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Chris Bell

Chris holds a Master’s degree in Composition (Jazz) from Texas State University and spent three years in private study with the great New York based Jazz guitarist Richie Hart. Chris has been teaching at the Austin School of Music since 2002 where he specializes in Jazz guitar, performance, theory and improvisation with a heavy accent on the Blues. He has shared the stage with some stellar musicians including Ron Wilkins (Lena Horne, Dizzy Gillespie) organist/producer Ron Levy (B.B. King, Roomful of Blues) and drummer Jeff Salisbury (Albert King, Chuck Berry) as well as Austin locals Kellye Grey, Alex Coke, Dexter Walker, Chris Maresh, John Vogelsang, and Doug Hall. As leader of The Belltower, Chris has brought his own blend of Jazz and Blues to audiences in New York, Boston, Vermont, San Francisco, Oakland, CA and Austin, TX.

Gear

Chris is endorsed by Fulton-Webb Amps. http://www.fultonwebbamps.com/deluxe18.php Chris can usually be found playing his 1987 Gibson 335.


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Take Five With...

Take Five With Chris Bell

Read "Take Five With Chris Bell" reviewed by AAJ Staff


Meet Chris Bell:Guitarist, performer, educator, based in Austin, Texas.Instrument(s):Guitar.Teachers and/or influences? Richie Hart, Grant Green, Wes Montgomery, B.B. King.Your sound and approach to music: I'm far more interested in playing jazz on the guitar than I am in playing jazz guitar.Your teaching approach: I'm really trying to help my students hear what they play. To my ears, there are just too many players out there playing finger music.

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