George Hess
Guitarist, Composer, Arranger, Educator
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Composer/arranger and guitarist.Guitarist, composer and educator George Hess has been teaching and performing professionally for over 30 years throughout the United States and now recently in Asia. His extensive background includes playing a wide variety of music with such performers as Ryo Kawasaki, Jim Nabors, the Osmonds, David Liebman, Bob Berg, Adam Nussbaum, Randy Brecker, Frank Mantooth, Conrad Herwig, and Rufus Reid. He has also led his own touring groups, performed with orchestras and played dozens of musicals.
An award winning teacher, Dr. Hess has recently been named an Apple Distinguished Educator is currently on the faculty of Yong Siew Toh. Conservatory in Singapore, where he teaches music technology and improvisation. Prior to coming to Singapore he was at Central Michigan University and taught jazz, technology and music theory and directed eBand, an all-electronic ensemble.
George graduated from the Berklee College of Music where he studied arranging and compostion with Michael Gibbs and guitar with John Damian and Bret Willmott. He later completed masters and doctoral studies at the University of Northern Colorado studying jazz pedagogy and composition. George also spent five years being mentored by jazz great Johnny Smith and has participated in master classes with Grant Geissman and Barney Kessel.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
I've been playing regularly with Nicole Duffell on tenor at the Malt Vault in Singapore
Your musical influences
Lots of influences. Jazz, Blues, Classical, 60's Rock. Bird, Trane, Miles, Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Wes, Clapton (Cream), Hendrix, Debussy, Messiaen.
What equipment do you use?
'74 Les Paul Custom, '74 Johnny Smith, JazzKat, MacBook Pro w/Ableton Live, ProTools BlackBox.
Anything else?
Custom charts for electronic ensembles available. Please contact me or info.
