Jazz Vermont is not only a guitar camp. It's a Band Camp for Grownups. This year our band directors will lead 8 different bands (3 big bands, 3 nine piece bands and 2 combos). As a guitar participant, you will be assigned to one of these bands. You will rehearse along with everyone else in your band 5-6 hours a day, attend improvisation or guitar workshops in the afternoon and rehearse with your rhythm section for an hour before dinner. Each evening there of Jazz Vermont there is a concert of some type. There are informal Jam Sessions on Sunday and Monday nights. The Staff Concert is Tuesday. Wednesday night we enjoy the Guest Artist Concert. Finally, on Thursday night each of our bands performs in a concert which is open to the public.

Jazz guitarist, Ben Sher will be in residence and teaching master classes in the afternoon. Ben is a unique jazz guitarist. Fluent in the classic jazz tradition of Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, and George Benson, Ben also draws from the rich Brazilian guitar tradition of Baden Powell, Raphael Rabello and Joao Gilberto. Ben combines standard jazz plectrum technique, with classical finger style to create a wide range of sounds and textures. Ben's unique blend of American jazz and Brazilian styles has made him one of the leading educators and performers in jazz guitar today. A 14 year veteran of the New York music scene, he received his B.A. in Music from Carnegie Mellon University while studying with the great Brazilian classical guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima. He received a Masters in jazz studies from the New England Conservatory. Jazz Vermont is happy to have Ben as a member of its staff.

Master Workshops at JV 2012

1. Fretboard Harmony and the Blues
   We've got to start with a blues right? It's the common denominator no matter what level or style you're playing is at. From there once we get to know each other I will present my unique approach to arpeggios and scales combining the vertical diagonal approach of Pat Martino with the more traditional horizontal approach. We'll look at the modes from a new perspective, based on George Russell's concept of tonal gravity.
2. Jazz voice-leading
   In this class, I will begin with a presentation of the underlying foundation on which ll/V/l chord motion is based. Then "comping" styles from Freddy Green to Kenny Burrell and beyond will be discussed. In the second half of this class we will begin to explore jazz soloing based on principles of voice leading.
3. Jazz soloing
   Building on the previous class, we'll look at some of the melodic devices that are used to build jazz lines: chromatic ornamentation, diatonic and chromatic sequences, and arpeggios. I'll be discussing some ideas that I learned from Barry Harris on freeing up my harmonic language.
4. Introduction to Brazilian and Latin styles
   Samba, bossa-nova, montuno- the basics!

Special First Timer Pricing for Guitarists.
First time guitarists at JV can attend for $1199.00 (shared room) at the Mount Snow Grand Summit Resort in West Dover, VT. Regular price for a shared room is $1374.00. There is an additional charge of $200.00 for a private room. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Special offer expires 2/14/12.

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