Join us on Saturday, November 20 at 5:00 pm for a Masterclass with guest musicians, guitarist Matt Munisteri and mandolinist Joe K. Walsh. Both instrumental virtuosos, singers, and world-traveling improvisers who will share their insights about the shared language running through bluegrass, jazz, and swing music. Grab a bite to eat in West Concord after the masterclass and return to CCM at 7:00 pm for a great concert by Munisteri and Walsh.
Driven by their deep faith in the improvised moment and their shared musical conversation full of surprises, they draw from the deep well of American music in crafting their sound. Joe and Matt will take you through the process of using melody as the springboard for improvisation during the masterclass.
To those who don’t yet do it, improvisation can sometimes feel like “divine inspiration.” It can seem that in every moment, the improviser must create an entirely new brilliant idea. In practice, though, many simple variations of melodies, rhythms, and shapes can generate beautiful, engaging, improvised variations. And these ideas can be taught and practiced. Our goal in the masterclass will be to illustrate the simple techniques that improvisers use to create new experiences. Using melodies and rhythms, the participants leave armed with some new approaches to improvising on melodies and chord changes.
CBC-Newfoundland hails Joe K. Walsh as “one of the best mandolinists of his generation” and Vintage Guitar Magazine as “brilliant,” Portland, Maine-based mandolin player. He’s known for his exceptional tone and taste. His collaborations with acoustic music have taken him all over the global and musical map. He’s played with everyone from John Scofield to Bela Fleck to Emmylou Harris and performed everywhere from festivals to laundromats to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. An avid educator, Joe is a mandolin instructor at the Berklee College of Music and regularly teaches at music camps throughout North America and beyond.
Matt Munisteri is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and educator based in New York City. A freewheeling and virtuosic guitarist on both acoustic and electric guitar—in modern and old-fashioned music—he credits the early jazz plectrists of the 1920s and ’30s with providing the foundation for his technique and musical direction. As one of a relatively small number of authoritative acoustic jazz guitarists playing swing and early jazz, Matt has recorded extensively. He is a first-call guitarist when a “period” sound is sought for CDs, film scores, and commercials.
We welcome you back to CCM as safely as possible; CCM’s Covid policy requires those over 12 to show proof of vaccination. We ask you to please wear your mask in the building at all times.
Attend both for $45 or the concert only for $20 and free for students 18 and under. Purchase tickets in advance at ConcordConservatory.org or payable at the door. Email info@concordconservatory.org or call (978) 369-0010 to learn more about CCM. Concord Conservatory of Music is the area’s non-profit community music school located at 1317 Main Street in the West Concord Union Church.
