Tripp Sprague, Duncan Moore, Leonard Patton, Coral MacFarland, Gunnar Biggs, Hall Sprague, John Opferkuch, Fred Benedetti
Influences
I like the Beatles, Coltrane, Miles, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Richard Bona, Pat Metheny, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Wes Montgomery, and Alisson Krauss. Probably a lot more too and I don't mean to leave them or you out...
Sounds Like
Some say I sound like Pat Metheny a little but to me, not so much. I'm into Brazilian music too and I sound a little like those musos...
Born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 11, 1955, Peter Sprague was raised in Colorado until 1963, when his family moved to Del Mar, California. Inspired by his father's love of jazz, he took up the guitar when he was twelve. By the age of fifteen he was devoting all his time and energy to learning music. He studied with San Diego jazz guitarist Bill Coleman, played in his high school stage band, and formed his first group, the Minor Jazz Quartet.
Following a year's study at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Sprague studied privately and performed around the San Diego area until 1976. That year found him moving to Boston to study with many notable musicians including Pat Metheny, Madame Chaloff and Albin Czak (a classical guitarist). Peter returned to San Diego in 1978 and formed a jazz group called The Dance Of The Universe Orchestra that featured Kevyn Lettau, John Leftwich, and Peter's brother, Tripp Sprague on saxophone.
Peter has recorded many of his own albums on the Concord, Xanadu, and SBE record labels and has been a guest artist on many other records. Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, David Benoit, and Sergio Mendes are only but a few of the many great artists Peter has worked with. His debut with the Chick Corea band was a series of concerts at Disneyland on Memorial Day weekend. In a review the following day in the Los Angeles Times, Leonard Feather called Peter "...One of the emergent great guitarists." Peter also worked with Chick on the film score to the movie "The Cat Chasers", starring Kelly McGillis.
Peter is active in the music book world having self-published nine of his own books, (The Sprague Technique, SpragueSongs, Soliloquy Songbook, Blurring the Edges Songbook, BrazilJazz Songbook, Soliloquy Songbook, Jazz Solos of Charlie Parker, Jazz Solos of Sonny Rollins, Jazz Solos of McCoy Tyner, and Assorted Jazz Solos). Peter's The Jazz Solos of Chick Corea is published nationally with Sher Music. Sprague also is the chief organizer and transcriber for Chick Corea's music books. Hal Leonard Publishing has released Chick Corea's Light Years, The Eye Of The Beholder, Inside Out, Chick Corea Collections, Beneath The Mask, and Paint the World, all books executed by Peter.
Peter has been involved with GRP Records on a number of projects. He arraigned Chick Corea's song "Spain" for the GRP All-Star Big Band record and video. This tune was played by the likes of Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Dave Weckl, Ernie Watts, etc. Peter was featured on David Benoit's GRP releases "Letter To Evan" and "Shaken, Not Stirred". Peter toured with pianist David Benoit worldwide for three years. Also on GRP, Sprague played with Eric Marienthal, Russell Ferante, Jimmy Haslip, Alex Acuna, and Ivan Lins on Eric's GRP record "One Touch".
Sprague taught music at both Musicians Institute in Hollywood and California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles for three years.
One of Peter's musical groups called Blurring the Edges released their CD and it was awarded the best contemporary jazz recording of 1994 from the San Diego Music Awards. His CD Nikki's Rose was nominated for the Best Jazz CD in 2000 by the SDMA. Sprague was voted the Best Jazz Musician of the Year 2000 by the San Diego Music Awards organization. Peter's group Pass The Drum released their debut CD in 2003 and it was nominated for CD of the year by the SDMA. The San Diego Reader voted Peter the Best Jazz group for the 2002 Best Of issue.
Peter is also involved with producing other artists and has been part of over one hundred and fifty CD projects. He runs a recording studio called SpragueLand and this is where you'll find him wearing the hat of producer, engineer, guitar player, and arranger. Peter composed and performed a twenty minute guitar concerto in May, 2000 with the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and also with the San Diego Symphony in May 2002. Sprague has his own Web site at PeterSprague.com. To find out about Peter's most current projects check the page on his Web site called The Sky.
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ENJOYED THE ARTICLE ON YOU IN "OCEAN"(NICE ZEP SONG BY THE WAY).COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ABOUT DISCIPLINE. COMPLACENCY SUCKS......KEEP SURFING AND SHREDDING..............
Aloha Peter and thank you for including us in your circle of friends. Please accept our respects and a heartfelt "mahalo" to you for giving the world your beautiful sweet sounds. ~ Namaste Sweet Soul. Wishing you well, Annette, Bia & Dee LaBorte
Look Peter! I finally did it!! http://cdbaby. com/cd/karenemerson Many thanks go to you for helping me find my confidence to take this big step. Remember my son Tyler? He did a beautiful job with string arrangements and performances. I hope to get back to the neighborhood and find you at one of your wonderful gigs! Aloha~
Thanks for Adding me Peter! I really appreciate it, I am delighted to have you as a friend! I am enjoying the sound and your great guitar playing on yourspace. Yuichi Akita
hey - love the music! would you by any chance be interested in booking a gig with us here at the Lollicup Cafe? i know your guitar student Justin Helland, and we'd love to have you two play here on a Friday night - they're super busy right now since Cruisin' Grand is going on.. it's one of Escondido's biggest events and draws a huge crowd every Friday night until September. let me know if you're interested asap, because our schedule's filling up fast, and we'd really love to have you play sometime! thanks - Julia 760.504. 1744
p.s. i've seen you play at Dizzy's in SD, and it was awesome :D
Thank you for the friendship!!!I enjoyed your music !!Great talent and great playing!!!I am glad to be your friend!!!!All the best from Paris!!Peace!!!Daniel
Cool Bag Of Rhythm & A Nice Flow On Your Guitar Playing & Big Artist Prod - Right On - Viking - WorldwidewelcomE - KEEP ON SWINGING & PLAYING FOR EVER & EVER - Your My Insperation - THANK YOU Buena Calidad - Encantado - NUNCA DEJA LA MUSICA - Vikingo - YOU ARE ALLWAYS ON MY MIND -7 To 7- Eight Days A Week - Ps: GROOVIE GROUP ASWELL !!! http://w-w-w.rocks.it +46 (0)735 97 57 01...
