azsamad's Xanga

NEW VIDEOS: 4 songs from Az Samad @ Mission City Coffee, Santa Clara, CA, Nov 2 09

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:57:56 GMT

Az Samad Live at the Acoustic Guitar Night (hosted by Doug Young), November 1 2009
Mission City Coffee Roasting Company, Santa Clara CA

Selections from the Performance:

1. The C Factor
2. Do You Insult Me Waltz
3. Irama Espanyola
4. The Way You Say Our Names

All songs composed and performed by Az Samad.

Video courtesy of Tony Yamamoto. (http://www.yamamotoguitar.com/)

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/azsamad
Buy CDs: http://www.cdbaby.com/azsamad
Full Bio/Performance Dates/Press Info: http://www.sonicbids.com/azsamad

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:10:50 GMT

Irama Espanyola
Composer/Performer:Az Samad
Available on Az Samad's album "Acoustic Gestures" on iTunes and http://www.cdbaby.com/azsamad

Tuning: Standard (EADGBE)
Guitar: Takamine EN-60C

Live at the Acoustic Guitar Night (hosted by Doug Young), November 1 2009
Mission City Coffee Roasting Company, Santa Clara CA

Video courtesy of Tony Yamamoto. (http://www.yamamotoguitar.com/)

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/azsamad
Buy CDs: http://www.cdbaby.com/azsamad
Full Bio/Performance Dates/Press Info: http://www.sonicbids.com/azsamad

NEW VIDEOS: Complete Concert-186 Jazz Combo @ Concert Hall,San Jose State University, San Jose CA

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:18:46 GMT

186 Jazz Combo @ Concert Hall, SJSU, San Jose CA Oct 22 2009
Directed by John Shifflett

Thursday, October 22nd 2009, 7:30PM
Music Concert Hall, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

San Jose State University 186 Jazz Combo:

Jessica Cabrera - piano
Adam Everett - drums
Jerry Holmes - baritone sax
Michael Larson - guitar
Kevin McCullough - vibes
Caleb Murray - bass
Az Samad - guitar
Dave Sanchez - trombone

Videographer: Yin Yin Boey

Setlist and direct link to individual songs:

1) I'll Catch You (John Scofield)
part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1dALy5GAuYY
part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FYhjRefigk

2) Take the Coltrane (Duke Ellington)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q0jLbkUtuc

3) Tell Her You Saw Me (Pat Metheny)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaz39xL1cbo

4) Moment's Notice (John Coltrane)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYM_QOyOVv

5) Serenity - Theme from Firefly (Josh Whedon)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Plbj4bj6cKc

6) Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StmFoX8XS0o

7) The Shadow of Your Smile (Johnny Mandel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo74_Ud4iLw

8) Nothing Personal (Don Grolnick)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1umbpLjsJQ

9) Bittersweet (Sam Jones)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7yOts1KVw

10) Cause We've Ended As Lovers (Stevie Wonder)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xvg0WJcuf8

11) Bolivia (Cedar Walton)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuWrS4qtjw

Planet Loop@Y2K9 International Live Looping Fest,Santa Cruz,CA

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:35:16 GMT

Complete set at the festival - two videos, two songs on each video!

Planet Loop is:
Michael Schaller (bass/loops/samples)
Carrie Jahde (drums/ electronics)

Featuring guest - Az Samad (guitar/loops)

Videographer: Yin Yin Boey

http://planetloopmusic.com/

NEW VIDEO: Az Samad - Her Red Hair (Teja Gerken)

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:38:13 GMT

This is a cover version of Teja Gerken's composition "Her Red Hair" originally found on his "On My Way" album. The piece is in G-Minor (DGDGBbD) tuning. "On My Way" is available on iTunes and at www.cdbaby.com/teja.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/azsamad
Buy CDs: http://www.cdbaby.com/azsamad
Full Bio/Performance Dates/Press Info: http://www.sonicbids.com/azsamad

Selamat Hari Raya!

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:21:46 GMT

Private Guitar Lessons in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Dec 2009 - Jan 2010)

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:31:14 GMT

Hi!

At the end of this year, I'll be back in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for about a month to perform, record and spend some time with family and friends. During this period, I will be available for a limited number of private guitar lessons (late December 2009 and first half of January 2010).

Topics may include (but is not limited to) acoustic guitar techniques, composition, jazz improvisation and comping, chords, fretboard harmony and music theory. I typically teach an hour lesson but have also done two hour or more lessons touching on different topics within one session.

All levels and ages welcomed!

My teaching style and material is influenced by my studies with many great teachers over the years including Mick Goodrick, Bret Willmott, Rick Peckham, David Tronzo, Jon Damian, Hal Crook (during my time at Berklee College Of Music), Eric Roche, Don Ross, Thomas Leeb, Stuart Ryan, Andrea Valeri, Jacques Stotzem, Jon Gomm and Gottfried Gfrerer (in fingerstyle guitar workshops and private lessons in the UK and Austria) as well as Jimmy Wyble, John Stowell, Ben Monder, Carol Kaye, Adam Levy, Guy Van Duser and Sten Hostfalt via one-off workshops and private lessons (in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area).

