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Doug Munro

Doug Munro is a critically acclaimed New York-based jazz guitarist. Since 1986 he has released 20 albums as a leader and has appeared on over 100 recordings as a sideman, producer, and arranger, working with artists like Dr. John, Michael Brecker, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. He has over 75 published compositions and over 300 recorded arrangements to his credit.

In the recording field, Doug has received two Grammy nominations and two NAIRD awards.His 2011 release, A Very Gypsy Christmas was a top 5 pick by the Wall Street Journal. Amazon.com picked Boogaloo to Beck, which he arranged, co-produced, and on which he played, as a Top Ten Jazz CD of 2003. Doug also did orchestration on the Oscar-winning documentary film When We Were Kings. His last CD released in 2017, The Harry Warren Songbook, received rave reviews and still enjoys strong airplay.

Doug has written four books on jazz improvisation for Warner Brothers Publications and Alfred Music Publications, including one entitled, From Swing to Bebop, which won the Music and Sound Retailers instructional book of the year award in 2000. His last print only book, The Total Latin Guitarist (Alfred Publishing) was released in 2010.

Doug now writes exclusively for online publications and instructional websites. He contributes guitar instruction articles for Premier Guitar magazine and is a teaching/artist contributor for TrueFire.com where he has three online instructional courses and his own dedicated subscriber channel called Doug Munro’s Guitar Garage.

Munro created and directed the Jazz Studies Program at The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in 1993 and is now Professor Emeritus (retired). He has been a teaching artist at the Litchfield Jazz Camp since 2009.

Awards

2011 Wall street Journal top 5 Christmas CD for "A Very Gypsy Christmas". two Grammy nominations and two NAIRD awards for work with the Skatilites Amazon.com picked Boogaloo to Beck , on which Doug performed, arranged, and co-produced, as one of its Top Ten Jazz CD’s of 2003. Doug also did orchestration work on the Oscar winning documentary When We Were Kings.

Gear

I endorse LaBella strings

Doug Munro: Putt Lake Toodleloo

Read "Putt Lake Toodleloo" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic

by Mike Jurkovic
November 25, 2022

In unsettled and unsettling times, it is a relief to know that Putt Lake Toodleloo is within easy reach. Its humble stance, breezy accessibility and easy familiarity serve as a respite from the dark anxious winds that gather. Two-time Grammy nominee and NAIRD award winner, guitarist/educator/composer/author Doug Munro, who founded the Purchase College Jazz Studies program and served as its director from 1993--2002, leads his spirited octet, the La Pompe Attack, through a swaying mix of originals and ...

Album Review

Doug Munro And La Pompe Attack: The Harry Warren Song Book

Read "The Harry Warren Song Book" reviewed by Roger Farbey

by Roger Farbey
January 31, 2017

Doug Munro is the great nephew of Harry Warren who was the first major American songwriter to compose specifically for films. All the tunes on this CD are from movies with the exception of two Munro originals, “Blues For Harry" and “You Again" and barring those two and “Nagasaki," were all written in the 1930s and 1940s. The music is played in the swinging style of The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France, whose most famous stars, ...

199

Album Review

Doug Munro: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0

Read "Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0" reviewed by Ken Dryden

by Ken Dryden
August 7, 2008

Doug Munro's sixth CD for Chase Music Group is a return to a traditional bossa nova trio, dropping the keyboards or sax utilized on most of his earlier projects. He is joined by bassist Michael Goetz, with Jason Devlin and Jason Anderson sharing the drum chair, all who primarily play supporting roles. The guitarist has a light touch and generally stays close to the melody on most tracks, opening with a shimmering treatment of Chick Corea's “Spain" ...

181

Album Review

Doug Munro: Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0

Read "Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0" reviewed by Edward Blanco

by Edward Blanco
February 9, 2008

Veteran jazz guitarist Doug Munro presents an encore performance to his critically acclaimed Big Boss Bossa Nova (Self Published, 2004), recording another monster of an album with Big Boss Bossa Nova 2.0. With four originals and a select repertoire of uncommon standards, BBBN2.0 is a more bare bones session than the more highly orchestrated BBBN, done in an intimate trio setting and showcasing Munro at his best.

Featured with the guitarist are bassist Michael Goetz and drummer Jason ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Doug Munro

Source: Michael Ricci
July 9, 2013

All About Jazz is celebrating Doug Munro's birthday today!

Doug is a critically acclaimed New York jazz guitarist. Since 1987 he has released eleven albums as a leader and has appeared on over 50 recordings as a sideman, producer, and arranger working with a diverse array of artists including Dr. John, Michael Brecker, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Doug has over 75 original published compositions and over 300 recorded arrangements by the finest players on the scene today... Read more.

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Doug Munro

Source: Michael Ricci
July 9, 2012

All About Jazz is celebrating Doug Munro's birthday today!

