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Brad Myers

Playing music since the age of 6, the remarkable composer/guitarist Brad Myers decided to pursue transcendence through jazz expression at the age of 13. A highly eclectic musician, Brad has continued to perform in a wide variety of contexts, but his primary commitment to jazz is vividly demonstrated by the 2015 release of his album Prime Numbers, the first album released on his own label, Colloquy Records, and a stunning showcase for his brilliant talents as both composer and guitarist. Prime Numbers earned worldwide praise from critics and jazz radio alike, including “4 Stars” from Downbeat Magazine and rotation on PRI's Jazz After Hours program.

In 2017, Brad and Colloquy have released Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs), a breathtaking and uplifting collaboration with bassist Michael Sharfe that focuses on the beautiful dialogue and interplay between jazz guitar and double bass in both duo and trio settings.

Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area, Brad started to study guitar at age 10 under the early influence of The Beatles, Hendrix, Yes, Rush and the Allman Brothers, and maturing under the later inspiration of Jim Hall, the Bill Evans Trio, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny and John Scofield. He moved to Cincinnati in 1994 to study at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Discovering the city’s deep musical history and its many outstanding musicians, Brad decided to forego the typical emigration to a larger coastal city and chose instead to contribute to his adopted home’s rich musical legacy.

In 1998 Brad joined Ray’s Music Exchange, a popular Cincinnati based funk jazz outfit famed for long energetic improvisational grooves and inspired by a wide range of adventurous influences from Miles Davis and Frank Zappa to John Zorn and the Meters. For the next eight years, he contributed as guitarist, composer and producer; and when the group reunited in 2010, Brad produced their live DVD, A Live Rayunion.

During his 20+ years as a much sought after sideman and co-leader of a variety of acclaimed ensembles, Brad has shared the stage with a variety of top names including John Scofield, Stanley Jordan, Victor Wooten, Bela Fleck, Hammond Artist Brian Charette, the Cincinnati Pops, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and many more. He was a featured guest soloist playing the "part" of Cal Collins in Nancy James and Carmen DeLeone’s A Salute to Rosemary Clooney; and he performed with Pernell Santurnini in a live broadcast from the renowned percussionist’s native Curaçao. Brad recently recorded with Fareed Haque in a big band recording of pieces from the guitar great’s Garaj Mahal, and then premiered the music live with him at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola at Lincoln Center in NYC.

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5
Album Review

Brad Myers & Michael Sharfe: Sanguinaria (Hopeful Songs)

Read "Sanguinaria (Hopeful Songs)" reviewed by Roger Farbey


Cincinnati-based Brad Myers's follow-up recording to his 2015 quintet album “Prime Numbers" is essentially a duo record with his bassist colleague Michael Sharfe. The qualification “essentially" is deployed because there is additional percussion on most tracks but it's used as decorative augmentation rather than a vital rhythm unit. The opener, “Sanguinaria (Hopefulsong)" is atypical of successive numbers, with Sharfe initially playing arco bass and Dan Karlsberg on melodica. Both this number and its successor “In From Somewhere" are ...

27
Take Five With...

Take Five with Brad Myers

Read "Take Five with Brad Myers" reviewed by Brad Myers


Meet Brad Myers: Brad Myers has spent his life in the pursuit of making music that is tasteful and driven by a deep connection to the soul, regardless of stylish trends or prognosis for financial success. Currently residing in jny: Cincinnati, Ohio, he is an ever evolving improvising musician who has played the guitar since he was 10 years old. Along the way he has picked up considerable skills on electric bass, mandolin and vocals to help diversify his ...

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"Brad Myers can easily claim consanguinity from the ancestry of the jazz guitar aristocracy that goes back to Charlie Christian, as can Michael Sharfe trace his musical bloodline back to beyond Ray Brown to Oscar Pettiford. If this seems like hyperbole, a first listen to their recent duo and trio recording, Sanguinaria will put the argument well beyond even reasonable doubt. Both players show great respect for the tradition but their extrapolation of well-known music from major composers such as Dave Brubeck, Jim Hall, and Keith Jarrett goes well beyond the unexpected." Raul DaGama - Jazzdagama.com

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Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Cincinnati

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Since 1995, I’ve been teaching private students of all skill levels on electric and acoustic guitar, bass, mandolin, and ukulele. I also offer to help those who struggle with Music Theory, Composition and Improvisation on any instrument as long as the basic fundamentals of that instrument have been covered and we can talk about these things on a “higher level” than a beginner might be comfortable with. I started with a few students at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) Preparatory Department and had great success helping them move from beginner levels into intermediate/advanced knowledge of the instrument. From there I added a few students in the Jazz program at Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts and helped a few of the most dedicated students prepare for successful auditions for CCM’s Jazz Studies program and other notable music schools. I also spent time teaching at Elmer Monk’s Makin’ Music on the east side of Cincinnati where I handled students of all ages and skill levels before settling into a position at Moeller Music in West Chester, now owned and operated by Willis Music. I’ve had as many as 55 students on my schedule at a time when I was gigging less frequently, but these days I prefer a more balanced schedule of teaching and gigging and currently offer a couple of days at Moeller Music as well as lessons at your home or office for students in the Greater Cincinnati Area and via Skype for those that are interested but outside of the immediate vicinity. I am a patient and compassionate teacher who is goal oriented with my students. Although I do think that there are certain essential skills one must have on their instrument to be considered a “professional” musician, I do not believe that everybody should go through all of that when they take lessons with me. I’m interested in helping you meet your goals whether music is an inevitable career or a dream hobby that brings you joy and balance to your work filled life.

Clinic/Workshop Information

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sanguinaria...

Colloquy Records
2017

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Sanguinaria (Hopeful...

Colloquy Records
2017

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Great Pumpkin Waltz

Colloquy Records
2016

buy

Prime Numbers

Colloquy Records
2015

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In From Somewhere

From: Sanguinaria (Hopefulsongs)
By Brad Myers

Videos

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