Monthly Meeting Recap and News for September 2024

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Greetings guitar fans,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting and upcoming guitar events coming up in the coming months.

The Monthly Meeting

There were over 35 people in attendance last Thursday. The line-up of performers was small but mighty!

PROGRAM

John Swinnerton – The Road Home with Prelude (original)

Arturo Ville – Eu sei que veu te amar, Desafinado (A. Carlos Jobim), City Lights (Arturo Ville), Asturias (Isaac Albeniz)

Francesco Bard – Lessons of a Sage, Piscian Revelations – Originals

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – I’m Not Over You (Carl Jackson), Long Long Time (Gary White)

Mark Turnbull – In the Wind, Relax, The Destiny of Our Deeds (originals)

Matt Dorris – Vals Opus 8, Number 4 (Augustin Barrios), Little Café Suite (Dušan Bogdanović), Suite del Recuerdo (José Luis Merlin)

Outreach Corner

GSSO members Dan Fellman, Grant Ruiz, and Matt Dorris are presenting a class OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) called “Guitar Styles Throughout the World.” Each week we will present a different genre. Classes will be held both in-person and online on Thursdays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm from September 26 to October 17. On October 10, guest performer Lautaro Tissera Favaloro from Argentina will present tango guitar. He will also be our featured artist at the guitar society monthly meeting later that day! You can get more information at olli.sou.edu.

Announcements

Grant Ruiz and Terry Longshore (Dúo Flamenco) will perform at the OSF Green Show on Saturday, September 28 at 6:45pm with special guest, bassist Todd Ragland. They will present a program of pan-Latin music and flamenco.

Jimmy Grant, who played at the August meeting, is putting on a music event called “Camp Django” for people to learn the art of Gypsy jazz. The camp takes place October 3-6 in Ashland. You can get more information and register at learngypsyjazz.com/camp-django.

Jimmy will be in concert with fellow Gypsy jazz guitarist Sam Farthing and special guests at the Havurah Synagogue in Ashland on Saturday, October 5 at 7:30pm. You can get more information and tickets here.

Renowned classical guitarist Ana Vidovic, who has appeared in the Rogue Valley twice, played a lovely guitar concert for the Austin Classical Guitar Society at their intimate venue, The Rosette. You can watch the concert footage here.

The guitar society has a new Resource page on the website! There you will find information on guitar performers, teachers, and luthiers/repair technicians. We hope to continue growing the page, so if you or someone you know would like to be listed on it, please visit the Resource page and hit the “Request to be listed” button. (You’ll be prompted to become a GSSO member in case you already aren’t.) As a performer, the guitar society will also help announce your upcoming gigs.

Speaking of which, please consider becoming a member of the guitar society! Annual dues are $25 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 or more people) and help pay for logistical costs. They are good for the calendar year, January through December.

As an early reminder, Board elections are coming up in December. If you’re interested in serving on the Board to help determine the future of the guitar society, please reply to this message. FYI, guitar society members are always welcome to attend our monthly Board meetings to get an idea of what we’re working on and planning.
 
Guitars for sale

Former guitar society Board member Bruce Smith is selling his 1963 Manuel Velazquez “El Clasico” guitar. The guitar is 650mm scale with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a cedar neck, and a spruce soundboard. The sound is deep and rich. The asking price is $2,000. Please contact Bruce Smith at brucedouglasmith@gmail.com or (541) 261-6240‬.

Long-time Ashlander and sound technician Tom Frederick is selling a DiGiorgio classical spruce top guitar made in Brazil with a hardshell case, all for $425. You can get more information here.

Monthly Meeting Recap and News for June 2024

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Greetings guitar fans,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, the Guitar Society’s latest events, and announcements and upcoming guitar events coming this month, including tonight!

The Monthly Meeting

Last Thursday we had a sweet evening of music and camaraderie, as well as performances by folks who played at our meeting for the first time.

Program

KGTR Guitar Ensemble (Judy Trautman, Kristi Schoenbachler, Francie Buckley, Peter Jespersen) – All in a Garden Green (anonymous, arranged by Andrew Forest), Pavane Vous Qui Voulez by Claude Gervaise

Randall Walker – Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg, Crazy as a Loon by John Prine

John Swinnerton – Paschal Boogie (original); Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S. Bach (arranged by John)

Neil Holland – Paschal Boogie, Martinique (originals)

Peter Bland – Wichita Lineman by Jimmy Webb, See What 60 Brings (original)

Francesco Palmer – 1913, Father’s Day (originals), Fragile by Sting

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – New Kid in Town by J.D. Souther and the Eagles, Lone Star by Norah Jones

Matt Dorris – La Catedral by Agustín Barrios

Grant Ruiz – Brazilian Dance by Jorge Morel, Sons de Carrilhões by João Pernambuco

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman – Manhã de Carnaval by Luis Bonfá, Claire de Lune by Joseph Cosma, Ritmo Suave by Grant

Outreach corner

On June 7, a number of GSSO members performed for an appreciative gathering of guests at Rogue Retreat, a local organization that helps the homeless restore their lives Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman played toe-tapping music from around the word.

