This week we feature jazz guitarist Joe Finn, the creator of “The Jazz Guitar Almanac”.
Joe Finn’s online bio:
Born in Hartford Connecticut, the son of an amateur pianist and composer, guitarist Joe Finn was surrounded by music from the very first. By age ten he was playing his first guitar and giving lessons to kids in the neighborhood. After high school he got a Bachelor’s Degree in Music at Plattsburgh State and had the good fortune to play and study with Roy Burns, Paul Winter, Chuck Mangione and Kirk Nurock. After college he spent ten years criss crossing the United States and Canada playing the guitar in a wide variety of situations. Finn has now settled in upstate New York where he concentrates on local performances and teaching. He has been featured in Dyanne Marlowe’s Big Band of the Northeast for several years on guitar and as a vocalist. His CD entitled Straight Ahead has received critical acclaim as well as extensive national airplay. His quartet’s appearance on the BET network’s Jazz Discovery Showcase won their 1998 award in the jazz instrumental category.
Joe Finn’s website: http://www.joefinn.net/
Joe Finn has a wonderful feature on his website called The Jazz Guitar Almanac that has bits and pieces about all kinds of jazz guitar related items.
The August Almanac:
Here is the August edition of The Jazz Guitar Almanac. While preparing this month’s edition I began to think about the significance of The Real Book. Professional musicians, instructors and students know its pages well. Since it’s beginnings at the Berklee College of Music in the 1970’s this collection of illegal lead sheets has flourished as an underground publication and has become a popular resource for learning tunes as well as a sort of gig book for actual performances.
The controversy surrounding this book extends beyond the fact that it stands in violation of copyright laws. The music itself is replete with errata. Wrong notes, missing measures and goofy chord symbols abound. The Real Book has nevertheless enjoyed a period of almost thirty years of continued popularity within its niche market. In recognition of this longstanding feat of endurance this month’s edition of the Jazz Guitar Almanac includes images of some of the titles from the original edition of The Real Book. The titles themselves are representative of compositions closely associated with various well-known jazz guitarists with references to the specific recordings popularized by them.
Read the complete Almanac: http://www.joefinn.net/html/jazz_guitar_almanac.html
Listen to Joe Finn’s sound clips: http://www.joefinn.net/html/sounds.htm
Doc Dosco is a jazz guitarist, composer and audio consultant living in Los Angeles, CA. His website is located at http://www.docdosco.com, where you can find more information on the ‘What’s Hot in Jazz Guitar’ columns, audio clips of Doc’s playing, and many additional features. Doc plays Heritage guitars and endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube Amps, great for jazz (and anything else!)