Join NYC guitarist Gene Bertoncini on June 26, 2010, for a clinic and concert in Spokane. Bertoncini will perform jazz standards, the music of Jobim, and some classical repertoire, backed by outstanding Spokane jazz sidemen. Whether plucking on nylon string or electric arch top guitar, “Bertoncini is the ultimate in good taste,” said Scott Yanow, writing for L.A. Jazz Scene.
Bertoncini will be in the Pacific Northwest for an extended stay with the Seattle Jazz Guitar Society. “We are fortunate to pick him up for just one day as he is passing through,” said Tim Nodland, president of the Jazz Guitar Society of Spokane, sponsor of the local event. The location is the Holy Names Music Center, 3910 West Custer Drive, Spokane, WA, (509) 326-9516. The clinic is at 3pm and the concert is at 7pm. Call the center to verify before attending.
Born into a music loving family, Gene Bertoncini was artistically inspired at a very young age. Uncertain about committing to life as a professional musician, because this “baseball and apple pie kid” was turned off by certain aspects of working in jazz clubs, Bertoncini studied architecture at Notre Dame University. By the time Bertoncini earned his degree, a performing career proved irresistible. The first thing he did after picking up his degree was to work opposite Carmen McRae in Chicago. He returned to New York to work with vibraphonist Mike Manieri.
“I did rather well in architecture, but I just think that I had a much more of a gift for music.”
– Gene Bertoncini
The guitarist served a short stint with Buddy Rich prior to entering the Marine Corps in 1961. Following his discharge, he joined the Merv Griffin Show orchestra and later the Tonight Show Orchestra under Skitch Henderson.
Bertoncini freelanced for a number of years, serving as a sideman with Benny Goodman, Clark Terry, Tony Bennett, Wayne Shorter and Lalo Schifrin, among others, while remaining an in-demand studio musician for all kinds of recording dates in New York City.
By 1970, Gene Bertoncini recorded the LP Evolution, his debut as a leader. He established a remarkable duo with bassist Michael Moore (who is presently a member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet). With Bertoncini writing the arrangements, the two men recorded a series of outstanding albums for OmniSound, MPS, Stash and Chairoscuro.
After the duo disbanded in 1989, Bertoncini worked with various rhythm sections and recorded several duo sessions with a second guitarist (Jack Wilkins, Frank Vignola and Kenny Poole).
His newest CD is called “Concerti” and features Bertoncini with a string quartet and bass. The CD includes familiar jazz standards such as “East of the Sun”, “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To”, and “Invitation”, plus other interesting pieces such as a jazzed-up rendition of Lennon/McCartney’s “Eleanor Rigby”.
In addition to his own CDs, Gene Bertoncini has worked frequently as a sideman with both instrumentalists and singers on recording dates.
“It’s always nice to come up with something spontaneously or react to somebody else’s line. I pride myself in being able to respond to things as they’re happening as well.”
–Gene Bertoncini
Bertoncini is a legendary nylon string jazz guitarist in the same vein as the late Charlie Byrd. Gene is in his mid 70s and no one knows if he will tour again. He plays almost every week with Jack Wilkins at their house gig in New Jersey.
Bertoncini’s teaching credits include William Patterson University, the Eastman School of Music where he regularly performs and conducts summer workshops for jazz guitarists, the New England Conservatory, New York University, and the Banff School of Fine Arts. He has been a highly sought-after guest clinician in colleges and universities throughout the country.
He has also created a teaching DVD on the art of solo jazz guitar for Mel Bay.
Gene Bertoncini is one of the pre-eminent jazz guitarists’ active today. His fluid technique and lyricism have won him international praise and accolades as the “Segovia of jazz.” An eloquent and versatile improviser, Bertoncini has been heard with an extraordinary range of jazz greats, including performances and recordings with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, Paul Desmond among others, as well as such distinguished singers as Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Vic Damone, and Eydie Gorme.
The Washington Post proclaimed his solo appearance in New York City the best jazz concert of the year 1999. Bertoncini’s acclaim is hardly confined to this country. His CD, “Someone to Light Up My Life”, which features his own arrangements of the compositions of the great bossa nova composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, won international raves. Brazilian critic’s and listener’s polls also named him the best acoustic jazz guitarist.
Gene Bertoncini released a striking new solo CD, “Quiet Now” on the heels of his highly successful “Acoustic Romance,” which reached the top ten of the jazz playlists. Jazziz magazine’s March 2004 issue ranked it Number 1 in their list of the top 20 acoustic guitar CDs.
A prolific and popular studio musician, Bertoncini honed his professional chops as a member of the Tonight Show band during Johnny Carson’s tenure, and he has worked with composers and arrangers such as Lalo Schifrin and Michel Legrand and has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. According to the New Yorker magazine, “Bertoncini is an affecting, highly original guitarist that moves easily back and forth between classical and jazz guitar.”
Born April 6, 1937, Bertoncini’s musical roots go back to his early years in the Bronx where he grew up in a house filled with music. His love affair with the guitar began when he was seven, and by the time he was sixteen, he was appearing on New York television.
He was nominated best jazz guitarist of the year for 2009 by the New York Jazz Journalists Association.