Announcements

Brian Parris will perform at the Oxenfrē Public House Public House in Brookings on Tuesday, June 18 starting at 8pm, and at the Chetco Brewing Company in Brookings the next night, June 19, at 5pm.

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman will play guitar duets at Tap & Vine at 559 at the Medford Center on Wednesday, June 26 at 5pm. They will also play at the Lithia Artisans Market on Friday, July 5 at 2pm.

Corvallis-based classical guitarist extraordinaire Cameron O’Connor will be our featured artist for our next monthly meeting on July 11. Cameron is an active performer and currently serves on the faculty of Oregon State University. He will play during the second half of the meeting. We’ll tailor the performances by local guitarists to give them as much time as possible to play.

The Folias Duo had an extraordinary house concert on May 22 in Ashland. The setting and acoustics were splendid, and the duo called it the best house concert of their tour. (They also rated the Ashland Food Co-op as their favorite store on tour!) Although this was not a GSSO-sponsored event, our members may be interested in signing up for the email list of this sweet venue. The owner, Cory Ross, asked that folks email her at 32paint@gmail.com with the subject line “House concerts”, and she will add you.

Please consider becoming a member of the guitar society! Annual dues are $25 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 or more people) and help pay for logistical costs. They are good for the calendar year, January through December. Performers, teachers, luthiers, and repair people will have the added benefit of being included in the upcoming Resource page of our website, plus the Society will help announce your services

Monthly Meeting Recap and News for May 2024

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Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, the Dragos Ilie concert and outreach events, and lots of announcements and upcoming guitar events coming this month, including tonight!

The Monthly Meeting

Last Thursday was a lovely evening. We kept the doors open to let the warm, Spring breezes waft through the tasting room. We thank Paschal Winery for their continued hospitality and support, providing us with a beautiful home.

Program

John Swinnerton – Phoenix Rising (original)

Steve Bismark – Oscar’s Dream by Maria Linneman, Curaçao Vagabundo by Caetano Veloso

Richard McGrath – The Glory of Love by Billy Hill, Johanna’s Journey (original)

Neil Holland – Warm West Texas Wind, Bouzouki Laments (originals)

Francesco Palmer – Mother Nature Son by Paul McCartney, Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce, What a Wonderful World by George Wiess & Bob Thiele

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – Across the Universe by John Lennon 1968, Dark Eyed Cajun Woman by Tom Johnston

Mark Turnbull – The Spring in My Step, Branches, Roots and Vines (originals)

Grant Ruiz – Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie

Dan Fellman & Grant – Nocturne by Dan, Leaving/Cuando Yo Muera by Dan (words by Pablo Neruda), Hotel California (Gipsy Kings version) by The Eagles

 Dragos Ilie visit a big success!

What a week for GSSO! Dragos Ilie arrived on Monday, April 29 and performed at four outreach events and then held a virtuosic, intimate concert for us at Grizzly Peak Winery on May 2. He had told Grant that he normally doesn’t give encores, but he treated us to one, a stunning version of Dizzy Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisia arranged by Roland Dyens.

We were so sad to see him go, but here are some pictures from our week. We wish Dragos the best of luck at the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) competition the week of June 17 and in all of his future endeavors.
 

Announcements


The Folias Duo (classical guitarist Andrew Bergeron and flutist Carmen Maret) will perform an intimate house concert in Ashland on Wednesday, May 22 at 7pm as part of their Dragonfly Tour. Please reply to this message if you’re interested. The message will go to Grant, who can provide more information, including the location. You can also write directly to Grant at grantruiz@ashlandhome.net.

Grant and Dan Fellman will play guitar duets on at the Paschal wine club pick-up party on Saturday, June 1 from 1 to 3pm. They will also play at the Lithia Artisans Market in Ashland on Sunday, June 9 from 1 to 3pm and at Liquid Lounge in Ashland on Wednesday, June 12 from 6 to 8pm.

On June 8 at 4pm, Chamber Music Concerts presents Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On: An Afternoon of Shakespeare and Guitar Featuring Anthony Heald & David Leisner. You can get more information here.

The guitar society received a sweet thank you card from Rupert Boyd of Boyd Meets Girl, who concertized for us back in March. Rupert writes, “Dear Jennifer, Grant, and everyone at the Guitar Society of Southern Oregon. Writing to thank you all so much for warmly welcoming us to Southern Oregon. We really enjoyed our time there, and performing for the society! With all best wishes, Rupert and Laura.”

For those of you who missed the Beijing Duo livestream concert presented by the Omni Foundation on April 6, you can find the full concert here.

Please consider becoming a member of the guitar society! If you attend or play at our meetings frequently, we would especially appreciate your support. Your membership helps pay for our ongoing logistical costs. Annual dues are $25 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 or more people). They are good for the calendar year, January through December.