians that are not so great. The internet is a great place to find and listen to the good ones, and also read about their approach to the instrument. Here are some more favorites for players and non-players alike:
• I briefly mentioned Jazz Guitar Life at the end of my last post. Since then I've had a chance to look more deeply. It is chock-full of good interviews with great players, lessons, and much, more. Lyle Robinson, JGL's proprietor, also blogs about guitar — Jazz Guitar Life Blog. As a plus, the layout on both pages is very well done and professional. Enjoy.
• I just discovered Adrian Legg on youtube yesterday. In this first video, he does something on the guitar that I've never seen anyone do before, playing melody and accompaniment while simultaneously tuning the strings up and down. You've got to hear this, it's only 22 seconds long:
While I'm on the subject of Adrian Legg, I was blown away by this one. Fans of Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed type playing will love this guy.
• A student turned me on to Brazilian guitarist, Naudo a few weeks ago. This guy, improvising on the fly, is as pure a guitar player as I've ever heard. He seems to play the guitar with the approach of a piano player. Keep in mind as you listen, all of his videos are recorded live. Here are some of my favorites:
Earth, Wind & Fire's "September". This is such a great song. He's got a lot of moving parts going on here at once.
This one cracks me up every time I hear it. Classical guitar meets disco! Yet somehow he makes it work: Naudo playing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive".
•Luis Bonfa is hardly an obscure guitar player, but I had never heard the first of the two songs on this video. His original "The Ski Song" is followed by his most famous composition "Manha de Carnival" or "A Day in the Life of a Fool" (by its English title), and also called "Orfeo Negro" or "Black Orpheus" to further confuse things . I read somewhere that this is one of the most played songs in the world. I've heard a lot of versions and played it many times myself, but I had never heard the composer play it. What a virtuoso, here playing along with Caterina Valente:
I've played for probably hundreds of weddings in my guitar-playing career, but I've never played at one that brought a lump to my throat. That is, until now. This past weekend I had the honor to be invited to play at a very special wedding in Charlottesville, Virginia. My very dear friend Johnny Bland's son, John Michael, was the groom to his beautiful, now-wife Betsy. (Yes, that's right THE Johnny Bland, singer and guitar-stylist of Johnny Bland and the Baddadz fame!) My job was to play while people were gathering around, and being seated waiting for the show to start and then to play three pieces for the ceremony: Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, and Sleepers Awake!, plus the Pachelbel Canon in D. All very beautiful, stately pieces, well-chosen by the bride, and perfect for the occasion.
The wedding was at Veritas Vineyard & Winery in Afton, just west of Charlottesville (Check out the link and be sure and look at the photo gallery on the right side of the page). We sat outside in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains overlooking a beautiful hillside full of grapevines, and into the valley beyond. You could see for miles and the day was as perfect as the couple. Hummingbirds fed at the flowers around the altar while I played and during the ceremony — I kid you not. My thanks to the Blands and the Boehms, their families and friends for having me. It was a day I'll never forget.
Fingerpicking for art lovers at Vincent Hester Gallery. (Photo courtesy of Scott Wood)
Classical & Jazz Guitar
"Herb Smith has enchanted and entertained as a guitar soloist at some of Hampton Roads’ finest restaurants, art galleries, weddings, corporate functions and more for over 25 years. From Bach to Brazilian, from Spanish classics to the songs of the 20th century jazz masters of "The Great American Songbook", to contemporary guitar styles, Herb plays them all with aplomb."
Contact Information
To contact Herb Smith about performing for your function, or guitar lessons, or if you just have questions, please feel free to call me at 757 377 9498 or write smith.herb@gmail.com.
