John Guari

visit to Seattle

admin — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:33:58 +0000

I just got back from spending Thanksgiving in Seattle, Washington. I stayed with my girlfriend Siri and her brother and sister-in-law. Portions of my visit were also spent with Dave Dolengewicz and Lauren Hendrix. Last Tuesday, we went to the Owl ‘N Thistle Irish Pub for a jam session. All the players there sounded great. Dave and I sat in on the last three tunes of the night. This is the kind of stuff you go to when you’re breaking into a new scene (or even after you have broken).

more of what i’ve been up to

admin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:55:50 +0000

This is one of my more recent big band charts, “Rifts.” This is the recording from the Spring 2008 One O’Clock Lab Band at Lab Band Madness.

Some of what I’ve been up to

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:46:54 +0000

This is a clip from a few weeks ago of the UNT U-Tubes performing my arrangement of “I Thought About You” at the Greenhouse in Denton. After having written quite a few non-swinging charts, I decided to get back to basics and something straight ahead.

I Thought About You

Exhalation

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:44:32 +0000

Last night, I saw the senior recital of Kelyn Crapp (guitar) and Jeff Randall (drums). After their recital, they played two funk sets at the Greenhouse. The whole night was fantastic. I think I saw Kelyn burst into flames at one point. His original tunes were excellent and had everyone in the room nodding their heads. Jeff is very good at restraint and economy when it comes to a groove. Lots of drummers will throw too much extra junk into a groove, which diminishes its power. Jeff doesn’t do that.

Both these guys are in the 3 O’Clock Lab Band with me this semester. Bassist Scott Mulvahill is also a part of that rhythm section and their combined pocket is one of the tightest I’ve experienced or heard.

Van Driver Training

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:46:01 +0000

I just completed a two hour course to be certified to drive UNT’s 15-passenger vans. I’ll be driving alumni from Dallas’s airports into Denton. They’re going to be in town for this event, which will be an extravaganza, I’m sure. I don’t know who I’m driving. Who knows, I could be picking up Blue Lou Marini from the airport! We’ll just see.

the Scene

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:28:32 +0000

I’ve been reading Alex Stewart’s Making the Scene: Contemporary New York City Big Band Jazz. This has coincided with my recent VJO listening binge. I don’t know exactly when or if I’ll be living in New York, but part of me wants to try it.

I’m a good player and a good writer, but that only goes as far as my time here at UNT. I’ve managed to make it to the middle-top of the food chain, here, which is nice. Once I graduate, though, it’s on to a whole new set of challenges that will probably kick my ass so much harder than UNT has these past five years.

I’m excited about the prospect of entering into a new musical community, be it in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, or some other place that I haven’t even considered yet. Succeeding in any of these places will take a lot of perserverence and patience. It takes time to build relationships and reputation. At the same time, first impressions are crazy important. I’m going to practice being as professional as possible during my last few months at UNT.

Monday Night

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:07:58 +0000

I recently recieved Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard, the newest recording from the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. I’ve been listening to it a lot.

I’ve become increasingly interested in this band since the beginning of college, and even more so now that I’ve seen them live. I saw the band this past St. Patrick’s day, only a week after the passing of their longtime bassist and UNT Alum Dennis Irwin.

I’d like to make another trip to New York next year, and seeing the Vanguard Orchestra again will need to happen.

abandonment!

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:08:53 +0000

School got into full swing and I neglected this webpage. I’m insanely busy, but here’s what I’ve been doing lately.

On Monday, September 22, Peter Brewer, Mike Shields and I did a trumpet night at the Greenhouse in Denton. We played all manner of trumpety tunes (”Milestones,” “A Night in Tunisia,” etc.). Highlights of the night included an open jam on “Cherokee” with about a half dozen trumpet players (and Prof. Brad Leali on alto sax) sitting in, my arrangements of “Theme From Shaft” and “Feels So Good,” and the ultimate: Peter’s arrangement of “Gonna Fly Now” (the Maynard version) arranged for 10 trumpets. We actually had maybe 14 trumpets and flugelhorns playing at the same time. It was momentous.

I’ve been writing again. I did an arrangement of “Ritual” by Chick Corea for the UNT Zebras and an original work for big band entitled “Collapse of the Moon,” which was commissioned by friend and former roommate Jeremy Stones.

More to come soon. Hopefully I’ll post more frequently.

crazy busy

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 08:10:46 +0000

I’ve barely had time to take care of all my life obligations, much less think of anything to write in this space. Soon I will write something worth reading.

Syndicated Incorporated

admin — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:03:59 +0000

This coming Wednesday, September 10, I’m playing at the UNT Syndicate with the 3 O’Clock Lab Band. We’re playing some pretty nuts charts, including an arrangement of Elvin Jones’s “Three Card Molly” and a less often heard arrangement of “Frame For the Blues.”