PRESS RELEASE: January 2009. Outstanding jazz, blues and fusion guitarist Scott Henderson is to be the next legendary player to headline in a series of masterclasses hosted by the Guitar Institute in London in association with Guitar Getaways Awaydays. This follows the hugely successful event featuring Larry Carlton at the end of last year.
Scott Henderson’s impressive work over the years as co-leader of the group Tribal Tech, and as sideman for Chick Corea, Jean Luc Ponty and Joe Zawinul has elevated him to the front ranks of both jazz and blues. Scott’s trademark today, apart from being a world class player and premier composer, is his unique sound and striking ability to switch from wonderful, soulful blues to incredible, technical jazz.
The event, to be held at the Bedford in Balham, London, on the afternoon of Sunday March 29th, will feature an interactive clinic delivered by members of the Guitar Institute teaching faculty (part of London’s Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, www.icmp.co.uk), including Gianluca Corona on guitar, Dave Marks on bass and Justin Scott on drums. This will be followed by the headline guitar masterclass with Scott.
This is an unmissable event; Scott Henderson rarely visits the UK and this is his only UK masterclass date. To book a place at the masterclass, contact Guitar Getaways on:
– awaydays@guitargetaways.com
– www.guitargetaways.com
– 01326 211945,
For further information on this and future ICMP events, contact the ICMP on:
– enquiries@icmp.co.uk
– www.icmp.co.uk
– 020 7328 0222
About the Guitar Institute:
The Guitar Institute is part of London’s Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, widely recognised as one of Europe’s leading schools of modern music. Established almost a quarter of a century ago, the Institute has been developing and delivering cutting-edge courses to students of contemporary music for longer than any other UK-based school. The school has built its reputation on providing world class teaching using the very best teachers and state-of-the-art facilities. It now offers a range of professional courses including a 3-year Degree (BMus), a fully-funded one year Diploma, a specialist one year Higher Diploma, plus a wide portfolio of part-time courses designed to meet a variety of training needs for guitarists, bass players, drummers and vocalists. Past or present Institute students can be found everywhere, touring with the likes of Katie Melua and Moby, playing with bands like Radiohead and Babyshambles and artists like K. T. Tunstall and Beverley Knight, and also working as teachers all over the world.
About Guitar Getaways:
Guitar Getaways run events and Guitar Holidays that are suitable for anyone who loves playing their guitar. Activities range from half-day events focused around master classes with top players, to residential week long guitar playing holidays in the UK and Europe. Guitar Getaways let you spend some quality time focusing on your guitar playing, a chance to escape from day to day distractions. Guitar Getaways events are designed to help even the busiest among us liberate their guitar playing.
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