New York City-based guitarist Peter Mazza will be in Columbus for two exciting events next week. As part of a jaunt to Ohio and Kentucky prompted by the support of Cincinnati guitar store DHR Guitar Experience and Ohio guitarists Brandon Coleman, Doug Neel, and Zakk Jones, Mazza will arrive in the Columbus area for a guitar clinic on Monday. The clinic will be held at Capital University-Conservatory of Music Room 09, in the NW Percussion Basement of the Conservatory, on Monday, November 6th at 7pm. This free event will be a great introduction for guitar students and fans to Mazza and his sound – Any interested attendees should email Doug Neel at dneel@capital.edu to reserve a spot. Mazza will have select time slots available for private lessons on Tuesday the 7th – email him at petermazzamusic@gmail.com for availability. On Tuesday evening from 7-10pm, Mazza will perform a concert at Brothers Drake (flyer by Cori Winn). As Mazza told me, “I will perform solo guitar, then duos and trios with fellow guitarists Coleman, Neel and Jones.” Cover is $10 for the two set show, and students with a valid ID can purchase a CD at the door for $5 with their ticket. Attendees of the show can win a free Skype lesson that Mazza will raffle off that night. Keep reading for more info about the clinic and Mazza’s career plus videos.
As Mazza told me about Monday’s event, “In the clinic I intend on breaking down some very creative and dense harmonic and rhythmic devices/tools into some very practical and useful exercises. I’ll apply these concepts to both chordal and linear, then solo and group applications. Anyone who knows my playing from social media or who simply wants some new ideas will benefit from this clinic.”
In a brief phone chat, Mazza told me that he’s “known on Facebook for solo interpretations of standards. They’re standards, but I’ve really gutted them out, being pretty adventurous and intricate with harmonies, etc. Among the things I do, that’s something that guitar players seem to say, ‘Wow, that’s really unique, personal and strong.’ I write a lot of music, but the things I put up on social media are me doing these personal takes on standards. There’s nothing standard, I’m not trying to sound super-traditional, but I definitely come from a traditional background.”
PETER MAZZA BIO
Peter Mazza is a jazz guitarist, composer, educator and jazz venue-Music Director born and raised in New York City. He earned degrees from The Manhattan School and Music and The Julliard School, and was a Thelonious Monk Competition semi-finalist. He began performing in NYC over 25 years ago with some of the most outstanding musicians of his generation- Chris Potter, Joel Frahm, Rick Margitza, Roy Hargrove, Brad Mehldau, Christian McBride, Greg Hutchinson, among others, and has performed with jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis and Jimmy McGriff.
He has appeared in duos with fellow guitarists across an array of musical generations, from John Pisano, Gene Bertoncini, Mundell Lowe, Jack Wilkins, Frank Potenza, Barry Greene, Howard Paul, Pete Bernstein and Freddie Bryant, Corey Christiansen, Craig Wagner, to Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jonathan Kreisberg, Mike Moreno, Yotam Silberstein, Pasquale Grasso, Chico Pinheiro among many others.
His groups have performed at Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, Smalls, The Cornelia Street Café and the 55 Bar in New York City, and at jazz clubs throughout the USA, Japan, Israel and South America. He retains a Sunday night trio residency at the Bar Next Door at La Lanterna in Greenwich Village, now in its fifteenth successful year, that presents ongoing creative and vibrant collaborations with Misha Tsiganov on Piano and Tamir Shmerling on Bass, but has included Hendrik Meurkens, John Ellis, Will Vinson, Donny McCaslin, Jon Irabagon, Etienne Charles, Hans Glawischnig, Matt Penman, Ben Williams, Joe Martin, Ari Hoenig, Lucas Pino, Andrew Gould and Benny Benack.
His most recent CD called Circles and Lines (2014 Urban Flower Records) features his guitar/piano/bass trio performing his intricate and fresh arrangements of standards by the Jazz and American Songbook Composers.
Peter is an in-demand traveling guest artist and clinician who has been invited to appear at NYU, MSM, The Peabody Institute, University of Colorado-Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Southern California, The Musician’s Institute (MI in Los Angeles), University of North Florida, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, University of Louisville, as well as Savannah Arts Academy and the New World School of the Arts in Miami.
Just Jazz Guitar Magazine said about a recent Peter Mazza performance-
“It’s one thing to perform compositions that go through time modulations, meter changes, and reharmonizations; but, to do those things and make it seem effortless and of the highest musicality is a rarity…”
Jazz Inside Magazine said about another recent Peter Mazza performance-
“A guitarist with an instantly recognizable voice, his original compositions are joyous whirlwinds of thematic expression, rich with emotion and personality. Both vulnerable and commanding, he puts it all on the line and goes for it, the experience is thrilling…”