Artist Interview

Chuck Anderson - Jazz Guitarist, Composer, Author and Educator

Here is a mini interview that I'm conducting with various jazz guitarists that are listed on this site. Some of the same questions are presented to every guitarist.

Anyone who was on the scene in the seventies will remember the Chuck Anderson Trio with Al Stauffer and Darryl Brown.Chuck quit playing publicly after someone stole his guitar at a performance !!!! When I was a teenager, every guitarist studied with Chuck (even rock and rollers who envied the Jazz cat's chops).

As a concert artist, Chuck has given performances in a wide variety of venues. Chuck has kept busy teaching and composing, and now is releasing a CD featuring his original compositions. It's called "Angel Blue" with the talents of Gerald Veasley - bass, Ronnie Barrage - drums, Dan Kleiman - piano, Ron Kerber - sax, John Swana - trumpet and Chuck on guitar.We'll keep you posted on the release date.

As an educator, Chuck has given master classes, clinics, lectures, workshops all over the world.

WRTI - radio, WXPN - radio, Lebanon Valley College, Franklin and Marshall College, University of Delaware, Temple University, Arcadia College, Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia Music Academy, University of Delaware, Delaware Valley College, The Philadelphia Music Conference, The Music Training Center, Villanova University, Delaware Technical and Community College (Wilmington and Stanton Campuses), Episcopal High School

The Interview (October 2004 2003)

(JazzGuitarResources) As a Jazz guitarist who were your early influences?

(CA) Wes Montgomery and Johnny Smith. Wes had an intense warmth in his playing and Johnny Smith had outstanding clarity in his technique. The 2 players represented polar opposites. Wes, being blues based had fire and passion in his sound. Smith was more technical and represented a more intellectual approach.

(JGR) What about jazz drew you to the form?

(CA) Improvisation has always been fascinating to me. It’s the cornerstone of jazz. Jazz guitar has unlimited musical potential because of its melody and chord techniques. Also, the music had considerably more interesting melodies and harmonies than the Pop music of the day.

(JGR) Do you see any commercial potential in jazz?

(CA) I feel jazz has a great upside especially since its potential is inverse to to the quality of Pop music.

(JGR) You have a long history and great reputation as private educator. What is your feeling that some take with "You can't teach jazz"?

(CA) Jazz is a musical form with a long developed history of techniques, styles and characteristics. With that in mind, jazz can most certainly be taught.

(JGR) Any new projects are you currently working on?

(CA) We’re currently remixing, and remastering an album that was originally released in 1975 under the title Mirror Within a Mirror. The new title will be the Chuck Anderson Trio The Vintage Tracks.