Celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday at JV’s
 |
| Jam Class students. |
Students taking guitar lessons from Daniel Cohn will show
off their skills at “Keef VII,” a recital honoring Keith Richards birthday,
Dec. 17, at JV’s Restaurant, 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Richards turns 72 on Dec. 18.
off their skills at “Keef VII,” a recital honoring Keith Richards birthday,
Dec. 17, at JV’s Restaurant, 6666 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church. Richards turns 72 on Dec. 18.
Cohn’s Jam Class students
will play first, focusing on Rolling Stones music, including the complete album
“Let It Bleed.” They will also play side two of ACDC’s “Back in Black” and and music by ZZ Top, James Brown, and others who influenced and were influenced by the
Stones.
will play first, focusing on Rolling Stones music, including the complete album
“Let It Bleed.” They will also play side two of ACDC’s “Back in Black” and and music by ZZ Top, James Brown, and others who influenced and were influenced by the
Stones.
The second half of the show will include more Stones and
other music performed by JV’s regulars David Kitchen, Billy Coulter, Ed O’Connell, Margo
MacDonald, Justin Jones, and musicians in Cohn’s band, The Grand Candy. The show starts at 8 p.m.
Cohn started teaching music – guitar, bass, harmony, singing,
and music theory – after spending many years performing on the road.
and music theory – after spending many years performing on the road.
About seven years ago, Cohn says he got tired of “teaching
people to play ‘Johnny Be Good’ in their bedroom,” so he started renting
rehearsal space and putting people in bands. “It’s like ‘School of Rock,’ except
everyone is an adult and works for the government.”
people to play ‘Johnny Be Good’ in their bedroom,” so he started renting
rehearsal space and putting people in bands. “It’s like ‘School of Rock,’ except
everyone is an adult and works for the government.”
In December 2009, he put on the first recital for his
students, which happened to coincide with Keith Richards’ birthday, so the show
was built around songs by the Rolling Stones.
students, which happened to coincide with Keith Richards’ birthday, so the show
was built around songs by the Rolling Stones.
“Stones’ songs allow for improvising. That gives
students a lot of freedom,” Cohn says. “Richards’ guitar style is great for
teaching people to play off each other and improvise.”
students a lot of freedom,” Cohn says. “Richards’ guitar style is great for
teaching people to play off each other and improvise.”
Cohn teaches what he calls “the virtues of great rhythm
guitar,” and Richards happens to be among the world’s greatest rhythm guitar
players. If you’re in a rock band, “rhythm guitar playing is 75 percent
of what you do. You don’t have a song without rhythm guitar,” he says.
guitar,” and Richards happens to be among the world’s greatest rhythm guitar
players. If you’re in a rock band, “rhythm guitar playing is 75 percent
of what you do. You don’t have a song without rhythm guitar,” he says.
Cohn is more than a rocker. He studied at the New England
Conservatory of Music and continues to study composition and harmony.
Conservatory of Music and continues to study composition and harmony.
Jam Class offers customized, private lessons for kids and
adults in acoustic and electric guitar. Cohn’s larger goal, however, “is to get
people to come together and make music,” he says. “That has a humanistic
component. Actually getting people together to share music lifts people up.”
adults in acoustic and electric guitar. Cohn’s larger goal, however, “is to get
people to come together and make music,” he says. “That has a humanistic
component. Actually getting people together to share music lifts people up.”
One response to “Celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday at JV’s”
Leave a reply
"Everyone is an adult and works for the government." Rock on bureaucrats! Sounds like lots of fun & what a great idea Daniel Cohn!