This week we feature jazz guitarist Corey Christiansen.
Online Bio
Since he joined the Mel Bay Publications, Inc. team as Senior Music Editor and advisor to Product Development in 2001, Corey Christiansen has over forty publications with Mel Bay and has conducted countless guitar clinics and concerts across the country and beyond. This highly productive output may sound extraordinary, but it is no accident that he plays and writes with such facility. Corey began playing the guitar at the age of five and has been perfecting his technique ever since.
After growing up in a musically driven family with excellent instruction from his father, Mel Bay author and Utah State University professor Mike Christiansen, Corey continued his passion for playing the guitar at Utah State University were he received his Bachelor’s Degree and many honors and awards including the Outstanding Music Student Award and Outstanding Guitarist Award. Seeking a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance, Corey sought out renowned jazz guitar educator Jack Petersen and began his studies as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of South Florida. After receiving his Master’s Degree in 1999, Corey took the place of retired Jack Petersen and became the adjunct guitar instructor at USF. In this position Corey became well versed in the abilities and needs of jazz guitar students and ensembles.
Recently Corey had the opportunity to visit Australia for a two-week tour of stores and conservatories. He has also performed at many notable festivals and venues including John Pisano’s Guitar Night in Los Angeles, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, the Daytona Beach Jazz Festival, the Classic American Guitar Show, and the St. Louis Jazz Festival. He has also performed and/or recorded with many outstanding jazz artists including Jimmy Bruno, John Pisano, Joe Negri, Willie Akins, Chuck Redd, Rob McConnel, Sid Jacobs, Jack Wilkins, and Danny Gottlieb.
Corey’s Mel Bay Publications, Inc. Products include the increasingly popular Essential Jazz Lines series were he and his co-authors examine the techniques of many of his greatest influences such as Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. He continues to create new product series and ventures for Mel Bay. Corey gets his appreciation for books from what his father always taught himS “My Dad always used to tell me to buy less gear and more books. He said if I dumped my time and money into my head, people might want me to play their gear in the future. He was right. Anyone with money can buy more guitars; all of us only get one brain so I think it’s a great thing to invest in.”
Corey Christiansen’s homepage: http://www.coreychristiansen.com/
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 endorse Heritage Guitars and is a featured artist on their website. He also endorses the new Pignose Valve Tube Amps, great for jazz (and anything else!)