Session 2
Still hunkered-down a bit more than you’d like to be as we head into 2021? Ben Sher — professor at Berklee College of Music and a recording artist with BGI Records is still hunkered down as well! So, Ben’s Guitar styles of Grant Green and Pat Martino class returns for a second section! Classes begin January 6th, 2021. In the follow-up class Ben will concentrate on working with the materials from the first section to help players integrate phrasing into their soloing. Standards from the American songbook and compositions by Jazz artists will be covered every week. offering a semester series of LIVE ONLINE 6-week courses! Prof. Sher provides an organized curriculum with lots of fun and vital materials, including transcriptions, charts, and play-along tracks. Perfect opportunity for the socially-distanced guitar student. Classes are Wednesday, January 6, 13, 20 and 27 and continue February 3 and 10 and can be attended at either 7 or 8:30 PM EST. Course fee: $295.
1. The Guitar Styles of Grant Green and Pat Martino
Why these two iconic jazz guitarists? Ben explains, “Of course there are many great jazz guitarists to try and copy, but Grant and Pat have one thing in common that’s great for learning: both play with incredible accuracy and clear rhythmic precision. If you really want to learn how to lay down some very well-articulated jazz guitar lines, studying the work of these two masters is incredibly valuable.” Ben will provide transcriptions for both Grant and Pat in three styles: blues, modal, and be-bop — or straight ahead. In each category there’s the opportunity to learn one or both of the transcriptions. Not that advanced? Don’t worry. Some of Grant’s stuff is not that hard to play technically, but incredibly valuable in the phrasing. And want a challenge? Try playing along with Pat’s “The Great Stream”!
2. Prof. Sher’s Global Jazz Guitar!
This is one learning experience that Prof. Sher is really excited to teach! As a recording artist, Ben has played many different styles of jazz and has three recordings of Brazilian Jazz on the BGI Record Label which feature Lucian Souza, DuDuka Da Fonseca, Kenny Barron, and Helio Alves. He has recorded and performed gypsy jazz with his World Jazz Duo, and played many Hammond organ trio gigs! Ben also teaches several courses in the Brazilian Guitar Style at Berklee including a course in Latin Fusion. This class is a preview of the book Ben will release next summer which encapsulates all of these different Latin styles!
