AboutJohn Riemer Expertise I am a jazz guitarist with 47 years experience. Having come up through the '60s jazz scene in Chicago I offer unique insight to aspiring jazz guitarists as well as technical expertise honed while teaching jazz guitar programs at several Michigan colleges
Experience Performance History
Big band
• Harrison Hill’s Invincible Artistes -Chicago
• Terry Brejla Big Band- Chicago
• Earl “Fatha” Hines-Chicago
• Kalamazoo Big Band-Kalamazoo
Trio/Quartet
• Own group at Hungry Eye -Chicago
• Monti Brothers Band-Chicago
• Benny Zuchinni Radio Allstars
• Eddie Harris
Phoenix Arizona-Duo
• Bob Ravenscroft-Phoenix
• Herrick/Riemer Duo-Mesa Arizona
Kalamazoo -solo, duo and other
• Whistle Stop-own group “John Riemer Trio”
• Chaps-own group
• Grazin’ in the Brass-Solo
• “New Connection”-Quartet co-lead with Bill Braham
• Kalamazoo Symphony “Pop series”-Roger Williams,Rita Moreno, Englebert Humperdink, Sherry Lewis.
• Andrew Lloyd Weber Showcase-Civic Theater-Kalamazoo
• Barn Theater-Augusta-Many shows
• WMU-“Great American Symphony” Curtis Curtis-Smith, “JesusChrist,Superstar”
• District 211-Kamerling/Riemer Jazz Duo-Kalamazoo
• Grand Rapids Symphony-“Five by Design”
Publications Currently self publishing "Handbook for the Jazz Guitarist
Education/Credentials Kalamazoo Valley Community College -
Computer Usage.
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery -
Guitar Design, Building and Repair. Certificate.
Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University -
Liberal Music Studies and Private Guitar Instruction. Assoc. Performance
Devry Technical School, Chicago -
Basic Electronics. Certificate.
High School, Chicago, Illinois - Graduate
College prep courses
Seminars and Clinics
Sales Techniques, Music instruction, MIDI, Sound Installation
and NAMM Shows.
Expert: John Riemer Date: 12/5/2007 Subject: Need Help
Question Hi there im new to the Jazz scene. Ive just left home and i am really eperiencing new music. Ive taken a really good licking to Jazz. Im trying to find a perticular form of Jazz. I think it might be acid Jazz but i am not sure. Tom Scott played a song "tcb in e" that trully blew me away i loved it. I was wondering what kind of Jazz this song was. I herd some of his other tracks but they did not sound much like tcb in e. They all had a diffrent twist in them.
Thank you if you can help! (you can hear the song off i-tunes its in tom scotts smokers selection album)
Answer Generally Tom Scott is thought of as a West Coast jazz fusion artist.Some people in a similar style would be the Spyro Gyra,Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour.
Some artists in the West coast school of fusion smoothed out the sound and became very predictable and spawned the title of "Hot Tub Muzak" . Not a label I would be proud to carry, but that is what makes music interesting,"Something for everyone"
Miles Davis is considered the "God Father" of fusion by some authorities.The Brecker Brothers are an example of East Coast Style, a tougher edge to the tunes.My personal experience was in the 60's and 70's with Miles leading the way with groups like "Weather Report" "Tony Williams", "Larry Coryell" "Chick Corea", "Herbie Hancock"following.All were evident in my home town of Chicago and made a lasting impression on me.
It is a great aspect of the jazz genre with a long and well populated list of artists.
Good Luck,Enjoy!
