What's New

June 2008

Mike Turk (harmonica) has just released a new CD featuring Marshall Wood (acoustic bass) and Jon (six and seven string guitar).  The CD is available from CDbaby.com.

March 2008

Here's a clip from Mike's Master Classes, where John conducted an internet class on "Getting Creative with Standard Tunes"

September 2007

Jazz Times reviewed Dick Johnson's latest CD "Star Dust and Beyond: A Tribute To Artie Shaw", in which Jon gets an honorable mention:

"Johnson finds himself in a peculiar position. He's been around the big band scene for half a century, yet this marks the first big band recording of his own. The distinction lies in the title, Star Dust and Beyond.  Since 1983, when Artie Shaw asked Johnson to lead the reorganized Shaw band, Johnson has been fronting a band and book not of his own choosing. Not quite a ghost band, Johnson's was still spreading the Shaw gospel. This album is virtually a new sound. The only link to the Shaw cachet is "Star Dust," where many many of the familiar licks appear in a new guise, plus some hints on "In The Still Of The Night," "Grabtown Grapple," and "Anniversary Song." Versatile arranger Bob Friedman has taken the band into the beyond. With the help of lead trumpeter Jay Daly and fine soloists like trombonist Chris Oberholtzer, guitarist Jon Wheatley, pianist Paul Odeh and flugelhornist Kerry McKillop, the band will have its own personality as long as the amazing Johnson continues to sound like a swinger half his 82 years."

January 2007
 

• Jon will be delivering a Master Class on jazz guitar improvisation on Wednesday, January 31, at 8:00pm.  The class will be an interactive, live video stream over the Internet, where Jon will teach creative improvisation over standard tunes.  Sign up and get more information at Mike's Master Classes.
   

• Jon and Daryl Sherman made the "Best of 2006" New Yorker Magazine music list for Daryl's CD release "Guess Who's in Town", as described in the 01/20/07 issue of that magazine.  The reviewer Steve Futterman wrote:
  
  Daryl Sherman, “Guess Who’s in Town” (Arbors)—Sherman’s winsome voice, cozy delivery, and sure piano work turn such chestnuts as “Don’t Worry ’Bout Me” and “Then I’ll Be Tired of You” and her own standard-to-be, “Welcome to Manhattan,” into things of intimate beauty. Among the exceptional supporting players, the guitarist Jon Wheatley stands out.