Jazz Guitar Recording Concepts and Philosophy

John Stowell shares his recording philosophy in this special 2-1/2 hour class held live from the Cadenza Academy in Portland, OR, where a select group of developing jazz guitar students record duets with him. Before the session, John gives an overview of how to function well in the studio; afterwards, he evaluates the recordings and helps the students plan their next steps.

What's covered

• How to get comfortable and relaxed in the studio, and being open to suggestions from the engineer
• Mic techniques — micing the guitar as well as the amp, mic placement and distance, blending the two signals
• Doing a dry run before a take so you hear how you sound in relation to the group
• Why John recommends no more than two or three takes of a tune in jazz — and accepting small imperfections
• Arrangements, repertoire and variety: tonal areas, time signatures, tempos, composers and eras
• Studio recording vs. live recording with an audience

A practical, philosophy-first look at making jazz guitar records, useful for any player preparing for their first sessions.