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John Stowell
John Stowell began his successful career in the early 1970's with private study with guitarist Linc Chamberland and pianist John Mehegan. Both men were valuable mentors to John, allowing him to play with them as he progressed in his development. Several years later he met bassist David Friesen in New York City, and they formed a duo that recorded and toured prolifically for seven years, with performances in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.
In 1983, John and David joined flutist Paul Horn and Paul's son Robin Horn (on drums) for a historic tour of the Soviet Union. This was the first time in forty years that an American jazz group had been invited to play public performances in Russia. In 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2012 John returned to Russia, playing in numerous cities. His two sold-out performances in Kursk may have been the first appearances there by an American jazz musician.
John continues to tour, record and teach internationally. He has been Artist-In-Residence at schools in Germany, Indonesia, Argentina, and in the United States and Canada. He served as assistant director and performer in Oregon Public Broadcasting's PDX Jazz Summit in 1991, and since 1995 has been a contributing columnist for a number of magazines, including "Downbeat", "Guitar Player", "Canadian Musician", "Soundcheck" (Germany), and "Guitar Club" (Italy).
With bassist David Friesen, featured of the soundtracks of two Academy Award Nominated short films (Will Vinton Studios, Portland, OR, and Bosustow Studios, Los Angeles, CA)
"Through the Listening Glass" with David Friesen chosen of the "Ten Best Jazz Albums of the Decade" by the Los Angeles Examiner
Chosen "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" by Downbeat's International Critic's Poll, 1978 and 1979
Featured in Japan's "Swing Journal", "The Jazz Guitar" (Ashely Mark Publishing, England), and the Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (Leonard Feather and Ira Gitler).
Appearances on BET Jazz Discovery and Guitar Series television shows.
Recording/Performance Credits: Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Art Farmer, Conte Condoli, Herb Ellis, Bill Watrous, Mundell Lowe, George Cables, Billy Higgins, Billy Hart, Richie Cole, Paul Horn, Tom Harrrell, Don Thompson, Dave Liebman, and many others.
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Jason Keiser: Shaw's Groove
by Jack Bowers
The Shaw" in guitarist Jason Keiser's album Shaw's Groove is the late great Woody Shaw, one of the more innovative and influential jazz trumpeters of the twentieth century. Even though he lived only forty-four years (he died in May 1989), Shaw was an important role model whose sweeping influence remains strong to this day, both as a player and composer. The first four songs on Shaw's Groove were written by Shaw himself, among the many he composed ...
read moreMickylee, John Stowell, Ulf Bandgren: Portuguese Blue
by Nenad Georgievski
Portuguese Blue is a record that joins the talents of three jazz guitarists, Mickylee, John Stowell, and Ulf Bandgren. It is one of those guitar summit" recordings which combines the talents of exceptional guitarists and, as such, is an inviting document. Groups consisting of three guitarists are not unheard of in jazz music but they are not very common. Duo conversations open many possibilities but trios can open even wider harmonic possibilities. Sometimes these types of records feature good playing ...
read moreScenes: Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival
by Paul Rauch
Scenes'' first album dates back to 2001, but the origins of the band dates back to the early 1990s, when saxophonist Rick Mandyck, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop initiated a trio gig. On occasion guitarist John Stowell would drop in if he was off the road and in Seattle. The band that began as a trio reverted back to that format after that inaugural recording, this time Stowell in tow as Mandyck slipped into a decade-long hiatus from ...
read moreScenes: Variable Clouds: Live at the Earshot Jazz Festival
by Dan McClenaghan
The group Scenes has released seven excellent albums over two decades of recording together, beginning with their eponymous debut (Origin Records, 2001). All of those are studio efforts. The group's 2022 outing, Variable Clouds is a first for Scenes--their first album recorded live in front of an audience, in 2021 at the Earshot Jazz Festival. This is a return to the group's original line-up. Saxophonist Rick Mandyck sat out for a time due to health problems, leaving Scenes ...
read moreJohn Stowell / Dave Glenn & The Hawcaptak Quartet: Violin Memory
by Dan McClenaghan
Guitarist John Stowell does not hesitate when it comes to taking on unconventional projects. 2021 saw him teaming with vocalist Dan Dean on Rain Painting (Origin Records)--an album of featuring an overdubbed layering of voices (Dean's) making for lush and enriching choir-like harmonics, accompanied by Stowell's various guitars. The Seattle-based guitarist's follow-up finds him teaming with trombonist Dave Glenn, a longtime collaborator, and bringing in a classical string quartet to enhance the atmosphere. The results are a unique ...
