Vic’s Las Vegas, September 27-28
This week, Ira spoke with LA-based jazz pianist, vocalist, educator, composer and recording artist John Proulx, who performs at Vic’s Las Vegas September 27-28. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” John talks about learning to play by ear; why he loved jazz from an early age, but also folk music; how his early piano lessons were more boogie-woogie; how he liked to improvise; his definition of jazz; why growing up around music does influence you; how his daughter “hipped” him to Brazilian music; why he obtained his academic credentials in music and why he felt it was important to achieve it; his association with PianowithJonny.com, a subscription-based piano teaching site; how writing with Melisa Manchester was a career highlight for him; how jazz vocalist are more conversational (the story, the tone is different as well); the jazz influences of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett; how Nat “King” Cole was one of his first musical idols; the importance of quality in jazz; and his favorite jazz song.
John Proulx is an LA-based jazz pianist, vocalist, educator, composer and recording artist. He has four albums to his credit, and has performed with the likes of Anita O'Day, Natalie Cole, Melissa Manchester, Michael Feinstein, and Marian McPartland.
As an educator, he has taught jazz piano and jazz voice at Cal State Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Fullerton, and Azusa Pacific University. Currently, John creates content for an online jazz piano education website called pianowithjonny.com.
As a composer, John has co-written songs that have been recorded by many notable singers including Nancy Wilson, Melissa Manchester, Al Jarreau, Mary Stallings, and Deana Martin. John has written arrangements for Ann Hampton Callaway, Antonia Bennett, and Linda Purl.
John has a new book of original piano pieces called “Soundscapes”, tailored to intermediate pianists interested in learning more about jazz harmony through beautiful and accessible songs. Digital copies are available at his website: http://www.johnproulx.com and paperback versions can be purchased at Amazon.com.
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