Événement

The Songwriter's Guitar - A Workshop with Jack Williams

"The Songwriter's Guitar" Workshop

About the workshop:
A songwriting workshop, but with an emphasis on how the guitar (or other instrument) plays a vital role in making the music whole, rather than being merely a "chord-vehicle" or something to hide behind when performing a song.

Topics to be covered:
*Considering every aspect of the guitar in the songwriting process, from initial ideas to finished performance
*Special emphasis on the "Guitar As Greek Chorus":
as accompanist, inspiration, commentator, colorist, comforter, crutch, and as equal partner in songwriting
*Discussing how and when the guitar can hinder the songwriting process, as well as how it can add melody, counter-melody, and the "glue" to vocal melody, which can sustain and propel a song
*Gentle discussion and critique of songs written (or in
progress) by the student.

About Jack Williams:
The music of Jack Williams, rooted in his native South Carolina, was shaped by a 59-year career of playing folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s. He is counted among the most dynamic performers on today's "folk" circuit - "...one of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I've ever encountered", said Dave Humphreys of Two-Way Street Coffeehouse in Downer's Grove, IL. Jack is considered a "musician's musician", an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar. Rich Warren of WFMT Chicago's The Midnight Special said, "His artistry is nothing short of amazing". Vic Heyman, in SING OUT!, wrote, He is one of the strongest guitar players in contemporary folk. Jack frequently shares his musical knowledge with others. In addition to leading numerous workshops as he tours the country, he has been on the staff of The Swannanoa Gathering in NC, Lamb's Songwriter Retreat in MI, The Folk Project in NJ, WUMB's Summer Acoustic Music Week in NH, and co-hosts a semi-annual Music Workshop Weekend near his home in the Ozarks.

His songs have been recorded by artists ranging from Tom Jones and David Clayton-Thomas to Chuck Pyle, Cindy Mangsen, Ronny Cox and Lowen & Navarro. In addition to his solo career, as a guitarist he has accompanied such luminaries as Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul & Mary), Mickey Newbury and Harry Nilsson.