Hear Me Play
Blogspot doesn't have the facility to upload music so this link will direct you to another page of mine on jazzmatrix.com, "the myspace for jazz musicians". My recordings here are one-take-warts-and-all things I've recorded my my computer. jazzmatrix.com/herby
What They Say
"Hi Herb! Glad you were able to play at our wedding at Steinhilber's. We really enjoyed your music and received many good comments about your playing. It really set the mood for the evening. Thank you for playing. We will be sure to call you again if we need some music." J.R. Virginia Beach, VA "Hey Herb! Thanks so much for your awesome talent. Your music sounded absolutely beautiful in The Wren Chapel. We just couldn't have asked for anything more. I am so happy we found you! We loved every minute of it. Thank you so very much! B. & L., Williamsburg, VA
"Hi Herb! Thank you so much again for your beautiful playing for our wedding at the Wren Chapel. It was exactly what we had always imagined!" Nicole B., Williamsburg, VA "I enjoy your blogs, read them carefully, and take your advice to heart. There is a lot of wisdom there. I can't tell you how much enjoyment I've gotten from the pieces I've learned from you. Thanks again sincerely." Shawn M., Suffolk, VA "Happy New Year to the BEST guitar coach EVER! Wishing you the best in 2009!" Trisha P., and Mother of Logan P., Age 9 — and budding young George Benson, Chesapeake, VA "u r an awesome guitar teacher! I really have fun when you teach us guitar." Abby, Age 10, Chesapeake, VA "Thank you for joining us for the WHRO Director's Circle annual reception at Williamsburg Winery. And thank you for the great music!" Bert Schmidt, President and Chief Executive Officer, WHRO / WHRV / NPR / PBS "Your music was a wonderful addition to our dedication. Feedback from many was that the dinner at the Woodlands Conference Center was great, particularly the music." Gina Thorne, Williamsburg Place/The Farley Center Williamsburg, Virginia "Thank you for helping to create this supremely popular Museum fundraising event! Your performance added another delight for our supporters. Our development department has added your name to the Museum's recommended entertainment listing." Page Hayhurst, Executive Director Virginia Living Museum Newport News, Virginia “My clientele would revolt if I didn’t hire Herb Smith to play for our First Friday, monthly openings. The ambience he provides is exquisite.” Barbara Vincent Hester, Owner, NEXT Upscale Consignments, Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia “Herb Smith charmed my patrons night after night for sixteen years. He fit my restaurant like a glove and diners agreed. Hire this man immediately — or someone else will!” Les Rickman, Owner, The Three Ships Inn, Gourmet Candlelight Dining Virginia Beach, Virginia "Classical guitar is amongst the numerous styles and genres that I have studied musically, and I have been as diligent with my music over the years as I have been as a doctor. Your demeanor, instruction technique and thorough approach have allowed me to enjoy playing the classical guitar. Significant progress through your individualized daily practice recommendations, and the satisfaction of knowing that I am a bit better each day are just two of the many benefits of your teaching. Thanks!! TRD Portsmouth, Virginia
On The Job
Performing at The Williamsburg Winery. Note well-armed roadie in background. (Photo courtesy of Anne Peterson)
"Nothing is more beautiful than a guitar, save perhaps two.” -Fredric Chopin
“Sometimes when I play the guitar, I feel like I am dancing with God. And although I step on His toes from time to time, He is content to let me lead.” -Anonymous
“(I was) my own teacher and pupil, and thanks to the efforts of both, they were not discontented with each other.”
"The guitar is the easiest instrument to play poorly." - Andres Segovia
“The guitar is a wonderful instrument which is understood by few.” - Franz Schubert
"The harmonious efforts which our guitarists produce unconsciously represent one of the marvels of natural art.” “The [guitar is the] instrument most complete and richest in its harmonic and polyphonic possibilities.” - Manuel de Falla
“I love the guitar for its harmony; it is my constant companion in all my travels.” - Nicolo Paganini
Belgian guitarist Dirk Laukens has a great website for jazz guitarists and people who want to be jazz guitarists. I've been a subscriber to his forum for a few months now and find it to be a great reference resource. Forum members are polite, knowledgeable and eager to help. You can find tons of useful information just reading past posts on a huge number of topics.
