Russ Spiegel
In 2001, Russ returned to the US, settling in the mecca of New York and quickly found himself busy on the music scene. Alongside performing - from solo guitar to running his ensemble The Russ Spiegel Jazz Orchestra (a 17-piece band featuring Russ's compositions and arrangements)
Awards
Jazz Stipendium (Jazz Grant) City of Frankfurt, Germany: 10,000 German Marks, 1999.
Tags
"...an impressive outing...inspired post-bop compositions."
-Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
"Channeling the spirited energy of hard-bop with the progressive aesthetics of rock music, Spiegel carves out his own niche in the contemporary jazz scene."
-Troy Collins, All About Jazz
"Intellectual to the core, melodic and elegant, [Spiegel's] music will engage and challenge you at the same time."
-Ed Blanco, EJazzNews
"A killer guitarist that’s simply welcome all over the world, Spiegel lays it down without pretense or drama and lets his clean lines and solid playing provide all the drama and dynamic tension non-smooth jazz should have."
-Chris Spector, Midwest Record
"Spiegel plays with a clear, bright sound and his solos reveal a sure-footed rhythmic instinct and a harmonic sense which may be rooted in bebop but which also leans towards the future."
-Charles Alexander, Jazzwise (London)
Primary Instrument
Guitar
Location
Miami
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
Teaching Experience:
2005 – 2008: Guitar Instructor & Band Coach for the hit Nickelodeon TV show “The Naked Brothers Band.”
2007:Online Facilitator, Masters Level, Jazz Arranging Course, Boston University.
2004-2006: Graduate Assistant to undergraduate jazz ensembles, City College; Instructor, National Guitar Summer Workshop, New Milford, Connecticut.
2006: Guest Instructor, State of Hesse youth championship small ensemble and big band winners (Jugend jazzt), Germany.
2004-2006: Instructor, National Guitar Summer Workshop, New Milford, Connecticut; Graduate Assistant to undergraduate jazz ensembles, City College.
2002-2004: Guitar Instructor at Slope Music, Brooklyn.
2000: Instructor for State of Hesse Youth Big Band, Germany.
1998-2000: Instructor, Jazz Guitar Master Class, Rhythm Section Workshop, and Jazz Standards Workshop for Kulturwerkstatt Waggong Frankfurt, Germany.
1999: Director, Jazz Improvisation and Rhythm Section Workshop for U.S. Army Band, Wiesbaden, Germany.
1993-97: Instructor, Professional Program, Future Music School, Aschaffenburg, Germany. Contributed to textbooks for use in Harmony/Theory, Ear-Training and Guitar instruction.
1988-92: Director, Jazz Workshop, Jazzclub Rödermark, Germany.
1987-88: Instructor, Assabett School for Continuing Education, Marlboro, Massachusetts; Mercuri Music, Westboro Massachusetts.
Subjects: Guitar, Bass, Repertoire, Ear Training, Rhythm, Harmony/Theory, Composition, Improvisation and Combos.
Styles: Jazz, Latin, Funk, Fusion, Blues, Rock and Classical.
Education:
2004-2006: M.A. in Jazz Performance, City College, New York. Studies with Adam Rodgers, Paul Bollenback, Ben Monder and John Patitucci. BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, A Section.
1987-2000: Private lessons with Jerry Bergonzi, Jon Damian, Mike Longo and Jonathan Kreisberg.
1986-88: Certificate of Music, Berklee College of Music, Boston. Recipient of Professional Music Scholarship. Studies in Performance (Guitar), Arrangement and Composition. Instructors: Brett Wilmott, Jim Odgren, Garrison Fewell, Charles Chapman, and Al Defino.
1982-1984: B.A. in Philosophy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Workshops and Seminars:
Having taught in schools, universities, and a variety of workshops, and with an extensive amount of experience in all aspects of music creation, I am available for workshops and seminars. I teach the following subjects:
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Latin Guitar
Improvisation
Arranging and Composition
Rhythmic skills
Big Band performance
Small band coaching
Private Instruction:
Over 25 years experience teaching all levels and all ages, I am currently accepting applications for new students in the New York area. Ask me about my rates.
Clinic/Workshop Information
Photos
Album Discography
The Alchemist
From: The AlchemistBy Russ Spiegel
New Bamboo
From: The AlchemistBy Russ Spiegel