Home » Jazz Musicians » Josh Sheiman
Josh Sheiman
Josh Sheiman’s musical journey began while living overseas in the Netherlands. He received a guitar at age 12 and was immediately drawn to the instrument. Inspired by guitar legends such as Jimmy Page and Jimmy Hendrix, Josh looked to gain a combination of virtuosity and creativity. Upon moving back to Houston, Josh began studying with John Edward Ross. His interest in improvisation led him to a love and appreciation for jazz. While in high school, he won “Excellence in the Study of Music” award at Episcopal High School as well as the “Duke Ellington” award at the Summer Jazz Workshop. After being accepted to many of the top music schools in the nation, Josh chose to pursue an undergraduate degree in jazz guitar at the University of Miami. Under the instruction of native Houstonian Randall Dollahon, Josh gained an exceptional knowledge and appreciation of traditional and contemporary jazz. He thoroughly enjoyed playing with such artists as Kevin Mahogany, as well as winning a downbeat award with the funk-fusion ensemble. Upon returning to Houston in 2008, Josh has kept a busy gigging and teaching schedule. He has regularly played in several different award winning Top 40 bands as well as performed in musicals all across the Houston area including “Jesus Christ Superstar” featuring Ben Vereen. As an educator, Josh has enjoyed teaching at the Emery/Weiner School for the last 6 years as he has helped to develop a unique and contemporary multi-instrumental program with Kelly Dean. The program just won it’s third consecutive NAMM award for “Outstanding Support of Music Education.” In 2015, Josh completed a master’s degree in music education from Boston University. The last several years, Josh has looked to dedicate more time to his love of composing, arranging, and producing. In 2013 he recorded his first album of all original material “21st Century” at Blue Bamboo Studios in Houston. Currently, Sheiman writes, arranges, records, and mixes for his group The All Original Cover Band. You can also hear many of his latest compositions with jazz/fusion group Groove Adhesive. In July 2020, Sheiman is set to release “Solo Sessions Vol. I.” It is a solo-guitar album that features all of his own arrangements of mostly jazz standards. The album was all recorded and mixed in his study at home during COVID-19.
Awards
2006 Downbeat Award Winner for Funk/Fusion Ensemble at Frost School of Music (Miami)
Tags
Album Review
Josh Sheiman: Solo Sessions Vol. 1
by Edward Blanco
Houston native jazz guitarist Josh Sheiman, a composer, arranger and educator, records his first solo-guitar album on Solo Sessions Vol. 1, a production of primarily familiar jazz standards presented in another light through new and crisp arrangements which make some of these old songs sound fresh and vibrant. Deciding to do this project in March 2020 was, in a sense, a reaction to the pandemic health crisis facing the USA, the cancelation of all concerts and the fear the virus ...
Continue Reading
The guitarist performs six jazz standards, the Beatles’ “Across The Universe,” and his own “Silent Song.” On the
opening “Across The Universe,” as on many of the performances, Josh Sheiman sounds as if he is thinking aloud in a
thoughtful manner. He gives “Nature Boy” a rhythm by tapping his guitar at times, playing off of the riff throughout
the piece. His luscious chords on “The Nearness Of You,” one of Hoagy Carmichael’s most haunting melodies, is
particularly memorable, as is the melodic interpretation given Carmichael’s “Georgia On My Mind.”
“There Is No Greater Love” is the most uptempo piece with Sheiman’s alternation of single-note lines with
chords, being worthy of Joe Pass
Tuck Andress
guitar, electric
John Scofield
guitar
Wayne Shorter
saxophone
Mike Stern
guitar
Bill Evans
piano
Bill Frisell
guitar, electric
Jim Hall
guitar
Charles Mingus
bass, acoustic