Recently, I've started playing classical guitar again and have participated in classical guitar master classes with Mark Teicholz and Muriel Anderson. I've also taken private lessons with Steven Lin, Patrick Francis, Grisha Groyachev, Scott Tennant, Willliam Kanengiser, Gyan Riley and Ron Burczon. I believe an understanding of classical guitar technique to be immensely helpful in both my steel-string solo guitar and fingerstyle jazz guitar playing.

I've been on faculty at the Berklee College Of Music Summer Guitar Sessions since 2007 (teaching beginner, intermediate and advanced Fretboard Harmony classes) and have conducted workshops in Malaysia, West Virginia (USA) and taught group guitar classes in San Francisco, CA (USA). I currently also co-teach a group guitar class at San Jose State University, CA (USA).

Message me here to inquire about availability and rates.

Please include your name, your playing experience (how many years, what styles etc.) and what you hope to learn in the lessons (possible topics, areas of interest,goals). I look forward to hear from you!

Best wishes,
Az Samad

Testimonials from previous/current students:

"I learnt more than I ever did in the past few months with my previous guitar teacher simply because he (Az) can effectively get the message across while keeping the subject matter simple. You won't regret it!"

Arthur Song, age 17, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"Az Samad is a wonderful musician and teacher. He is familiar with a vast array of guitar styles and techniques from classical to contemporary. What's more, he knows how explain the guitar in simple terms."

Eli Harrison, M.Mus. student, San Francisco, California.

"Az Samad was born to play teach and play the guitar! He is a natural! His style of teaching is easy to understand. Each time I met with him I was amazed at how easily he could get his point across. Every time I asked him a question in class, he was always knew the answer. Az is an excellent teacher! He is patient, kind and an expert at his craft! You will do well to learn from him."

Barbara Ramos, SJSU Music Education Major, San Jose, California.

"As a private student of Az, I can simply say that no other private lesson I've attended was as comprehensive for both practical & theory. Not a single minute was wasted. The session I attended filled me full of new knowledge & vision that I later applied to my very own music.

Az was so helpful that he was even willing to let me organize a group workshop for my guitar community, ACPickers. Everyone who attended the workshop had nothing but good things to say and were satisfied with the overall output! I'm already looking forward for the next one which is coming soon at the end of the year!

Az is not only a great performer - full of sense of humor but also great educator who is willing to teach and share all that he has learnt and experienced!"

Yowech Yong, Guitarist and Music Teacher, Malacca, Malaysia.

on guitar lessons

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:34:50 GMT

a lot has been happening recently - this is one of the most intense guitar learning periods i've been in a long time. within this past month or so i've studied:

fingerstyle guitar with:
thomas leeb (austria/los angeles)
don ross (canada)

andrea valeri (italy)
mickey murphy (ireland)

at Thomas Leeb Guitar Workshop in turacher hohe, austria.

---
classical guitar with:
bill kanengiser (professor at USC - University of Southern California, member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet)

scott tennant (professor at USC - University of Southern California, member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, author of the classic text on classical guitar technique - Pumping Nylon)
ron burczon (professor at Cal State Northridge)

electric bass/bebop guitar with:
carol kaye (legendary LA session bass player)

contrapuntal jazz guitar with:
jimmy wyble

during a road trip to Los Angeles.

----
Classical guitar/Flamenco technique with:
Grisha Goryachev

Contemporary Jazz Guitar:
John Stowell

in the San Francisco Bay Area.

---

i've been very fortunate to get these series of opportunities and am very grateful. =)

in that note, another amazing event is taking place this saturday. i'll be performing with my teacher/mentor rick vandivier who i've been studying with this past year at san jose state university. we'll be doing a duo gig in conjunction with the san jose jazz festival. here are the details:

VANDIVIER DUO - Rick and Az Samad

Saturday, August 8th, 7:00 - 10:00 PM at

Tanq Bar - San Jose Marriott
301 South Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
(800) 314-0928
http://www.sanjosemarriott.com/tanqbar.php

Looking forward to it! Also coming up end of this month is a performance with singer-songwriter Tara Linda for the annual Cotati Accordian Festival. Exciting indeed!

From Berkeley with much love,
Az

NEW VIDEO: Az Samad (gtr) and Julian Taylor (fiddle) - When You're Forgotten (Az Samad)

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:00:34 GMT

Duo performance by:

Az Samad - guitar
Julian Taylor - fiddle

When You're Forgotten composed by Az Samad

Video recorded by Richard Moss in Blackburn, United Kingdom on July 20th, 2009.

Websites:
Az : http://www.sonicbids.com/azsamad
Julian: http://fiddlemusic.co.uk/

New Videos: Magnus Lindstrom, Az Samad and Dylan Kay Guitar Trio

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:15:17 GMT