When I was a college kid struggling to learn jazz/blues on guitar, listening to George Benson, Larry Carlton, Lee Rittenour, Joe Pass, and Barney Kessel, my next-door neighbor was starting to take lessons from a guy who lived only a mile away from us. The guy was Richie Hohenberger. We went to a local club down in Nyack, NY called The Office to see Richie one night and it was some hellacious stuff. He'd taken lessons from George Benson in the mid-70s and had mastered all that.
Richie later changed his name to Richie Hart, and he's still in the game. He never got his "big" break; he's just a great jazz guitarist who studied with the best, devoted his life to teaching, and still plays local. Never had the big touring career.
Here's a video of him, posted on his website. I'm not sure what harp players will get out of this, but it's some beautiful Wes Montgomery style octaves on a 12-bar blues progression, played with his thumb rather than a pick, and he's right there in the room, unadorned. Then he talks about Benson and Wes as a friend and fellow player. It's a terrific master class from an ego-free musician. The lesson might be that there are lots of great, beautiful musicians out there who don't have "names" but who are doing their thing and making a great life for themselves working quietly with their art and sharing their knowledge with others. Not a bad way to go.
http://www.richiehartjazz.com/site/index.php?getpage=0600.media%2F02.videos%2F03.Instruction.php
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2010 8:30 AM
If you watch the whole video straight through, you'll understand why I gave up jazz guitar. Try as I might, I just couldn't think like a jazz guy. Too much knowledge to master! But I kept a little jazzy flavor in my blues. So I'm not glad I went there--even though I couldn't live there.
barney kessel was my favorite jazz guitarist.i've seen him with dave brubeck quite a few times in various places. i named dave brubeck(piano)and buddy rich(drums) in the thread about what it is that makes greatness. jazz is the most difficult genre i know of outside of classical.i was 7 years getting through "micky bakers jazz guitar" book. "unsquare dance" and "take five",just try tapping your foot to them.you can,but not for long.
I'm surprised as a university professor that you would talk about too much knowledge to master. Just think of when you started out you thought, "too much literature to read and reflect on!"
I work at a music store where some of our teachers are the most amazing musicians you could ever hope to take a lesson from. Fame eluded them but they are still dedicated to their craft. My teacher also teaches at Muhlehnburg College and Lafayette. He's an insanely accomplished player who studied with Wes, George, and Kenny Burrell. Even when he is just messing around he blows you mind!
here's a clip:
Adam, would you ever post a video of you performing a piece on guitar? ---------- http://www.youtube.com/user/asilve3
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2010 8:41 PM
