Greetings from ScotGormley (Columbus, OH)

ScotGormley · #1 10-31-2009, 03:38 AM

Hello, everyone. I just joined the forum. I'm a GIT graduate from 1987 and live in Columbus, Ohio. There is a nice jazz scene here in Columbus, and my friend Tim Cummiskey is a really fine player to catch live if you're ever in this area. I posted some videos of Tim (and me) on my Youtube channel: SPGGuitar251.

I grew up playing rock in the Van Halen style (which I still love to play), and later became a big fan of fusion guitar (e.g., Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Return to Forever, etc.). Hearing Pat Martino's El Hombre album was my introduction to straight-ahead jazz guitar with heavy flatwounds, chromaticism, and all those great Martino-isms.

While at GIT, I had the good fortune of meeting Joe Pass, Joe Diorio, Ron Eschete, and Don Mock, all of whose playing is out of sight. I'm especially a big fan of Joe Diorio--with his incredible, logical, outsight playing. For me, Joe Pass was probably the greatest solo jazz guitarist of all time (although Kenny Poole was equally incredible, in my opinion).

I really like any type of good playing (any style) and lately have really been into playing blues. I love the traditional jazz guitar sound, but for me there's nothing like the sound of a good tube amp driven by a nice overdrive pedal. Currently, I'm using the Maxon VOP, Xotic BB preamp, Xotic RC, and Keeley Tube Screamer. They all have different flavors of overdrive and are very musical. You can even use these pedals at low gain (use the level control high as a boost) to warm up the sound of any amp, and this works well with archtop guitars, too.

My current favorite player is Scott Henderson. I got to hang out, and play with, Scott a fair amount at GIT (right after his stints with Jean Luc Ponty and Chick Corea), and I REALLY miss those days. Scott's playing, to me, is the ultimate combination of bebop, blues, and rock, and his use of the tremolo bar is really something special. Scott sounds like Jeff Beck might if Mr. Beck were to spend years transcribing Wayne Shorter and J. Bergonzi solos.

derek · #2 11-02-2009, 09:32 AM

Welcome to the group. I just heard from Joe Giglio that Joe D is doing well, and getting his strength back. He has just put out a disc that all the $ is going to support Diorio. It is a live duo from 2004 in NYC called Rainbow Shards. If interested you can find it here.

www.joegiglio.com

wizard3739 · #3 11-02-2009, 11:42 AM

Thank you for that good news, Derek, Joe Diorio has always been very special to me. I studied with him at G.I.T. in 1977 - 1978.

wiz

ScotGormley · #4 11-03-2009, 02:48 AM

Thanks, guys. I definitely need to pick up that Diorio/Giglio recording. Joe Diorio is the best. I was in his tiny office once when Joe Pass came in, ready to play. I stood over Mr. Pass's shoulder as he and Joe D. played--a microscopic view of the Pass technique!

ScotGormley · #5 11-03-2009, 02:49 AM

Wiz, was that the first GIT class? Was Dan Gilbert a classmate?

wizard3739 · #6 11-03-2009, 10:23 AM

Hiya Scot,

Yes, It was the first G.I.T. class. Dan Gilbert may have been a classmate, his name is familiar but I don't remember him. Our Class was split into two groups, one starting in the early morning and one after lunch. I was in the early morning group and Dan may have been in the afternoon group.

wiz