Dave Allen | Tom Dempsey | Alejandro Florez | Sten Hostfalt | Andre Matos | Brad Shepik | Russ Spiegel
Dave Allen - Guitar
Listen to Dave: "Mantra"
Neighborhood: Astoria, Queens (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
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"Allen has found a true voice, his effortless technique downplays the apparent complexity, paradoxically creating a cool surface sheen that has a white heat glowing beneath it...music that seduces both the body and mind--again and again." - All About Jazz
Guitarist and composer Dave Allen is a distinctive voice on his instrument and is widely respected in the jazz community as both a player and a composer. At the age of 16, Allen was recognized by Guitar Player Magazine as a talent to watch. Born in Philadelphia, Allen moved to New York in 1988 to attend the Manhattan School of Music. Leading his own groups for the past 18 years, Allen has made his presence felt on the New York scene. He has released two critically acclaimed recordings, "Untold Stories" and "Real and Imagined" on the Fresh Sound label, which feature original music and a well-crafted group sound. Jazz critics have noted his effortless technique combined with his lyrical sound and melodic sensitivity. His groups often include some of the most sought after players working in jazz today, such as Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, Ravi Coltrane, David Liebman, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, Drew Gress, and many others. He has toured with his own projects in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Scotland, Turkey and the U.S. For more about Dave, visit www.DaveAllenJazz.com.
Tom Dempsey - Guitar
Listen to Tom:
"Blues in the Slope"
Neighborhood: Midtown, Manhattan
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Ages taught: ages 8-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
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Guitarist Tom Dempsey's reputation for hard swinging sophistication and pure musicality have made him a distinct voice in the New York jazz scene. Dempsey has performed and/or recorded with a virtual "Who's Who" of world renowned jazz musicians including: George Coleman, Kenny Barron, Roy Haynes, Bobby McFerrin, Jack McDuff, Jim Hall, John Abercrombie, Brad Mehldau, John Scofield, Tal Farlow, Buddy Montgomery, Gerald Wilson, Mel Torme, Richard Wyands, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Dave Brubeck. He has recorded four CDs as a leader: What's Going On (Citytone Records), Perspectives (Imaginary Records), Blues In The Slope (Igmod Records/TJD Music), If Only We Knew (TJD Music). Tom has also recorded as a sideman on many recordings. Since 1992, Tom has been performing as a leader and a sideman at some of the top jazz venues throughout the world including the JVC Jazz Festival, SF Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Yoshi's, Smalls, and Smoke. Tom is an Artist Endorsee for Thomastik-Infeld Strings. Known for his versatility as a musician Dempsey has made numerous appearances on New York radio and television including performances on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, the HBO series Sex and the City, and NPR. Dempsey has also performed for many Broadway shows including Bring In 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, Patti Lupone on Broadway, and Aida. Along with his active performing career, Tom Dempsey's talent as a composer is receiving noteworthy attention. Because of his distinctive sound and style Dempsey's music has been described as having "fine compositional ability and stylistic accessibility." His music has been featured on his four CDs as well as television and radio programs throughout the world including the HBO hit series Sex and the City. Tom received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in May 1991. In May 1996, he acquired his Masters Degree in Jazz/Commercial Music at Manhattan School of Music. Tom's deep commitment to education has made him a highly sought after educator and clinician. In recent years he has been teaching at Jazz at Lincoln Center, SUNY New Paltz, Rutgers University, and the National Guitar Workshop where he serves as Artistic Director for the Jazz Summit and Director of Music for all of the campuses. As an author Dempsey work includes four books: The Jazz Guitar Experience, Easy Jazz Soloing for Guitar, Sight-Reading for the Contemporary Guitarist and Classic Jazz Styles for Guitar and one DVD entitled Theory for The Contemporary Guitarist which are available through Alfred Music and Workshop Arts. He has also produced over 170 online music lessons for WorkshopLive.com. For more about Tom, visit www.TomDempseyMusic.com.
Alejandro Florez - Guitar
Listen to Alejandro:
"Pasillo"
Neighborhood: Long Island City, Queens (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Languages: English, Spanish
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Guitarist Alejandro Florez earned a Master's degree in Jazz Performance and Composition from the University of North Texas before moving to NYC. He now performs in various jazz and Colombian bands, and works as a composer/arranger, session player and educator. Alejandro's current projects include "Tibagui," which performs his original music; the Alejandro Florez Trio, with which he performs original jazz; the free improvisation trios "Apama" and "Torus," and the quartet "Trichrome Roach;" and the Gallo/Florez Duo, a group that explores the traditional music of the Colombian Andes in an improvisational end experimental setting. The album Retrato, featuring his band Tibagui, is his first record as producer and composer. The Latin American edition of Rolling Stone Magazine called the album "flawless from start to finish" and "indispensable." Alejandro's song "Cansao," featured on the album, was selected as a Finalist at the 2008 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. For more about Alejandro, visit www.AlejandroFlorez.com.
