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The Saturday performances are FREE to the general public, and will be held at Flights Wine Cafe 7714 Grandview Ave - the evening of Saturday, September 9th - 6:30pm.
We want to continue to promote this music, as well as bring in musicians from around the country and around the world to share their unique talents. With your donations, we can continue to produce and promote Gypsy Jazz across the Denver metro area, and beyond.
It is with tremendous gratitude that we thank the Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival and Henriksen Amplifiers for inviting us to be a part of the festivities - as well as Olde Town Arvada for being our gracious hosts!
2023 marks the second year for the RockyMtn Gypsy Jazz Festival. A weekend of live music, guitar workshops, and jams that will be a memorable experience for the musicians and students alike. The weekend of September 8-10 will pack the walkable streets of Olde Town Arvada with guitar enthusiasts, world class musicians and luthiers, and in conjunction with the Olde Town Shindig
Performances at Flights Wine Cafe 7714 Grandview Ave. Sept. 9th 6:30pm-9:00pm
Gypsy Jazz Jam at La Dolce Vita 5756 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. Sept. 8th 7:00pm-9:00pm
All workshops will be held at the Arvada Community Room 7601 Grandview Ave.
RockyMtn Gypsy Jazz
MJH Workshop
Lisa's Workshop
RockyMtn Gypsy Jazz
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Meet the players/teachers
Lisa Liu
Brooklyn, NY
Lisa Liu is a guitarist based in Brooklyn, NY. She plays gypsy jazz, experimental, folk, rock, and solo guitar. Liu is an Artist Ambassador for Santa Cruz Guitar Company and is also endorsed by Krivo Pickups. She is a Teaching Artist at Django In June, and has also been an Artist In Residence at The Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.
Liu released her debut jazz album "Introducing... Lisa Liu" on November 12th, 2019.
Liu has performed at the Django Reinhardt Festival (France), SiX The Musical on Broadway, The Music Center at Strathmore (MD), The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (Washington DC), Academy of Music (MA), Peabody Essex Museum (MA), The Rubin Museum of Art (NYC), Joe's Pub (NYC), Barbès (NYC), The Knockdown Center (NYC), and the Hill-Stead Museum (CT).
"Liu performs with a confident grace that reveals an intuitive command of her instrument, and her versatile picking style ranges from a playful nimbleness to straight-up jamming."
-Christa Titus/Billboard Magazine
Lisa Liu's Workshops
@ the arvada community room
Workshop 1: Saturday, Sept. 9th - 10:00am
Take a deeper look into Coquette as Lisa guides you through:
- Reharmonization
- Chord melody
- Multiple strategies for soloing
Workshop 2: Sunday, Sept. 10th - 10:00am
Lisa shows you expanded harmonies over Honeysuckle Rose, including:
- Diminished arpeggios
- Side-stepping
- Approach tones
- Altered scale
SPECIAL PRICING: $80
Both of Lisa's workshops
$10 savings
ARCHTOP FESTIVAL BONUS: $150
Purchase both of Lisa's workshops ($80 value), and both of Michael's workshops ($80 value), and receive entrance into the Archtop Guitar Exhibit ($35 value)
$45 savings
Michael Isabell
Denver, CO
Whether it’s locally in his native state of Colorado, across virtual platforms, or internationally - guitarist and educator, Michael Isabell, is usually found coaching and inspiring others to explore, learn, and enjoy their instruments. Teaching privately at the Sollohub School of Music (since 2012), coaching alongside Yaakov Hoter of gypsyandjazz.com (since 2021), teaching at the immersive guitar retreats in the hills of Tuscany, or hosting students and workshops at his annual RockyMtn Gypsy Jazz Festival - Michael is truly in his element when teaching the guitar. Students of all ages and levels have relied on Michael to guide them through the processes of learning and evolving with their instruments. The passion for his craft and consistent retention of long-time pupils are reflections of his dedication.
Workshop 1: Saturday, Sept. 9th - 1:00pm
More often than not, we rush through learning new songs just to add to our repertoire and experience a brief moment of satisfaction - only to be frustrated when we struggle to recall the songs from memory. In this workshop, Michael guides students through a trusted process that honors the composer and the music. This deep dive will give students an opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge that will improve:
- Basic melody and how to expand
- Harmony basics and analysis
- Understanding your toolbox
- Crafting your own improvisations
Michael Isabell's Workshops
@ the arvada community room
Workshop 2: Sunday, Sept. 10th - 1:00pm
"It don't mean a thing if, it ain't got that swing." This workshop is a dedicated to the most important seat in the ensemble - accompaniment. Understand the nuanced and often elusive style of rhythm as Michael coaches students through the mechanics, the feel, and the sound of solid gypsy jazz accompaniment. This is your opportunity to learn:
- Traditional La Pompe
- Modern variations
- Rhythm kicks and embellishments
SPECIAL PRICING: $80
Both of Michael's workshops
$10 savings
ARCHTOP FESTIVAL BONUS: $150
Purchase both of Lisa's workshops ($80 value), and both of Michael's workshops ($80 value), and receive entrance into the Archtop Guitar Exhibit ($35 value)
$45 savings
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