garrynorman + Musician in Concord, CA

SEEKING

ABOUT

With experience at an early age starting on the classical guitar and then as a jazz composer/performer, and with a fiery passion for crafting music that unifies a variety of world music genres with jazz improvisation, I seek to create a body of music that is both evocative and sophisticated. My sound is meant to be a blend of lyrical and soulful instrumentals in a context of sensuous exotic rhythms, and rich complex harmonies.

I have appeared on stage in Boston, Virginia Beach-Tidewater area, and currently all over the San Francisco Bay Area-in clubs and highly sought after venues, including the beautiful Angelico Hall in Marin County where I've performed my most recent self produced theme concert entitled "The Feast, a Musical Infusion of Passion and Spirit".

I have performed at public and private events and gatherings for people of national acclaim including TV personalities such as Jill Eikenberry (L.A. Law). I have worked with esteemed musicians of many disciplines as well as theater directors including a very recent stint with Michelle Volert for whom he held down the guitar chair in the “pit orchestra” for a modernized version of the play “Damn Yankees”.

During my senior year at Berklee College of Music I was awarded a Berklee Scholarship and was invited to perform in the very popular "Guitar Night" performances, held in the Berklee Performance Center, headed by the renowned arranger/musician/educator Bill Leavitt. The charts that I produced for the ensemble are still being used in the guitar department till this day for ensemble classes.

I am also a seminar organizer and leader of a transformational learning environment called "The Music Seminar"

The Music Seminar was originally delivered by cellist Doctor Ronald A. Heifetz who is also the Senior Lecturer in Public Leadership, co-founder of the Center for Public Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and co-founder of Cambridge Leadership Associates.

Under Mr. Heifetz’ tutelage, I brought forth my own version of this unique and well attended seminar. I formed a small business operation featuring this seminar as the premier offering, eventually bringing The Music Seminar to the West Coast.

The intention of this seminar is to release the hold of the past on your present moment creativity, and to bring out the musicality that is fundamental to being human in each participant. The universal aspects of rhythm, melody and harmony are employed as vehicles for a deep and emotionally authentic experience of being profoundly heard and expressed. As a central aspect of this experience, you gain access to our core creative interconnection as human beings in a way that is unforgettable, a new view of being a leader in one’s own life emerges.

Screen name:

garrynorman

Member since:

Dec 19 2014

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

45

Gigs played:

Over 100

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

6-7 nights a week

Influences

Among my biggest influences are the well-known composer and orchestrator Mike Gibbs with whom I studied composition, and the highly regarded Herb Pomeroy, one of my arranging mentors.

I also had the good fortune to learn directly from some of the wise sages of 'Boston jazz guitar' wisdom, the likes of Jon Damain (Bill Frisell to Luciano Pavarotti) and Mick Goodrick (ECM recording artist). The influence from these collaborations can be heard on my current CD release "Motion" where I am joined by some of the Bay Areas most talented musicians including producer Wayne Wallace of Bon Vivant Productions (Machete' Ensemble and Pete Escovedo Orchestra).

Other teachers of note that I have studied with are;
Tuck Andress – Guitar, Kit Walker – Keyboard, Jon Damain – Guitar, Bret Wilmont – Guitar, Mick Goodrick – Guitar, Rebeca Mauleon – Ensemble

My message to you; "From my view, music and the improvisational moment is a collective experience of reaching for something that's never been said before. It's not only about music, it's about reaching for some new united expression, together."

Instrument experience:

Lead Guitar:

Expert

Rhythm Guitar:

Expert

Vocalist - Tenor:

Advanced

Acoustic Guitar:

Moderate

Background Singer:

Moderate

Bass Guitar:

Moderate

Electronic Music:

Moderate

Keyboard:

Moderate

Mandolin:

Moderate

Other Percussion:

Moderate

Piano:

Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Guitars; Godin Multiac Jazz, Godin LGXT, Takamine classical

Bass Guitar; Warwick Thumb 5 string bold-on

Mandolin; Fender

Keyboards; Roland Fantom X8, Roland XV-5080

Percussion; Remo Djembe, Roland Handsonic 10

Amps; AER Acoustic combo amp, Roland KC-350, tc-electronics G-Force effects processor, Boss AD-10 Acoustic Guitar Preamp

Effects and Other Gear; Boss RC-300 Looping Station, Axon-AX-100 Guitar Synth

Home project studio based around Motu's Digital Performer, Ableton Live and Reason

MUSIC