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John Damberg
John Damberg is a master vibist, marimbist, percussionist,composer, and educator who has enjoyed a successful careerin music spanning 35 years. John currently resides inAnchorage, AK where he is the leader of the John Damberg LatinJazz Quintet, a member of the Jo Ma La Jazz Ensemble, theInstructor of Percussion at the University of Alaska Anchorage,the President and founder of the Alaska Jazz Workshop, a 501(c) (3) community service organization, which promotesappreciation for jazz through performance and educationalclasses. John is an activer performer on the Alaska and PacificNorthwest music scenes. He is an ardent promoter of jazz andpercussion education. John has three CDs to his credit as aleader. They are Human Hands (1993), Angies' Samba (1998)and Azure (2005). He has composed music for industrial andtravel videos including: Alaska Video Postcards releases"Crusing the Inside Passage" and "Monty the Moose". As apercussionist John has performed with internationally acclaimedjazz artists including: Milt Jackson, Cedar Walton, WyntonMarsalis, Ray Charles, Rebeca Mauleon, Michael Davis, DenisDiblasio, Carl Fontana, Allison Miller, Steve Erquiaga, JayThomas, Peggy Stern, and Don Lanphere and with renownedentertainers including: Harry Connick Jr. , Quincy Jones, theTemptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Sammy Daivis Jr.Steve Allen, Joel Gray, and Liberace. As a classicalpercussionist John has also performed with the Detroit, theSeattle, and the Anchorage Symphony Orchestras. John holdsBM, MM degrees in percussion performance and a BMEd degreein Music Education.
Tags
Primary Instrument
Vibraphone
Location
Anchorage
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
John Damberg is a master vibist, marimbist, percussionist, composer and educator who has enjoyed a successful career in music spanning 43 years. John resides in Anchorage, Alaska where he is the leader of the John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet, the Instructor of Percussion at the University of Alaska Anchorage, the founder and Executive Director of the Alaska Jazz Workshop, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit community service organization promoting jazz education and performance opportunities in Alaska. John is an active performer and educator in Alaska and Pacific Northwest. He is an ardent promoter of jazz & percussion education. John specializes in teaching performance and improvisation skills on all types of percussion instruments including drum set, vibes, marimba, steel drum, tympani, Afro-Cuban hand drums, and piano to beginning to advanced students from grade 6 through adults. He teaches Monday thru Saturdays at his home studio in North East Anchorage and online via FaceTime and Skype. John currently charges $60 for one hour lessons and $30 for 1/2 hour lessons. Payment may be made in cash, check via credit card. Background: John was born in 1952 in Kittery, Maine and received his early music training in Detroit, Michigan. He moved to Seattle in 1979 and was very active on the Seattle Music scene until 1991, when he moved to Anchorage, AK to teach at UAA. John holds BM and MM degrees in Percussion Performance, Jazz Studies and Ethnomusicology, and a BM degree in Music Education. As a percussionist, John has performed in a wide variety of musical settings nationally and internationally including: original Latin and jazz ensembles, recording studio dates, with the Detroit, Seattle and Anchorage Symphony Orchestras and Broadway touring shows. John has performed with internationally acclaimed jazz artists including: Wynton Marsalis, Rebeca Mauleon, Eddie Palmieri, Jovino Santos Neto, Kristin Korb, Milt Jackson, Cedar Walton, Denis Deblasio, Brian Lynch, Oscar Stagnaro, Allison Miller, Michael Davis, & Mimi Fox and with nationally renowned entertainers including: Harry Connick Jr., Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Sammy Davis Jr., Steve Allen, Joel Gray, and Liberace. As a composer, John writes music for his Latin Jazz Ensemble and for other creative projects including: movie sound tracks, travel videos and children’s educational videos. John’s compositions have been featured on the 2005 CD release Azure by the JoMaLa Jazz Quintet, the 1998 CD release of Angie’s Samba by the John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet, the 1993 release of Human Hands: a Composers and Improvisers Ensemble, on his 1985 release of Soaring and on videos including “Cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage” and the award winning children’s video “Monty the Moose”. John is currently working on a new CD of original jazz, Latin, and funk music to be released in September 2012 featuring the John Damberg Latin Jazz Quintet. As an educator, John is a passionate educator who uses his love for people, music and self expression to help his students develop effective strategies to realize their passions, goals and dreams while building well balanced and rewarding lives. He is a visionary actively promoting creative collaborations with other individuals in strong leadership teams to enhance the growth and well being of the Alaska Music and Arts community. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Alaska Jazz Workshop, a 501 (c) 3 community arts and service organization founded in 2000 to promote jazz education and performance opportunities in Alaska. John has mentored with over 2,000 Middle and High School students through the Alaska Jazz Workshop. Please go to www.johndamberg.com for more information.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Photos
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson