OSPAC GUITAR FESTIVAL

OSPAC GUITAR FESTIVAL

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When an entire afternoon is dedicated to the virtuosity of guitar players, the action onstage gets hot. That’s what we have in store for you at OSPAC on Sunday August 3 when we launch the first OSPAC GUITAR FESTIVAL.

MAK GRGIC

Born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, he studied guitar in Zagreb with the revered Ante Cagalj at the Elly Basic Conservatory of Music and obtained his Bachelor's Degree with Alvaro Pierri at the Universitaet fuer Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria. At the moment he is pursuing his Doctoral Degree at the USC Thornton School of Music as a student of William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

He is also a teaching assistant at USC under the direction of Brian Head.

Mak recently took first prize at the Guitar Competition "Luigi Mozzani" in Italy and has been honored with highest prizes at: the Andres Segovia International Competition for young guitarists in Velbert, Germany, the Forum Gitarre Wien International Competition in Vienna, Austria, the International Guitar Competition in Arrenzano, Italy, the Anna Amalia Competition for young guitarists in Weimar, Germany, the International Guitarart Festival and Competition in Belgrade, Serbia and the EuropeanClassical Guitar Competition "Enrico Mercatali" in Italy.

DAVE STRYKER

Whether you’ve heard guitarist Dave Stryker leading his own group (with 25 CD’s as a leader to date), co-leading The Stryker/Slagle Band, or as a featured sideman with Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff, and many others, you know why the Village Voice calls him “one of the most distinctive guitarists to come along in recent years.”  Dave’s new CD “Eight Track” (available now), is a celebration of classic pop tunes from the 70′s reimagined by his

working trio. Dave’s guitar is joined by Jared Gold on Hammond B3 organ, and McClenty Hunter on drums with special guest Stefon Harris on vibraphone. Dave was recently voted into the 2013 Downbeat Critics and Readers Poll for the 6th time.… One of the most joyous feels around. -Pat Metheny

BOB DEVOS

With horn like, blues-drenched lines and a warm, fat sound, Bob DeVos has an enthusiastic following for his signature mix of groove and sophistication. His trio's tight-knit performances of jazz standards, Rhythm & Blues, ballads, and Bob's hip compositions and arrangements

thrill audiences nationwide. His recent HighNote/ Savant Records and American Showplace releases were all in the Top Ten National Airplay Charts for many weeks and Top Ten of the Year lists.  Bob has played with a who's who of jazz legends. In recent years he has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, the Kitano, SMOKE, plus many national & international festivals. Critics hail Bob as "the thinking man's guitar hero, a brilliant, knowing bebop player," and dig his "infectious, funky groove."

NAT JANOFF

guitarist, composer and teacher Nat Janoff has been working steadily in the contemporary jazz scene for the past 15 years. After earning his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from William Paterson University in 1996, Nat set to work forging his own musical path. The first marker on that path was Nat’s 1999 debut album, Looking Through,

featuring the rhythm section of world-renowned electric bassist Matthew Garrison and drummer Gene Lake, putting Nat on the map as both a player and a composer.

Two more albums soon followed—a live acoustic recording with fellow William Paterson alumnus Jake Schwartz(simply titled, Live) and a collaborative project with Rave Tesar on keys (of Annie Haslam’s Renaissance) and Ray LeVier on drums, entitled Berkana.

BRUCE EDWARDS

For many years now, Bruce Edwards has been a "first call" guitarist in New York's music community. His chameleonic ability to adapt his style and sound to suit the demands of the moment has taken him from playing bluesy rock with G.E. Smith and Lenny Pickett of the saturday Night Live band in one moment, to the frenetic avante-garde jazz of visionary Sun Ra in the next, as well as accompanying artists as diverse as R&B group Fatty Koo.   

As a guitarist, composer, arranger, and musical director, Bruce has worked on Broadway in the hit musical "Swing!" as well as plays by Keith Glover, Diane Macintyre, and others