Based in Los Angeles, New West, featuring Perry Smith, John Storie and Brady Cohan, has gained recognition as one of today's premier guitar ensembles. Their original music combines the foundation of jazz with elements of blues, rock and folk.
Originally a quartet, New West established themselves as a notable jazz group when they were all students at the University of Southern California. As music majors, New West collaborated with USC to become the first group to receive the coveted Thornton Protégé Grant. It was during this time that the Los Angeles Sister Cities Committee established the group as the city's musical ambassador. This honor gave them the chance to perform at the 2005 World Exposition in Nagoya, Japan and the 2007 German-American Volksfest in Berlin, Germany. The group has continued to perform in major venues throughout Canada, Japan, Europe, and the United States. In August 2009 New West performed at the Britt Festival in Southern Oregon as the opening act for Diana Krall.
In 2009, New West collaborated with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato and world-class luthier Jeff Traugott to produce their third album, "Sleeping Lady." This recording marks New West's transition from a quartet to a trio. Over the years, New West has developed music to combine the sounds of acoustic and electric guitars. By utilizing these different timbres, New West creates a new medium of chamber music. Their performances and recordings have received critical acclaim, and while the members are still only in their early twenties, New West looks forward to a bright future.
SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
• "New West is comprised of three of the brightest stars among a new generation of guitarists...I have a feeling that they are just at the beginning of a long and wonderful journey that will bring much joy to the global music community.
-Larry Koonse, Jazz Guitarist, California Institute of the Arts Faculty
• “…one of the premier guitar ensembles in the country.”
-Anthony Wilson, Guitarist for Diana Krall
• "...a mix of acoustic and electric guitars with a folk-based urgency that comes off like a more active version of the early Windham Hill sound...These guys make the potentially limiting idea of an all-guitar group work."
-Cadence Magazine
• "The group's sound is unique for guitar ensembles in that they all play a variety of instruments, giving them a wide range of sonic possibilities, which they bring to bear with great effect on this disc…how these guitarists are so clearly able to create a smooth sound without getting in each other’s way is a testament to not only their arrangements, but also their musicianship…”
- Jazz Review.com
• ". . .a breakthrough for jazz guitar. Utilizing all the colors of the instrument, they are unique, not unlike a string quartet, but with the addition of four outstanding individual jazz voices. . "
Hello!!! The tracks - definitely going to put them on the album! They're awesome. :) Peter said he started mixing them, but I haven't heard anything yet. The whole project was put on hold for a bit due to some circumstances... Currently, my friend Fletcher and I have been recording a massive acappella arrangement he wrote and as soon as that's finished, the jazz record will be complete! I'll definitely keep you updated and get you copies asap!! Thanks for asking!! :)
hey! hope you are well, just passing through to let you know that we'll be playing @ HOTEL CAFE on Feb.16//10pm//21+ in Hollywood on tour! come through and get your dance on at one of our stops!!
Thank you so much for the add! Come check out our Trans-Siberian Guitar Orchestra concert THIS FRIDAY at Las Vegas Academy:
315 S. 7th Street Las Vegas, NV 89129
This concert is going to be SUPER exciting; it will feature all three levels of guitar ensemble at LVA. We will play arrangements of Trans Siberian Orchestra pieces with an orchestra and some heavy guitar. Come and support the LVA guitar program while getting your fix of holiday tunes. (www. classroomguitar. com) Admission is ONLY seven dollars, and when you go your name is automatically entered into a drawing for a 5-night cruise to Mexico and a 3-day trip to one of twenty-seven exotic locations!
Hey Guys, Thanks for finding us!! Your Brilliant musicans and Superbly Talented songwriters!! Your music has a very unique depth, a quality rarely paralleled in your genre. Stop by and drop us a line sometime. Cheers, N-Tune www. ntune. com
saw u guys in Berlin during the American Fest...had asked the guards nearby of who ya'll were...they forgot the name...so I'm glad for "google!" Did buy the new CD on itunes....fantastic sound! continue on your dreams!!! will keep tabs of when ya'll will be out in Germany again. Again...wish you all well :)
