Lee Ritenour joins line-up at Guitar Festival and Workshop
Published: August 19, 2010
The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation announced recently that jazz and blues guitarist Lee Ritenour will be joining the world-renowned ensemble of instructors for the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop Aug. 29-Sept. 5 in Bigfork. He replaces Larry Carlton, who will be performing in Japan in late August.
Ritenour grew up in Los Angeles where he received a rich exposure to jazz, rock and Brazilian music. His first sessions included playing at age 16 with the Mamas and Papas and at accompanying Lena Horne and Tony Bennett at age 18.
Ritenour was a founding member of Fourplay, the most successful band in contemporary jazz. In June 2010 he released his latest of 40 albums, 6 String Theory, a collaboration with some of his musical friends, including B.B. King, Steve Lukather, Slash, Vince Gill, Pat Martino and Mike Stern, that celebrates his 50 years as a guitarist.
Ritenour joins an impressive lineup of master instructors for the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop, including Pat Metheny, Alex de Grassi, and Scott Tennant, along with Andrew Leonard, Mark Dziuba, Jody Fisher, Doug Smith and Matt Smith, Rob Quist and Debra from Devi. Renowned Montana pianist, Philip Aaberg, will also be on hand to perform with de Grassi.
“The workshop is a unique opportunity for anyone with a passion for the guitar who would like to study with many of the finest artists and teachers in an intimate setting,” says organizer David Feffer.
Three public concerts will be held during the festival: Alex de Grassi plays a solo performance at 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish; Scott Tennant performs solo at the Carriage House at Flathead Lake Lodge at 8 p.m. Sept. 3; and a “Guitar Extravaganza” features a jam of more than 10 blues, jazz, rock and classical players at 8 p.m. Sept. 4, also at the lodge.
Tickets are $15-$28 and may be ordered online at http://www.cocguitarfoundation.org. For more information, call 406-837-2574.
