Home » Jazz Musicians » Garrison Fewell
Garrison Fewell
"The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston's most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick, who included Fewell's ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world's premier performer/educators. He has released 13 recordings for Soul Note, Koch, Splasc(H), Boxholder, Accurate, Nubop and CNM Records. For the past decade, he has collaborated with such renowned avant-garde musicians as John Tchicai, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell, Khan Jamal, Borah Bergman and Curtis Clark. The Variable Density Sound Orchestra, founded in 2008, released three recordings on Creative Nation Music, and balances both aspects of Fewell's musical personality by showcasing the melodic accessibility and sturdy framework of his compositions as well as the unbridled freedom of free improvisation.
A renowned jazz educator Fewell has taught at European Conservatories including Rotterdam, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Graz, Cologne, Leipzig, Warsaw, Krakow, the American School of Modern Music in Paris, and at McGill and Laval University in Canada, and conducted workshops for the International Association of Jazz Educators in New York City, Toronto, and the Montreux Jazz Festival. He taught at the Polish Jazz Society Summer Workshops, the New School (NY) at Veneto Jazz, Italy, and is the ear training and guitar instructor for Global Music Foundation at seminars across Europe.
Critics have called him "one of today’s most personal guitar players" (Boston Phoenix), "an assured stylist with a strong sense of tradition" (The New Yorker), "a player of virtuosity and swinging intensity" (UPI), and "refined, passionate, and inspiring" (Guitar Player). His diverse discography, beginning with 1993 Boston Music Award-winning “A Blue Deeper Than the Blue” (Accurate), counts multiple titles ranked on best of the year lists in publications such as Coda, Guitar Player, Musica Jazz, AllAboutJazz, The Wire, and his hometown Philadelphia Inquirer.
Fewell has performed and recorded with his quartet at NYC's Blue Note and Birdland Jazz Clubs, and performed at international festivals such as Montreux, North Sea, Umbria, Clusone, Veneto Jazz, Copenhagen, Krakow, Budapest, and Cape Verde, Africa. His experience includes concert tours with Tal Farlow, Benny Golson, Fred Hersch, Herbie Hancock, George Cables, Don Friedman, Jim McNeely, Hal Galper, Larry Coryell, Buster Williams, Cecil McBee, Cameron Brown, Steve LaSpina, Billy Hart, Kenny Wheeler, Tim Hagans, Dusko Goykovich, Cecil Bridgewater, Billy Harper, John Tchicai, Steve Swell, Roy Campbell, Jr., Khan Jamal, Norma Winstone, and Slide Hampton.
Read moreTags
Lica Cecato: Call Porter
by Angelo Leonardi
Quelle di Cole Porter restano alcune delle composizioni più raffinate e avvincenti del classico songbook statunitense e hanno avuto migliaia di versioni stilisticamente diverse nella popular music e nel jazz. Come recita il sottotitolo del disco, questa “distorsione temporale nella musica di Cole Porter" è una delle riletture più eccentriche. I leader sono Paolo Baltaro, polistrumentista e produttore di rock d'avanguardia, e Lica Cecato, versatile cantante di origini brasiliane diplomata al Berklee College che spazia dal jazz ...
Continue ReadingSconfini. Vent'anni di Jazz&Wine of Peace
by Neri Pollastri
Sconfini. Vent'anni di Jazz&Wine of Peace Flavio Massarutto, Luca Alfonso D'Agostino, Massimiliano Gosparini, Roberto Duse Controtempo2017 L'idea originaria era in realtà “solo" (se così si può dire) quella di un libro fotografico che documentasse i vent'anni di un festival importante e particolare qual è il Jazz & Wine of Peace di Cormòns, che cadevano quest'anno (clicca qui per leggere l'intervista al Direttore Artistico Mauro Bardusco e qui per la cronaca della rassegna). Un libro ...
