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: 8/6/2007 Subject: cannonball adderly
Question I just listended to "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" which is wonderful. The music to the song "Sticks" sounds just like the Glen Campbell recording of "Gentle on My Mind" by Hutchinson. I could not find credit for the music. Am I mistaken? Thanks for answer.
Answer This would be a stretch for my ear. "Sticks" has a harmonic structure that is more blues related...starts on the one chord moves to four chord and then does a Five chord/ four chord change something like Hancock's "Watermelon Man"
"Gentle on My Mind doesn't have any of the harmonic motion that "Sticks " does. You must be hearing a similarity in the melody line. I don't think there is any plagiarism here.
An interesting memory was stimulated with your question. I was living in Chicago at the time of this recording and I attended a rather informal church service given at a theater in Chicago, I think it was the "Trianon Theater" Mercy' Mercy ' Mercy was being presented by Cannonball and Zawinal. It was well received and was to be recorded at a club "The Plugged Nickle" It never happened, the recording was done in a west coast studio and the crowd noise were people brought into the studio and given free drinks, you might notice the high level of exuberance on the recording. People usually don't have that much fun when paying for their own drinks.