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Education

Litchfield Jazz Camp Announces Two New Courses And Select Places Still Available

Source: Lindsey Turner
June 8, 2012

Kent, CT: Litchfield Jazz Camp (est. 1997) is excited to announce new course offerings for 2012. Guitarist and Camp Teaching Artist Doug Munro will offer a College Prep Seminar during sessions three (7/22-7/27), four (7/29-8/3), and five (8/5-8/10). Doug, who is a Professor of Music at SUNY Purchase and founder of their Jazz Program, will offer an insider’s perspective on what to expect from a college-level program. This seminar will prepare students for higher education, whether at a conservatory or ...
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Recording

Doug Munro and La Pompe Attack "A Very Gypsy Christmas"

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services
December 1, 2011

Featuring: DOUG MUNRO guitar; KEN PEPLOWSKI clarinet; CYRILLE-AIMEE DAUDEL vocals; HOWIE BUJESE violin; MICHAEL GOETZ bass; ERNIE PUGLIESE guitar Jazz guitar virtuoso Doug Munro has an insatiable appetite for all things jazz. On his latest CD, A Very Gypsy Christmas Doug demonstrates his long standing love affair with the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli with 15 of the swingingest Gypsy Jazz versions of Christmas favorites you've ever heard. These are not the same old tired versions of traditional ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Doug Munro

Source:
July 9, 2011

All About Jazz is celebrating Doug Munro's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Doug Munro

Source:
July 9, 2010

All About Jazz is celebrating Doug Munro's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Doug Munro

Website | Photos | Articles

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Recording

Doug Munro Releases New Solo CD: "Alone But Not Alone"

Source: Michael Ricci
January 27, 2010

Master guitarist Doug Munro is back with a new solo project In Munro's own words... “All the music included here was performed live in the studio with no over dubs. I used a 'loop station' to create the multiple parts. The listener experiences the entire process." This is a recording of spiritual songs. Songs from the spirit and for the spirit. With a 20 year career spent on the edge of the mainstream Doug Munro continues to explore the boundaries ...
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Having worked with a veritable Who’s Who of Jazz and Soul artists Doug has garnered high praise from both his fellow artists and the press. “Doug Munro... well he can flat out play!” —Dr. Lonnie Smith "Doug Munro is a tremendously talented guitarist and composer who deserves the ears of a larger audience" —Steve Khan “Doug Munro is one of the finest Guitarist I've heard perform. His music is great to listen to, very entertaining, funky, danceable, not to mention his straight ahead groove. Doug is just GREAT!!!” —Melvin Sparks "Doug Munro plays in the tradition, but he has his own voice, combining elements of mainstream jazz guitar, Brazilian bossa nova and classical music

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

As an educator Doug created and was Director of the Jazz Studies Program at The Conservatory of Music at Purchase College from 1993-2002. He retired from the college in 2019 and is now Professor Emeritus. Doug continues to teach through his own subscription service at www.dougmunro.com and through www.TrueFire.com.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Credentials/Background

Clinic/Workshop Information

Here are two clinics/seminars I have done in the US and Europe. Title: Pentatonics : the Bridge between Jazz and Blues This Seminar would show the history, power and immediate connection pentatonic scales have with all of popular music whether it is jazz, blues, funk, Latin or rock. It would be taught directly from the book Organ Trio Blues that I originally wrote for Warner Brothers Publishing, which is now part of the Alfred Music Catalogue. Topics Covered: 1. Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scales A. Minor Pentatonic scale in all 5 positions B. Minor Pentatonic Scale Tone Chords C. Arpeggios in the Minor Pentatonic scale D. Blues Scale 2. Major Pentatonic Scale A. Major Pentatonic scale in all 5 positions B. Major Pentatonic Scale Tone Chords C. Arpeggios in the Major Pentatonic scale 3. Combining Major and Minor Pentatonic Scales A. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales over a major blues progression B. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales over a minor blues progression C. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales and the Blues scale over individual Chords D. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales and the Blues scale over a major blues progression E. Major and Minor Pentatonic scales and the Blues scale over a minor blues progression F. Major and Minor Pentatonic arpeggios and the Blues scale over a major blues progression G. Major and Minor Pentatonic arpeggios and the Blues scale over a minor blues Progression 4. Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale A. Dominant 7 Pentatonic scale in all 5 positions B. Dominant 7 Pentatonic Scale Tone Chords C. Arpeggios in the Dominant 7 Pentatonic scale 5. Minor Pentatonic Scale Superimposition A. Minor Pentatonic scales that work over major chords B. Minor Pentatonic scales that work over minor chords C. Minor Pentatonic scales that work over dominant 7 chords D. Playing superimposed Pentatonic scales over chord changes 6. Sequential Groups taken from Pentatonic scales A. 1-2-3-5 sequential group B. 1-2-4-5 sequential group C. 1-b3-4-5 sequential group D. 1-b3-4-b6 sequential group 7. Library of Major and Minor 12 bar Blues Progressions : THE TOTAL LATIN GUITARIST This seminar is built around anew book I have just completed for Workshop Arts/Alfred Music called “The Total Latin Guitarist”. The book looks at 23 different Latin styles for guitar from 6 different countries. The book, to say the least, was a daunting task. I am anxious to share what I learned, during the research and writing of the book, with other guitarists. The book should be out in the first quarter of 2010 so it will be available for the students who might take the seminar. The seminar itself would be a hands-on walk through of the book’s content with the added advantage of having the author of the book (me) as the facilitator of the seminar. Here is what would be covered in the seminar. CLAVE Son Clave Rumba Clave Bossa Clave Brazilian Clave MONTUNO/GUAJEO AFRO-CUBAN Salsa Rumba Guaguanco Cha-cha Mambo Songo Mozambique BRAZIL Choro Samba Batucada Partido Alto Bossa Nova Baiao Frevo DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Merengue TRINIDAD Calypso Soca Bachata ARGENTINA Tango MEXICO Ranchera Mariachi Norteno/Conjunto Tejano

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