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Special Purpose

Combining vintage keyboards and lead guitar, Special Purpose blends psychedelic sounds with earthy elements of funk and jazz. The band has been playing shows in the Portland, Oregon area since 2016 with some of the best musicians in the city. Their debut instrumental album Password, written by guitarist Lance Vallis, was released in 2019 and features Paul Paresa on keyboards (Sweet n’ Juicy, Cloud 6), Hunter Parmentier on bass (Stephen Marley), and Forest Carter on drums (Far Out West, Giraffe Dodgers).

Special Purpose: Password

Read "Password" reviewed by Geno Thackara

by Geno Thackara
February 7, 2020

Special Purpose's upbeat jam-happy debut wastes no time establishing a setting and a mood. The group kicks off by crossing some 1970s Jeff Beck with a little Allman Brothers Band, and the ingredients for a fun jazz-rock fusion stew are already there: dreamy organ, bubbling bass, guitar that plays off the others without needing to go overboard with the shred. Lance Vallis's guitar and Paul Paresa's mostly-electric keys graciously share the leads, trading the spotlight back and forth like a ...

Location

Portland

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Credentials/Background

Whether you are a beginner or have lots of experience playing the guitar, I can help you achieve your goals! I teach all contemporary styles, including rock, blues, jazz, funk, and more. I am happy to teach whatever my students' are interested in and help them learn chords, scales, improvisation, sight-reading, and music theory. I have years of performance experience in the Portland area and beyond as a soloist as well as with various rock, jazz, and musical theater pit bands