Continue ReadingGarrison Fewell: Flawless Dust / Unbroken Circuit
by Neri Pollastri
Garrison Fewell, uno dei maggiori improvvisatori contemporanei, è scomparso il 5 luglio del 2015, non ancora sessantaduenne, per un male incurabile di cui aveva consapevolezza da molti mesi. Negli ultimi tempi aveva frequentato spesso il nostro paese (lo scorso anno è anche uscita per Auditorium la traduzione italiana del suo libro Lo spirito della musica creativa. Dialoghi con i protagonisti dell'improvvisazione) ed è proprio qui che ha registrato i dischi che presentiamo, pubblicati uno da Caligola e l'altro da Long ...
Continue ReadingGarrison Fewell: Invisible Resonance Trio, Inverso
by Vincenzo Roggero
Garrison Fewell Invisible Resonance Trio Creative Nation Music Valutazione: * * * ½ Due dei tre musicisti dell'Invisible Resonance Trio purtroppo non ci sono più -Roy Campbell è venuto a mancare nel 2014, Garrison Fewell nel 2015 -e questo amplifica il senso di meraviglia e di rimpianto nei confronti di un trio assolutamente paritetico, sorretto da naturale empatia e da profondità di pensiero. L'album denota un approccio improvvisativo improntato ad una grande libertà e ...
Continue ReadingStorie (minime) di chitarra
by Alberto Bazzurro
Non c'è strumento stilisticamente più tentacolare della chitarra, assolutamente centrale nel rock e nel blues, nel flamenco e in tanta musica latinoamericana, nel country e in svariata canzone d'autore, nella tradizione gitana e in altri anfratti ancora dello scibile sonoro planetario (nel jazz e nella classica occupa posizioni magari più appartate ma solidissime), destino tutto sommato singolare se si considera che, a conti fatti, solo due chitarristi hanno realmente cambiato la musica degli ultimi cento anni, Django Reinhardt e Jimi ...
Continue ReadingOpen Jazz Festival 2015
by Alberto Bazzurro
Teatro Giacosa, Sala S. Marta e Spazio Bianco Ivrea 19-21.03.2015 Dopo tanti anni di decentramento, e dopo la non indolore decurtazione della sua costola autunnale, l'Open Jazz Festival si è ripresentato al via in quest'inizio di primavera 2015 concentrando l'intero programma su Ivrea. Alla base di tutto c'è ovviamente una crisi che non sta di sicuro risparmiando (semmai il contrario) quelle rassegne che, a fronte di una storia largamente consolidata (nello specifico ultratrentennale), ...
Continue ReadingGarrison Fewell: Variable Density Sound Orchestra
by Lyn Horton
For the descriptively-titled Variable Density Sound Orchestra, guitarist Garrison Fewell has assembled a group whose members expertly develop the thematic content central to the pieces on the album. All but one are composed by Fewell, the disc closing with Butch Morris' “Namthini's Shadow." Trumpeter Roy Campbell, Jr. plays with Fewell for the first time here, the rest of the ensemble consisting of second guitarist Eric Hofbauer, reedist Achille Succi, bassist John Voigt, drummer Mike Matsuki and percussionist Alex Fewell, who ...
Continue ReadingJazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston's most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick, who included Fewell's ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world's premier performer/educators. He has released 13 recordings for Soul ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston's most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick, who included Fewell's ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world's premier performer/educators. He has released 13 recordings for Soul ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston's most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix's Jon Garelick, who included Fewell's ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world's premier performer/educators. He has released 13 recordings for Soul ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more.
Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more.
Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more.
Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more.
Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today! “The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today! “The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more. Place our Musician of the ...
read more
Jazz Musician of the Day: Garrison Fewell
Source:
Michael Ricci
All About Jazz is celebrating Garrison Fewell's birthday today!
“The guitarist formerly known as one of Boston\'s most eloquent inside players has become one of its leading experimenters," writes Boston Phoenix\'s Jon Garelick, who included Fewell\'s ensemble, the Variable Density Sound Orchestra, on his best of 2009 list. Fewell, a professor at Berklee College since 1977, has toured the globe for more than 35 years as one of the jazz world\'s premier performer/educators... Read more.
