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Event
Christmas Guitar Summit
Presented by Leon Atkinson's Friends of the Guitar Hour, the Christmas Guitar Summit will feature Leon Atkinson, the Tonedevil Bros., and Sandpoint's own Mike Johnson together to play a wide range of guitars and styles offering their gifts for Christmas.
Dec. 19 Heartwood Center, Sandpoint, ID
615 Oak Street, Sandpoint ID 83864
Dec. 20 Jacklin Arts Center, Post Falls, ID
405 N William St, Post Falls, ID 83854
Dec. 21 Holy Names Music, Spokane, WA
3910 W Custer Dr, Spokane, WA 99224
Dec. 22 Pearl Theater, Bonners Ferry, ID
7160 Ash St, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805
LEON ATKINSON
Folk-Blues Guitarist Josh White first inspired Leon. At age three Leons father took him to the Apollo Theater in New York City. A Light went on in Leon and still shines bright today. Leons love for the Guitar has guided his path through life.
At eight he began to study the guitar at the Henry Street Settlement on the lower east side in New York. His first teacher was Mark Oalth, who taught him folk guitar. Later that year Leon won the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts, and got to perform with the world famous McGuire Sisters.
Albert Valdes Blain from Cuba, taught Leon Classical Guitar from age 12-18. Leon attended the High School of Performing Arts (the Television show Fame was modeled after this High School.) Leon met and performed with Langston Hughes the famous poet. Still in the High School of Performing Arts, he performed 4-5 nights a week in Greenwich Village in coffee houses. Leons passion for the Guitar led him to Maestro Andres Segovia in Spain. The first time that he played for the Maestro, Segovia said, It is easy to see that you love what you do Muy Bonita.
Upon returning from Spain, Leon became Chairperson of the Guitar Department at Jersey City State College, and taught Classical Guitar in the extension division of Manhattan School of Music. Leon Atkinson Guitarist had his Debut at Town Hall New York City 1974. The following year he played Carnegie Hall. Leon also played Broadway Shows: Promises Promises, See Saw, Hurry Harry, and A Chorus Line. He was solo Guitarist with the Alvin Ailey Ballet, performed in the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Mass Ballet on stage and on record.
After moving out west, Leon started the Classical Guitar Guild. He has performed with the Spokane Symphony, he started Guitar Departments at Whitworth College, Spokane Falls Community College and North Idaho College. He presently heads the Guitar Department at Gonzaga University.
Leon travels the world doing Concerts and Master Classes. The Light and his Love for Guitar, stills shines bright.
TONEDEVIL BROS.
Best known for designing the modern harp guitar, their company Tonedevil Guitars is the premiere U.S.A. made harp guitar manufacturer in over 100 years. Performing as the Tonedevil Brothers with a new collection of original songs and arrangements of western swing, bluegrass, blues, singer-songwriter, and Americana, Anthony Powell, who plays mandolin and sings, and his brother David, who accompanies exclusively playing the harp guitar, are entertaining and enlightening audiences with brotherly harmonies and a beautiful vintage sound. They appear regularly at the International Harp Guitar Gathering and throughout the western united States.
MIKE JOHNSON
At age 16, Michael Irwin Johnson began to study classical composition and theory at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. A few years later he switched to jazz composition and theory at San Francisco State University. In 2007 Michael started his group the 8 Legged Monster, a 10-piece jazz ensemble that he composed and arranged for. The group became a fast success in San Francisco, selling out shows at the citys most popular jazz clubs. In 2010 Michael was commissioned by SF Jazz to arrange and perform the music of, the eccentric and influential, Sun Ra. The concert was performed to a packed audience at San Franciscos famous Amnesia Club. Around this time Michael formed two more large ensembles. The first was the RayBand, which performed the music or Ray Charles. This was a 14-piece orchestra featuring 3 female and 1 male vocalist, 7 horns and a rhythm section. The second ensemble came to be known as the San Francisco Jazz Orchestra; which was a 16-piece big band. Michaels various groups have recorded at several world renown jazz clubs and studios, including Yoshis and Fantasy Studios. His work is heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, Tad Dameron, Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington. He has performed with many jazz legends including Branford Marsalis, Jim Hall, Stephan Harris, Hal Stein, John Handy and many more. In 2016 Michael moved to Idaho to be close to his family.
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LocationMultiple Venues (View)
See description
Sandpoint, ID, ID 83864
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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