PLAY JAZZ

Traveling School in Gijón, Asturias

Jimmy Weinstein's Combo 

l to r, Alex, David, Jose Ramon, Nacho, Iyan. Jimmy, Adrian, Marina

Taller de Jazz en Gijón, Asturias

Jimmy Weinstein's Traveling School went on the road again with Matt Renzi and Masa Kamaguchi,  this time to beautiful Gijón, Asturias on the northern coast of Spain.  A fantastic week of workshops, that included instrument lessons, improv sessions and ensembles.  A total of 5 days with a teachers concert, a students concert and 6 hours of workshops every day.

The workshop was organized by René de Coupaud of the Taller de Musicos at Centro De Cultura in Gijón, Asturias, and coordinated by saxophonist, Andreas  Prittwitz.

Masa Kamaguchi's Advanced Improv Class performing at the Centro de Cultura in Gijón.

Jimmy's combo/improv class worked on a variety of concepts and compositions, and actually wrote a tune for the final concert. the ensemble's repertoire included: Sonny Moon For Two (Sonny Rollins), Duke's Place (Duke Ellington), Ozark Mountain Blues (traditional), In A Silent Way (Zawinul), Great,  

as This Ocean (Weinstein), Dr. Freezee (Max Roach), Max Roach (Weinstein) and Gijón Funk (Ensemble).

Matt Renzi's group worked on classic jazz tunes like Lady Bird (Dameron), Blue Bossa (Dorham),

and blues as well as many of Matt's improv techniques adapted for his improv and instrument classes.

A strong front line of trombone and alto sax with guitar, bass and drums rhythm section the group was totally self sufficient on stage, handling everything on their own.

Masa Kamaguchi taught the advanced improv class and combo splitting them into two quartets and having them perform all together as well as separate groups. They performed classics such as Oleo (Rollins), Caravan (Tizol), India (Coltrane), Take Five (Desmond) as well as experimenting with free improvisation.

Jimmy Weinstein's Drum Class: Maria, Pier, Gabriel, Iyan, Alex, Adrian, Gonzalo

The group worked different aspects of time feel for playing Swing, New Orleans and Funk.

concentrating on the Shimmy, Shuffle and the Whip excercise.

With Eddie Wood, percussion instructor for the Junior Group

Renzi Weinstein Kamaguchi R/W/K started of the sojourn with a great show at Barcelona's famed jazz club The Jamboree and later did a series of concerts with pianist extraordinaire Jacobo de Miguel, while in Asturias.

Jacobo had heard RWK play in Gijón back in 2000 while touring Spain, promoting "lines and ballads" also the pianist Jose Ramon Feito had heard us and both had really taken to the concept of the trio. It was really a very special experience to work together with Jacobo and also with Feito as he taught piano during the workshop.

Jacobo de Miguel, with Matt and Masa at the Vida Alegre, where we played our first gig.
Our host Isabel Muñiz, along with bassist Horacio Garcia, cooked an amazing meal with friends and listeners.

Concert in Tolivia, Asturias. RWK plus Jacobo de Miguel, July 6 2012.

Stay tuned for news about Sa Pobla Mallorca Jazz Seminar scheduled for 7-11 of August.