Place our Musician of the ...
read more
"His beautiful tone and effortless, fluid lines draw the listener in as only a select few have done...a fine guitarist who appeals on the sublime, emotional level of a Bill Evans or a Jim Hall." -James Rozzi, Wired
"His active imagination is restless; his musical intelligence is acute; his standards are high."-Thomas Conrad, DownBeat
"Continually surprising change-ups in phrasing, technique and timing, along with a perceptive balance between forward linear motion and shifting horizontal timbres are the hallmarks of Fewell's style."-Milo Fine, Cadence
"With phrasing that is simply flawless he digs into harmonies with a clear and unique style, free of clich."-M. Ariodante, Axe (Italy)
"Guitarist Garrison Fewell is a find one of the music's best kept secrets. A fine composer and a sure stylist with a hearty mahogany tone"-Bob Young, Jazziz
"Garrison Fewell performs flawlessly on guitar, gliding over the chords effortlessly."-Steven Loewy, All Music Guide
"Guitarist Garrison Fewell has the maturity to appreciate the importance of connecting the dots: fitting ideas together and making them work."-Nils Jacobson, All About Jazz
"The very title of Fewell's first Accurate CD - A Blue Deeper Than the Blue - suggests the layered indigo shades and poetic echoes heard from his guitar. Each note has shape and substance, each solo definition and flexibility... legato phraseology, ripe emotions, pristine beauties of sound." - Jazz Times
More Recording Reviews:
A Blue Deeper Than Blue (1993, Accurate Records): Awarded Best Jazz Recording 1993, by the Boston Music Awards, Top Ten by Coda Magazine, UPI, and Guitar Player.
"...a subtle jewel of a debut album, one that instantly places him in the top rank of jazz guitarists anywhere."-Boston Herald
Reflection of a Clear Moon (1995, Accurate Records): Awarded Top Ten Best Jazz of 1995 by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Birdland Sessions (2000, Koch Jazz): "Birdland Sessions is probably most significant for his catchy originals. several deserve to be interpreted by other players and have the potential to become future standards."- All Music Guide
Red Door Number 11 (2003, Splasc(H) Records): "Red Door is a lot like the timeless '60s duet recordings Bill Evans made with Jim Hall in more than a few ways. In the best ways, really. Provided you have the maturity to appreciate understatement, Red Door Number 11 is an unqualified success."- All About Jazz
"When it comes to playing traditional jazz guitar - nimble, swinging, bop- inflected lines on a honey- toned archtop - few contemporary pickers can match Garrison Fewell." - Andy Ellis, Guitar Player magazine. May '04
Good Night Songs (2006, Boxholder): Voted Best Jazz Recording of 2006 by the Boston Phoenix
"Tchicai posses an unfailing melodic instinct that turns his every improvisation into a miniature act of spontaneous composition. Guitarist Garrison Fewell whose ethereal playing brings out a more lyrical side in Tchicai, seems to drift along beneath his collaborators, providing a fluid bed over which they can serenely flow." - Shaun Brady, Philadelphia Citypaper
Big Chief Dreaming (2005, Soul Note): Voted Best of 2005 by Jazz Review (UK), and the Montreal Gazzette
"Like no other album to come across my desk this year, this one demands to be heard again and again. It unfolds over time and reveals no small charms. Tchicai and company make an evocative team. They also bring the scorched earth of free jazz back to life with a flower or two." - Dan Rose, One Final Note
Photos
Music
Videos
Similar
Thelonious Monk
piano
Duke Ellington
piano
Bill Evans
piano
Kenny Burrell
guitar, electric
Pat Martino
guitar
Joe Pass
guitar
Wes Montgomery
guitar
Bill Frisell
guitar, electric
Jim Hall
guitar
Hal Galper
piano
Bud Powell
piano
Horace Silver
piano
Derek Bailey
guitar
Laszlo Gardony
piano
Denny Zeitlin
piano
Art Ensemble Of Chicago
band / ensemble / orchestra
Garrison Fewell
Instrument: Guitar
Born: October 14, 1953
Died: July 6, 2015
Publicist: Improvised Communications
