Evento

Jazz Guitar Summit

Dan Balmer, John Stowell and Mike Pardew are back for another tribute show, this time honoring the musical and technological contributions of Les Paul, who was an active performer until shortly before his death at age 94 in 2009.

When Dan Balmer isn't touring with Diane Schuur, you'll find him teaching at Lewis and Clark College or gigging at Jimmy Mak's. About Les Paul, Dan said, "He was an outstanding player whose innovations and brilliant inventions eclipse how great of a player he was."

Down Beat magazine said John Stowell "...plays his amplified guitar as if he were surrounded by fine crystal... the type of slow burning, sustained energy that you hear in players that practice all the time." John said Les Paul "was an innovator, an inventor, a showman, a populist, a great improviser who swung, someone who understood a way to make challenging music accessible to the public."

Mike Pardew doesn't have the name recognition of Dan or John as yet, but they recognize his talent: John, by teaming up for the 2007 album "Transgressions," and Dan by recommending him for a faculty position in the Jazz Guitar Department at Lewis and Clark. Mike said, "Throughout the history of jazz, innovation has been one of the fundamental goals held by so many musicians. For one to simply mention the name 'Les Paul' makes reference to such tremendous innovation: Les' precise and melodic playing, multi-track recording, development of music editing equipment, and the Gibson-made guitar bearing his name, which has been one of the best-selling instruments since its inception, are only a few things that come to mind.

Bassist Scott Steed will provide rhythm accompaniment for the trio. Scott is Diane Schuur's touring musical director, and has been a first-call bassist on the West Coast for such jazz luminaries as Horace Silver, Joe Williams, Joe Pass and Joe Henderson.

The performance will consist of two 45 minute sets with a 30 minute intermission. Food and beverage will be served by Nel Centro.

The producer would like to thank David Machado for the idea and arranging the venue at Hotel Modera adjacent to his wonderful Nel Centro Restaurant.

http://www.pdxjazz.com

For more information contact: Matt Miner @ mattminermusic@gmail.com, http://mattminermusic.wordpress.com/