Mel Bay Essential Jazz Lines in the Style of Clifford Brown, Guitar Edition
Clifford Brown (1930-1956) was one of the most outstanding trumpet players of the 1950’s and his legacy continues to influence and inspire jazz musicians of all instruments.  In his relatively short career, Clifford Brown experienced a meteoric rise in the jazz world. He was playing with many leading jazz musicians of the 1950’s including Tad Dameron and Art Blakey. A European tour with Lionel Hampton resulted in world fame for Clifford Brown. He co-lead the Brown-Roach Quintet with prominent drummer Max Roach from 1954 until his untimely death in 1956. This was one of the most influential hard-bop combos of the day and Clifford Brown’s exceptional virtuosity blossomed.  Clifford Brown’s playing was rooted in the bebop language developed by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie in the 1940’s and influences of those two seminal jazz musicians are evident. Another important stylistic influence was Clifford Brown’s mentor and idol: Frats Navarro, a brilliant trumpet player who also died at an early age.  Corey Christiansen began playing the guitar at the age of five. He studied with his father, Mike Christiansen, (a seasoned performer, writer, and educator at Utah State University) until he finished his bachelor degree. While at Utah State University, Corey received many honors and awards including the outstanding music student award and outstanding guitarist. The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival awarded Corey with outstanding big band guitarist in 1995 and outstanding solo guitarist in 1995 and 1996. Seeking a masters degree in jazz performance, Corey sought out renowned jazz guitar educator, Jack Petersen and began studies as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of South Florida. He received his masters degree in jazz performance in the spring of 1999. Jack Petersen retired that same year and Corey was hired to take his place as the adjunct guitar instructor. While teaching at the University of South Florida, Corey worked with the jazz guitar students and directed many of the jazz combos. Corey left USF to pursue a career at Mel Bay Publications, Inc. as their guitar editor. Corey has a musical background covering many styles of music including jazz, blues, classical, bluegrass, folk, rock and popular music. This quality has enabled him to perform in a number of different settings. As the guitar editor at Mel Bay Publications, Inc., Corey is available to do clinics on various guitar related subjects at schools and music stores around the country. Kim Bock, a native of Denmark, had already had an extensive performance career in Europe before he moved to America in 1994. He has performed and toured in the United States, Europe, Turkey, South Africa and now resides in New York. In March 2001 Kim started playing as the featured tenor saxophonist with the legendary trumpet player extraordinaire Maynard Ferguson and His Big Bop Nouveau Band, touring extensively in the US. He has been leading his own small group for years and can be heard around the New York area when he is not on the road. Past performance and recording credentials includes: Greenwich Blue, Dan McMillion Big Band, George Carroll, Bombed Out Cat, Sanlikol Group, Larry Camp, The Mars All-Star Big Band, Kenny Soderblom/Jack Peterson Big Band, Bill Evans Orchestra, Atlantic Wave Band. Kim received his Bachelor degree from Berklee College of Music in 1996 and a Masters degree in jazz performance from University of South Florida in 1998.