Results for "Gene Ess"

Gene Ess

Born: July 31

Award-winning guitarist Gene Ess's unique style stems from a multicultural background. Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Gene Ess grew up on a US Air Force Base on Okinawa, where he studied piano while receiving a mix of influences. Gene's early years were filled up with the sounds of classical music, from Beethoven to Chopin, while growing up surrounded by indigenous melodies, and pop and jazz music coming out of American military clubs. All this amounted for an early obsession with music.

Fellow musicians and instructors considered young Gene a prodigy and, by the early age of 14, he was a busy musician, performing all around Okinawa. After graduating high school, Ess left for George Mason University. There, he pursued classical music studies with Andres Segovia's disciple Larry Snitzler, and orchestral composition under Dr. Glenn Smith.

Ah-Bop

By Gene Ess

Label: SIMP Records
Released: 2022
Track listing: Ah-Bop; Waltz; Yuki; Array; Dark Blues; Crossing; Trance; Ending Credits

Take Five with Gene Ess

by AAJ Staff
December 22, 2022

Meet Gene Ess Award-winning guitarist, Gene Ess, draws upon a diverse background to form his unique style. Studying classical piano, Gene's early years were filled with the sounds of Beethoven and Chopin. Originally from Tokyo, Japan and growing up on a U.S. Air Force Base on Okinawa, Gene was simultaneously receiving a mix of influences: he ...

The String Section: Nels Cline, Marc Ribot and More

by Jerome Wilson
November 30, 2022

This show focuses on string players,. It mostly features guitarists and bassists, but it also includes a set of string ensembles backing soloists. Musicians heard on the show include Margaret Slovak, Marc Ribot, Nels Cline, Charles Mingus, and Lenny Breau. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from he Complete ...

Ah-Bop

October 15, 2022

Album: Ah-Bop
By Gene Ess
Label: SIMP Records
Released: 2022
Duration: 4:45

Apotheosis

By Gene Ess

Label: SIMP Records
Released: 2019
Track listing: The Return; Sands of Time (Okinawa); Same Sky; Bluesbird; Tokyo Red; Fireflies of Hiroshima; Day for Night; Two Worlds.

Gene Ess: Apotheosis

by Chris Mosey
March 19, 2019

The inspiration for Apotheosis, Japanese-American guitarist Gene Ess's fourth album, is taken from mythologist James Campbell's book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces," first published in 1949. In this Campbell describes apotheosis as “the expansion of consciousness a hero experiences when defeating his foe." His theories concerning fictional heroes have been used as ...

Nuove vocalist all’orizzonte

by Angelo Leonardi
March 19, 2019

Nuove vocalist crescono. Da qualche anno, sia nel jazz che nella black popular music, sono emerse vocalist di talento, prossime a imporsi negli anni a venire. In questa fase storica di globalizzazione spinta anche il canto jazz è entrato in una dimensione globale. Aumentano le possibilità per tutti di apprendere le forme espressive delle musiche afroamericane ...

Absurdist Theater

By Gene Ess

Label: SIMP Records
Released: 2016
Track listing: Out Of The Ashes; Circe's Compassion; Jade Stones; Kunai; Torii (The Gate); Forkball (For Ornette); Dejala Que Pase; Upward And Onward!

Gene Ess: Absurdist Theater

by Jerome Wilson
October 9, 2016

On this CD guitarist Gene Ess and his group Fractal Attraction have put together an intelligent fusion of jazz, folk and rock concepts led by the glassy clarity of Ess' guitar and the calm beauty of Thana Alexa's voice. Alexa's rising and falling wordless tones are the first thing heard on the disc and they lead ...