by Debra Devi
Jazz genius Pat Metheny, classical guitar god Scott Tennant and session king, Lee Ritenour, are returning as Artist-in-Residences to the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop & Festival in Bigfork, Montana, Aug. 25 to Sept 1.
Festival founder, David Feffer, has also nabbed Robben Ford, prog-rocker Darryl Stuermer [Genesis, Phil Collins] and singer/songwriters Livingston Taylor and Mac McAnally to come teach and perform
“This year will be another big step forward,” declares Feffer, a classical guitar enthusiast who founded this nonprofit festival and workshop in 2010–determined to make northwest Montana’s great mountains symbolic of the peaks reached by the world’s finest guitarists.
Clearly, word has spread!
This summer Tennant is bringing along his Grammy-winning L.A. Guitar Quartet for a kick-off concert Aug. 25. Metheny is bringing his 99>00 Trio with Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart for a special concert, too.
The Crown Guitar Workshop is hosted by Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge – a homey dude ranch on the banks of the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, and a short drive from spectacular Glacier National Park.
Students choose a track for morning classes with some of the finest guitar teachers on the planet–Jody Fisher (jazz), Doug Smith (acoustic), Andrew Leonard (classical), Matt Smith (blues), James Hogan (intermediate blues), Tobias Hurwitz (rock), Susan Mazer (beginner) and Bret Boyer (singer/songwriter).
Afternoons are spent in jam sessions and clinics with the Artist-In-Residence. Metheny and Ritenour will work in small groups with the jazz students. Metheny will also give a master class for all workshop participants. Ford will hold group sessions with blues and rock students, and give a master class.
Robben Ford – photo credit: George B. Wells
Lee Ritenour notes: “This unique workshop not only features amazing teachers, guest artists and great performances, it combines learning with pure fun, surrounded by an extraordinary natural environment to explore. It propagates a truly harmonious, almost-Zen experience, and is one of the most worthwhile weeks spent exploring the guitar you’ll ever have.”
Register, get updates and learn more at www.cocguitarfoundation.org.
