Jazz Guitarists - B

Guitarist/Composer, John Baboian, has been on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in Boston since 1980. Before beginning his teaching career at Berklee, he received his bachelors degree from the school and later received a masters degree from New England Conservatory Of Music. Although best known for his work in the jazz & swing idioms, John has performed in the classical, blues, rock, R&B, latin and ethnic music genres. His performances include concerts, clubs, recordings, radio and television throughout the US and Canada, as well as performances in Japan, Central America, Europe, and the former Soviet Union including his ancestral home, Armenia. His compositions and arrangements have been heard on television shows "Walker, Texas Ranger", UPN's "Seven Days", and HBO's "The Soprano's". He has accompanied headliners Al Martino, Connie Francis, Frankie Avalon, Sergio Franchi, Bobby Rydell and many others. Recent recordings include performances with The Boston Big Band, Frankie V., The World Leaders, vocalists Ida Zecco, Margaret Fennel & Nadine Chase.

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Her musical activities aren’t confined to groups working strictly in the orthodox, bop based jazz tradition, as she has toured and recorded with bassist, Richard Bona and is a member of David Krakauer’s Klezmer Madness. Other artists are tenor saxophonist, Gary Thomas, Urban Folk and Jazz artist, KJ Denhert, and pop diva, Irene Cara. While her mid 1990’s CD Little Misunderstood sees her playing with total familiarity and command of the fusion idiom, her latest releases, Reunion of Souls, The Power of Three, and Bull’s Eye represent her love of contemporary straight-ahead jazz.

In 1995 Sheryl was awarded third place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition, and has toured South America on behalf of the US State Department as a Jazz Ambassador, honoring the music of Duke Ellington. She currently leads her own trio, The Sheryl Bailey Three (Gary Versace on Hammond B3 and Ian Froman on drums). Her 2002 release, The Power of Three was critically acclaimed and charted in the top 20 of the Jazz Week radio charts. The trio conjures the essence of the Grant Green/ Larry Young/ Elvin Jones band of the late 60’s.

She is also in demand as an educator. Sheryl has been an Assistant Professor of Guitar at the esteemed Berklee College of Music since 2000, and has been a popular clinician at the National Guitar Summer workshop, The Stanford Jazz Workshop, The Duquesne Jazz Guitar Seminar, Uarts in Philadelphia, and at Southern Cross University in Lismore, Australia.

Sheryl’s latest release is titled, Bull’s Eye. The CD features nine new compositions and tightly woven improvisations from the trio. A track from the disc, “ Old and Young Blues” will be featured in the Master Anthology of Jazz solos, vol. IV by Mel Bay in January 2005. She is also working on a book for Mel Bay about modern approaches to jazz improvisation. She keeps a hectic itinerary touring, teaching, and recording.

Jeff also went on to perform with artists such as Tom Harrell, Bob Mintzer, Warren Chaisson,and Jimmy Lovelace. From the liner notes of his debut CD, “Crazy Talk”, Jack Wilkins states: “Jeff’s playing is technically masterful with a sound that comes right from the heart and improvisations that are unique and emotionally satisfying.” Reuben Wilson says, “Jeff is one of New York’s best kept secrets.”

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Joe has been composing music for TV and film for thirty years and the recording industry (National Academy of Recording Arts And Sciences) has honored him five times with their Most Valuable Player Award. He has also recorded with the Royal Philharmonic orchestra in London, the Milan Philharmonic in Italy, and The Paris String Ensemble in France.

Joe continues to do co-artist albums with a wide range of artists from Mike Mainieri to John Babarian (one of the world's foremost Middle Eastern musicians), to Sabicas (perhaps the greatest of all Flemenco guitarists), and David Sanborn ("Beck /Sanborn" on Columbia) . The most recent being the beautiful Alto Guitar/Vocal duo with Deborah Brown, "I Found My Thrill".

Joe also arranged and produced many records including projects for Frank Sinatra, Gloria Gaynor, and two albums for Esther Phillips including her hit single, "What A Difference A Day Makes". Along the way Joe was signed to contracts with Columbia, Polydor, Verve, Gryphon, CTI, and MGM Records. Since the late '80's he has recorded four albums ("Relaxin'" , "Friends" ,"Back To Beck" , "The Journey") on the DMP label. as well as "Fingerpainting", on the Wavetone label which features Bill Evans on sax, Danny Gottlieb on drums, and Mark Egan on bass.

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Gil Evans, Duke Ellington, Buddy Rich, Paul Desmond, Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Larry Coryell, Gene Ammons, Sergio Mendez, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Laura Nyro, Houston Person, Roger Kellaway, Richie Havens, Paul Simon, Joe Farrell, James Brown, Gato Barbieri, and countless others.

George Benson endorses Ibanez guitars. One of the most successful and longest running endorsement by a jazz guitarist. This is the guitar I always wanted but never could afford at the time.

Here are a few of the available George Benson CDs.

Breezin' - Buy It!!!

Weekend In LA' - Buy It!!!

Best of George Benson - Buy It!!!

Best of George Benson - Instrumentals - Buy It!!!

George Benson Books Available at SheetMusicPlus.com

George Benson Strings Available at SheetMusicPlus.com

More information available on company's web site.

Here are a few of the available Paul Bollenback CDs.

The Champ - Buy It!!!

Double Gemini - Buy It!!!

Dreams - Buy It!!!

Soul Groove - Buy It!!!

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Gary attributes this early desire to his Mom & Dad providing him with a radio which seemed to go everywhere with him as early as age three. He went to sleep with music on and awoke much the same. After a short period of guitar lessons Gary began to learn the songs of the day from the radio. While he was taught to read music the immediate need for it took a backseat to learning pop music from his trusty radio.By age thirteen Gary had his first professional job with his band. Hired by a family friend to play a Christmas Party, that job was the first of what would become a livelihood for the better part of the next twenty-five plus years.

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