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Jon Bremen

There is no shortage of great guitarists in Los Angeles, but Jon Bremen is finding a personalized approach amidst the bustling LA music scene. Jon was bit by the bebop bug as a teenager and dedicated several years to learning the musical the language of Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Clifford Brown, etc. His curiosity eventually lead him to study music at some of the most prestigious music schools including Indiana University and the University of Southern California. "When I moved to LA, I was instantly humbled and inspired by the musicians around me. So much so, that I was compelled to retreat entirely for a few years and find a path that felt like my own. " Along this path, Jon continues to discover a personalized musical vocabulary beyond his jazz roots. Even though Jon is dedicated to exploring new melodic, harmonic and rhythmic materials, his music is grounded in the familiar textures and timbres of jazz, pop, rock and soul. Working with a community of like minded musicians, Jon is committed to creating cutting-edge music that eschews familiar stereotypes.

Jon plays alongside the freshest young players on the international scene including Vardan Ovsepian, Ariel Alexander, Tim Lefebvre, Louis Cole, Bob Reynolds, Janek Gwizdala, Damian Erskine, Dennis Hamm, Joshua Davis, Sean "The Rick" Rickman, and many others.

In addition to being a dedicated performer, Jon is a passionate educator. He earned a doctorate in Studio/Jazz Guitar from the University of Southern California (USC) and is the head of the music discipline at Los Angeles Southwest College.

Jon is also in demand as a sideman and session guitarist because of his creativity, technique and vast musical vocabulary. His guitar work is featured on numerous commercial films and recordings.

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Album Review

Jon Bremen: Lines

Read "Lines" reviewed by Matthew Warnock


Lines is an intellectually engaging and emotionally stimulating release by L.A. based guitarist extraordinaire Jon Bremen. Bremen and his quintet perform with a very tight groove throughout, though they are just loose enough to allow each tune to ebb and flow into new and exciting directions. This strong group dynamic, coupled with compelling compositions and energetic improvisations, come together to produce an album that pays tribute to the jazz tradition while breaking new ground in the realm of the guitar ...

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"Jon Bremen is a rare and gifted musician who possesses a unique ability to craft improvisational melody into pure magic. Students of jazz guitar and all instruments would be well served by studying his improvisations. Jon is also a talented composer and I believe he will be recognized as a leader in the new generation of modern jazz guitarists" -Pat Kelley

"Guitarist Jon Bremen's warm clear sound and bop articulation are rooted in the tradition of Jimmy Raney and Tal Farlow, but he has his own voice as an improviser and composer. He has chops to burn, but he uses them with taste and discretion and knows the value of space and breath in the music

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Primary Instrument

Guitar

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Street Cries

Jazz Collective Records
2014

buy

Lines

Self Produced
2009

buy

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