Bob Erlendson Guitar Clinic – November 26, 2016

Description

Bob has promised to bring his 8 string guitar tuned in 3rds and discuss the value of straight tuning in 3rds and 4ths. He will also discuss Chromatic, Whole Tone, 8 note diminished Scales … Chord shapes and what ever pops in his head (as he put it – in my experience, this is what we come to learn). I had the great pleasure to visit him regularly a couple of years ago and was profoundly inspired by his outside the box thinking and wonderful insight into music. His years of performing and knowing some of the greatest musicians in history have made him a Canadian Icon.

Highly respected in jazz circles, Bob has played piano professionally for over 50 years!  Best known for educating Lenny Breau in jazz theory, his original composition “Lullaby” was published in “Guitar Player Magazine” 1983.  He was featured for the documentary “The Genius of Lenny Breau” (1999) and was a consultant on the book “One Long Tune: The Life and Music of Lenny Breau” published in 2006 by University of North Texas Press and written by Ron Forbes-Roberts.

Bob studied with Gordon Delamont in Toronto from 1972-1976.  Gordon’s book “Modern Arranging Technique” (1965) published by Kendor Music inc. New York, is well known and used in College’s and University’s across Canada.  Gordon’s health was declining from a heart condition and it was very difficult to get in for lessons with him, but Bob was sent to Gordon through a mutual friend and got bumped up to the head of the waiting list after their first meeting.

After several years of study, in 1976 Bob won the Eddie Karam Award for best new arrangement by Gordon Delamont students in Toronto.  It was during this time that he began focusing his arrangements on Octet charts.  He has many of his compositions arranged for Octet and has released two CD’s “All About Jazz – Volume 1” and “All About Jazz – Volume 2” which feature these arrangements.  He has recorded a concert April 1, 2011 which is currently being mixed and mastered to become “All About Jazz – Volume 3”.  The plan is to do 3 more albums to make a 6 album box set of his life’s work.

Bob’s compositions “Lullaby” and “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” were featured on Big Miller’s album “Live from Calgary” released by Black Bear records in 1982.  The composition “What’s A Good Man to Do” was recorded by Valerie Shearman in Toronto for use on her debut album in 2007.  The co-written song “Rick n’ Bob” was released on Rick Washbrook’s album West Mystic in 2008 by dirty ice cream music.

“Winnipeg at Night” was recorded in Toronto by George Koller and Julie Michels for their album “Bass and Voice” released 2011.  “Winnipeg at Night” has been recorded by the Calgary Brass group the Foothills Brass and was released on their album “Bourbon Street To Broadway” in 2004.  “Winnipeg at Night” was recorded (with the Shirley Eikhard band) in 1998 for Bravo and has been broadcast internationally.

Since moving back to Calgary, Bob has been continuing to enthusiastically compose, and arrange songs for his Octet.  He is still passionately performing and teaching, with no sign of stopping.

Bob will be performing an evening house concert with his trio