Invisible Music Records is proud to announce the release of “Too Modern For Me”, a new CD from guitarist Gary Wittner. It is Gary’s 7th CD as a leader and his second vocal CD. “Too Modern For Me” features 11 tunes written, played and sung by Gary in a quartet setting. The tunes are influenced in equal parts by the music of Thelonious Monk, and the wit of Mose Allison and Dave Frishberg. Although a few are serious, most are funny – like his ode to addiction (“I’ll Quit Tomorrow”), his nod to technology (“Too Modern for Me”) and his tongue-in-cheek confession (“If its not too much, I just want it all. Or maybe a little bit more”).
Originally from New York, Gary Wittner has lived in Maine since 1986. He has played all kinds of gigs – high profile, low profile and everything in between. Gary has represented the USA officially 4 times – twice as a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador, and once each as a Fulbright Specialist and a US Embassy Outreach Artist. He has played all over the world: for jazz audiences in major urban centers (New York City, Boston, Denver, London, Warsaw, Paris, St. Petersburg, Johannesburg, Capetown), tribal royalty in Papua New Guinea and Fiji, Jazz royalty (Thelonious Monk’s widow, Nellie) and at the largest arts festival on the African continent. And in between all that he continues to perform locally and regionally in Jazz, Latin, and Middle Eastern bands. An acknowledged authority on the music and life of jazz icon Thelonious Monk, Gary has presented concerts at some of the world’s most well known music schools. His book, “Thelonious Monk for Guitar”, was published in 1999, and is still informing guitar players around the world today. Gary currently teaches guitar at the Univ. of S. Maine School of Music and Bowdoin College and keeps an active performing schedule locally and abroad.
There is no acknowledged Jazz Singer/Songwriter category, but local jazz promoter Paul Lichter has referred to Gary’s vocal tunes as “Jazz Cabaret”. Regardless of labels, Gary Wittner has created a body of songs within the Jazz/Blues/Latin spectrum that combine witty, insightful, heartfelt lyrics with complex Post-Bop harmonies. Audiences and musicians alike have been entertained by Gary’s vocal tunes here in the USA, as well as in S. America, Europe and Africa.
Joining Gary for this CD release show is long time collaborator Matt Langley (sax), and newer additions to Gary’s quartet Tyler Heydolf (bass) and John Mettam (drums). Additionally special guests Brad Terry (clarinet, whistling) and Tony Gaboury (guitar) will play an opening duo set, and then join Gary on selected tunes.
Tony Gaboury is a jazz guitarist living in Portland Maine. He has taught Jazz Guitar and Harmony at Berklee School of Music in Boston Ma. as well as residencies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest Hungary and other European cities. Tony has recorded and played with many well know jazz musicians such as Chris Potter, Ben Street, George Garzone Brad Terry, and many others. Tony has performed with Gary Wittner since the early 1990s.
Brad Terry is a virtuoso jazz clarinetist and whistler. An in-demand Maine state treasure, Brad has been performing jazz in Maine since the 1970s. Additionally, he has played worldwide with many jazz greats including Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Cheatham, Buddy Tate, and Lenny Breau. Terry has also led jazz workshops and clinics in many countries, including the U.S. and Poland. Brad has been a featured performer in Gary Wittner’s vocal originals project for the past 5 years, and has performed with Tony Gaboury since the 1980s.
7pm doors – 8pm show | $12 adv. – $15 day of