CJC's Way Out West Concert Series provides composer-performers from the Bay Area and beyondÊwith aÊTuesdayÊevening showcase for forward-looking original work in jazz and related genres. Join us weekly in Rendon Hall for Way Out West! A night of original compositions and arrangements from pianist/flutist Gaea Schell & guitarist John Stowell - a top notch quartet featuring exciting musical collaboration and conversation. Band Members: Gaea Schell, piano/flute, John Stowell, guitar, John Wiitala, bass, Greg Wyser-Pratte, drums. Bio: Gaea Schell (flute, piano) is known among her peers for swinging eighth notes, subtle phrasing and contemplative writing...
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CJC's Way Out West Concert Series provides composer-performers from the Bay Area and beyondÊwith aÊTuesdayÊevening showcase for forward-looking original work in jazz and related genres. Join us weekly in Rendon Hall for Way Out West! A night of original compositions and arrangements from pianist/flutist Gaea Schell & guitarist John Stowell - a top notch quartet featuring exciting musical collaboration and conversation. Band Members: Gaea Schell, piano/flute, John Stowell, guitar, John Wiitala, bass, Greg Wyser-Pratte, drums. Bio: Gaea Schell (flute, piano) is known among her peers for swinging eighth notes, subtle phrasing and contemplative writing. This Bay area based pianist//flutist/singer is a native of Alberta, Canada, where she grew up playing music from an early age. Recorder lessons at age 6 with family friend, the late San Francisco based drummer Eddie Marshall, was one of her first musical ventures. Pursuit of a classical harp degree led to checking out Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans records in the school library, inspiring a move East and subsequent graduation from the jazz program at acclaimed McGill University in Montreal. A 1999 Canada Council for the Arts grant took Gaea to New York City where she studied with pianist/composer Richie Beirach. Gaea made her California debut as a twice featured performer at the San Jose Jazz Festival and has been performing professionally and internationally in diverse settings. Her experience includes everything from teaching elementary school flute choirs, lyric writing, trio to quartet to orchestral performance. Notable artists she has shared the stage with include Nancy King, John Stowell, Albert 'Tootie' Heath, Clare Fischer Big Band, PJ Perry, Marcus Shelby Quartet and Orchestra, Vibrason, Manteca, Kellye Gray, Bobby Watson, Dan Faehnle (former guitarist with Diana Krall), Vince Lateano, Noel Jewkes, and Gilbert Castellanos (member of the Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra). John Stowell (guitar) 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). www.gaeaschell.com www.johnstowell.com
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