Marty teaches his original Chicago Blues Style song entitled “Marty’s Chuck Leavell Blues”. This Chicago Blues lesson series was recorded by Marty at Buddy Guy’s Chicago Blues club, “Legends” in January of 2020 just at the onset of the Covid pandemic. These recordings were intended to be ‘draft’ recordings for the lesson series and they embody Marty’s authenticity and dynamic style of piano playing. Marty passed away on October 15, 2022. Due to Covid, he never had the opportunity to get back to the studio to re-record the lesson series so we’ve edited these original ‘draft’ recordings to share with all of our IROCKU members.
Levels- Intermediate thru Advanced.
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IROCKU is delighted to welcome Eric “Scorch” Scortia to our team of writers and instructors. Texas-based Eric “Scorch” Scortia is a multi-keyboardist and bandleader who specializes in blues, rock,jazz, gospel and country. He has decades of touring, performance, and teaching experience and holds a degree from the University of North Texas School of Music. Early in his career, Scorch became friends with fellow keyboardist Chuck Leavell while they were on tour together, and is proud to join up with Chuck again on IROCKU.
Scorch has performed with numerous legendary musicians, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Wynton Marsalis, Delbert McClinton, Bo Diddley, and many more. He has recorded on and produced numerous album projects and has four solo albums featuring him on Hammond B-3 organ. Of those, two charted in the top 10 and top 20 in the jazz radio format. Scorch’s press coverage includes features in Jazz Times, Jazziz, and Billboard Magazine and ee has also been referenced in various books, including: The Hammond Organ, Beauty and the B by Mark Vail, The Life and Times of a Poor and Almost Famous Bluesman by Omar Dykes; and Texas Music by Rick Koster.
Scorch’s teaching approach is to customize each lesson to fit the individual student’s needs by putting together a tailor-made curriculum covering performance and performance prep, music theory, technique, songwriting, and styles appropriate for the student’s musical goals. He works well with all ages, from beginners to pros. One of his local Dallas-area students includes blues prodigy Dylan James “Boogie Boy” Shaw. Scorch has taught as an Associate Professor in the commercial music department at Collin College with an emphasis on audio engineering, live sound, and performance ensemble. He currently serves on the advisory board of the school’s Commercial Music department. He has given master classes at the University of North Texas College of Music on the Hammond B-3 organ .
Not only does Scorch have decades of experience playing the piano, he knows the instrument inside and out as a piano tuner and technician with more than 25 years as a member of the Piano Technicians Guild. Most memorable tunings include John Lennon’s famous Imagine piano, plus concert tunings for The Eagles, Chick Corea, Burt Bacharach, McCoy Tyner, Ben Folds, Eddie Palmieri, the Wayne Shorter Group, and Bill Gaither. As a voting member of the Grammys, a Hammond organ artist endorsee, and former keyboard clinician, Scorch is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International, the National Guild of Piano Teachers, and is a long-time member of the American Federation of Musicians.
Scorch can’t wait to share his knowledge and experience with his students and will contact you directly to schedule your lessons.
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Russell Jamie Johnson is an American singer, songwriter, and actor based in New York City. Russell Johnson discovered his voice for the first time as a child. Soon after, Russell picked up the guitar quickly by watching his brother play. He grew up inspired by the songwriting of The Smiths and Bob Dylan. However, it was following the sudden death of his father in 2009 where Russell’s hobby transformed into a source of healing, freedom, and connection. His passion led him to Boston where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Songwriting and Voice Studies from Berklee College of Music in 2016. During his time there, he performed and worked with music industry luminaries Chuck Leavell, (Allman Brothers, Rolling Stones), John Oates of Hall & Oates, and jazz-pop singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum. Since relocating to New York City, Russell writes and performs regularly with his band. Fearless and authentic, Russell’s music is a heartwarming blend of Folk, Indie, and Americana.
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This webinar was recorded on October 10,2020. In this webinar Chuck shared ideas on techniques he uses while playing the blues. Chuck shared stories about artists he’s played with and offered insights into legendary sessions and performances, taught specific techniques that are unique to him, and took questions from the participants. The webinar was focused on intermediate and advanced players. You can purchase access to the videos and transcriptions of the webinar here.
Levels: Intermediate and Advanced (but all levels are welcome)
* “Blues Piano Techniques Webinar with Chuck Leavell” is not included in the Annual Membership and must be purchased separately.
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- Lesson includes a solo arrangement, an improvisation, a chart for comping, and a rock dexterity or rhythm exercise.
- Lesson includes instructional videos and the printed notation.
- Seven levels to choose from. For beginners through advanced musicians.
Paul Jacob (PJ) Fossum is a New York-based pianist, keyboardist and synthesist. While his music is focused often in a jazz and improvised music context, his influences encompass a wide scope from bebop to classical to indie rock to electronica. He performs in New York City with synth band BXTR as well as his jazz quintet.
Growing up in Canada, PJ started piano when he three years old. He studied classical music for 15 years, he decided to redirect and shift focus in his musical pursuits. In his early 20s he immersed himself in a formal jazz education, while the path of his informal education was significantly more diverse, side-manning in projects of Jazz, Neo-Classical, Blues, Neo-Soul, R&B and Indie Rock. Ultimately both his formal and informal education have contributed to the musician he is today. PJ is an alumni of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Mount Royal University and the Banff International Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music.
He has performed alongside Tyshawn Sorrey, Okkyung Lee, Ingrid Jensen, William Bell, Bobby Rush, Nir Felder, and Val Jeanty aka DJ Val-Inc.
PJ teaches blues, rock, jazz, and classical. PJ will contact you directly to schedule your lessons.
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