Jazz Guitar Performance

I performed for a church service on Sunday, 7-20-15,  at The Unitarian Universalist Church in Sarasota, Fl. What made this performance unique is that I played three pieces from my solo jazz guitar repertoire. The tunes were “Satin Doll” by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, “Blue Monk” by Thelonious Monk and “A Child is Born” by Thad Jones and Alec Wilder. I played these tunes within the framework of the church service to support the emotional and spiritual content of the moment.

Some of the challenges with this type of performance include getting the proper sound level and sound quality. Fortunately, the sound tech at the church was sensitive to these needs and helped produce what I was looking for. We used my Roland BA 330 PA as a monitor with a line out to a direct box and then to the church sound system.

The two energetic tunes, the Ellington and Monk, were played in a swing style with improvisational sections in between two repetitions of the tunes. The Jones piece was played less rhythmic, more rubato and more reflective.

After the service, I was greeted by many of the church goers with kind and complimentary remarks. Many had questions about my beautiful red Hagstom HL550 guitar with its unique head stock and floating pickup.

I look forward to the next time I do a jazz guitar performance at the church. The members are progressive in their view of artistry as it relates to the church service.