Sten Hostfalt - Guitar
Listen to Sten: "Ed's Head"
Neighborhood: Washington Heights, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: electric bass, mandolin
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Internationally acclaimed guitarist, composer and bandleader Sten Hostfalt apprenticed in traditional jazz orchestras led by Phil Wilson, Herb Pomeroy and George Russell. He appeared as a leader, composer and featured soloist on recordings initiated by Paul Bley and Gary Burton and studied composition and improvisation with Jimmy Giuffre and Joe Maneri. Sten was introduced to the international jazz scene in the mid '90s, alongside many of the new jazz generation's most prolific players, as an original member of Guillermo Klein's pioneering large ensemble. Since 1999, Sten has received numerous grants and awards for original projects and recordings, and he has been recognized by leading press as one of few guitarists worldwide to create and perform, with self-invented techniques for the standard 6-string, new original music beyond the equal tempered 12-tone system. Current work focuses on modern traditional jazz and original compositions based on standard jazz songs and forms. Since 2006, Sten has operated his own Manhattan based educational facility--the NYC Guitar Studio. Mr. Hostfalt is a veteran educator and former faculty member of one of the world's oldest music conservatories, The Royal College of Music in Stockholm. He has also served as a clinician at leading institutions in Argentina, Sweden and the U.S., including New England Conservatory, Berklee College Of Music and New World School of The Arts Miami, FL. For more about Sten, visit www.StenHostfalt.com.
Andre Matos - Guitar
Listen to Andre: ""
Neighborhood: Harlem, Manhattan (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Languages: English, Portuguese
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Guitarist Andre Matos was born in Lisbon in 1981. He got his first guitar when he was 9 years old. Inspired by the blues music of B.B. King and Muddy Waters, he soon started listening to jazz records by Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis and Weather Report. Years later, after spending one year at the Luis Villas-Boas school of Hot Club de Portugal, he was awarded with an international scholarship from Berklee College of Music. From 2000 to 2003 he lived in Boston, having had the chance to study with Mick Goodrick, Dave Santoro, Jon Damian, Ed Tomassi, Hal Crook, among others. After his first experience in the United States, Andre based his career in Portugal where he has played in the most important venues. His record "Small Worlds/Pequenos Mundos" features some of his original music and is published by Fresh Sound New Talent (www.freshsoundrecords.com). His most recent album is called "Rosa-Shock", and you can find it on www.toapmusic.com Andre recently completed a new recording, due out in the beginning of 2010, that features a stellar band, including Noah Preminger on sax, Thomas Morgan on bass, Ted Poor on drums, Leo Genovese on piano and the voice of Sara Serpa. Andre recently completed a Master's degree in jazz studies at New England Conservatory, where he studied with George Garzone, Danilo Perez, Jerry Bergonzi, Brad Shepik, John McNeil and Frank Carlberg. He currently lives in NYC, where he regularly performs with the brightest musicians of his generation in the most important venues of the city. For more about Andre, visit www.AndreMatosMusic.com.
Brad Shepik - Guitar
Listen to Brad: "Lima"
Neighborhood: Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
Secondary instruments taught: bass
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Guitarist and composer Brad Shepik has performed at jazz festivals across Europe and North America since 1991 both as a leader of his own groups and with Paul Motian, Dave Douglas, Joey Baron, Charlie Haden, Bob Brookmeyer, Carla Bley and many others. He regularly performs with Brad Shepik Trio, Human Activity Suite, Joey Baron's Killer Joey, Simon Shaheen's Quantara, Matt Darriau's Paradox Trio, Pachora and others. His most recent recording is "Human Activity Suite" (Songlines 2009). Brad holds a Masters Degree in Jazz Performance/Composition and has taught workshops and masterclasses throughout the U.S. and Europe. Brad has also taught guitar at City College, Long Island University, New England Conservatory, the New School, The School for Improvisational Music and currently teaches guitar, ensembles and world music at New York University. For more about Brad, visit www.BradShepik.com.
Russ Spiegel - Guitar
Listen to Russ: "Chimera"
Neighborhood: Greenpoint, Brooklyn (will travel)
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Ages taught: ages 5-adult
Levels taught: beg-adv
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Guitarist and composer Russ Spiegel was born in Los Angeles, and raised in Santa Monica, California. While in high school he moved with his family to Germany and traversed back and forth between there and the US for a number of years. While in Europe, he established himself as an award-winning, in-demand musician, touring the Continent with various ensembles, performing at well-known Jazz festivals, and appearing on numerous television and radio shows. In 2001, Russ returned to the US, settling in the mecca of New York and quickly found himself busy on the music scene. Alongside performing - from solo guitar to running his ensemble The Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra (a 17-piece band featuring Russ's compositions and arrangements) Ð Russ is a commissioned composer who has released several CDs, written music for film, TV, and musicals, toured Europe and Asia, taught college-level courses, run workshops & seminars, given private instruction, and has copied music for Broadway shows and major-label recordings, as well as having appeared in a number of feature movies as both a musician and actor. Russ has also worked the last four years as the on-set music instructor for the hit Nickelodeon TV show, "The Naked Brothers Band." Russ received his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Michigan, majoring in Philosophy, studied Composition, Arranging and Guitar Performance at the Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship, and went on to get his Masters degree in Jazz Performance at the City College of New York, under the aegis of world-renowned bassist, composer and educator John Pattitucci. For more about Russ, visit www.RussGuitar.com.