read moreJohn Stowell & Dan Dean: Rain Painting
by Dan Bilawsky
Now here's a uniquely compelling set from two of the Pacific Northwest's great individualists on one of jazz's most stalwart imprints. Guitarist John Stowell and multi-hyphenate Dan Dean have each made their respective marks on many Origin dates in the past. The former's instruments have figured into more than 25 recordings there, from solo sets to duo meetings with Dave Liebman and sideman appearances to a string of albums with collective combo Scenes; and the latter has spanned worlds and ...
read moreJohn Stowell / Dan Dean: Rain Painting
by Dan McClenaghan
Guitarist John Stowell has spent two decades recording for Seattle's Origin records, collaborating with artists such as saxophonists Dave Liebman and Michael Zilber, drummer John Bishop, bassist Jeff Johnson and guitarist Ulf Bandgren. His work with the band Sceneswith Bishop and Johnson, and (twice) saxophonist Rick Mandyckis particularly noteworthy. Bassist Dan Deanwith a sparser discography than Stowell'shas made more of a name for himself as a producer and audio and recording engineer for the label; but his status as a ...
read moreJazz Vocalist Kendra Shank And Guitarist John Stowell Release Extraordinary Duo Album New York Conversations April 8 On TCB – The Montreux Jazz Label
Source:
Michael Bloom Media Relations
There are a million jazz stories in the naked city, and New York Conversations captures some of the most revelatory ones. An extraordinary encounter between the supremely inventive vocalist Kendra Shank and the brilliant guitarist John Stowell, a player with a beautiful touch and rarified harmonic vocabulary who specializes in high-wire duo projects, the album came together quickly, with a minimum of planning. While Shank and Stowell’s musical friendship dates back more than two decades, New York Conversations is their ...
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Dee Bell releases "Sagacious Grace" with Houston Person, Al Plank, John Stowell, Michael Spiro, Colin Bailey and John Wiitala
Source:
Dee Bell
Former Concord Jazz Recording Artist Dee Bell Moves to the Laser Label with the new album Sagacious Grace (Cat #0708). Available on CD Baby, Amazon, and ITunes as of 15 August 2011 Featuring Al Plank: piano; Houston Person: saxophone; John Stowell: guitar; Michael Spiro: percussion; Colin Bailey: drums; John Wiitala: bass. Praised by critics both abroad and in the United States for her gorgeous phrasing" and clear and easy delivery (Stereo Review)" of the lyrics of a song, West Coast ...
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Enter the Origin 2-CD Giveaway at All About Jazz!
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Origin 2-CD giveaway contest starting today. Each winner will receive John Stowell/Michael ZilberShot Through With Beauty and AsGuestsUniversal Mind. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on August 15th. Click here to enter the contest (Following John Stowell at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at Origin Records Click here to learn more about and listen to samples from Shot Through With Beauty. ...
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Jazz Guitarist John Stowell Clinic and John Stowell and Bassist Bijoux Barbossa in Concert in Denver
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jazz guitarist extraordinaire, John Stowell will present a clinic and appear in concert with bassist Bijoux Barbossa on this Saturday, 2/20/2010, at Broadway Music School at 1940, South Broadway in Denver, CO 80210. The Clinic is at 12:00 Noon The Concert is at 7:30 PM Advance tickets are: $20.00 for either the Clinic or Concert $35.00 for Both Saturday tickets are: $25.00 for either the Clinic or Concert $45.00 for ...
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Catching up with John Stowell
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
John Stowell, Solitary Tales (Origin). The CD's title suits the guitarist, a peripatetic performer who roams the world. I recently heard a musician say, You never know where he'll show up." Although Stowell often plays with others, some of his most stunning work, as here, is unaccompanied. He alternates acoustic and electric guitars, but when he is plugged in he keeps his amplifier volume low and his attack subtle. The listener is more likely to be involved with the gentle ...
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Guitarists Go Beyond Conventional Harmony & Chords with Modern Chord Melody
Source:
All About Jazz
Jazz chord melody may very well be the most challenging of all guitar styles to truly master. Players must develop right-hand thumb and finger independence, a robust vocabulary of jazz voicings, a strong sense of melody and and arranger's feel for composition. And these are just the fundamentals. Once you have the easy" stuff down, it's all about groove, arrangement, performance and improvisation. Modern Chord Melody takes the student beyond conventional harmony and chords by introducing a broader, more contemporary ...
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Dan Andersen
guitar, electricPhotos
Music
Organ Grinder
From: Shaw's GrooveBy John Stowell
Spanish Samba (feat. John Stowell)
From: Spanish Samba Single ReleaseBy John Stowell
Tilbury Hill
From: Variable Clouds: Live at the...By John Stowell
Wheeler's Waltz
From: The Axe AxisBy John Stowell
Lonely Blue Angel
From: Violin MemoryBy John Stowell
You Know It When You Got It
From: ThroopBy John Stowell
Three French Nuns
From: Silent PhotographerBy John Stowell
Shot Through With Beauty
From: Shot Through With BeautyBy John Stowell