About terrijohn, inc
|
John Shaffer is an International Performing and Recording Artist, Musician, Composer and Arranger. He has also been a teacher, writer, sailor, philosopher, minister and father. After learning the trumpet at an early age, he picked up the guitar and soon was performing on both instruments in a variety of settings from folk, blues and rock music to classical and eventually jazz, for which he was called “an outstanding guitarist” by Downbeat Magazine in November 1987. · In 1965, he began teaching trumpet and guitar and later expanded to a wide variety of instruments. In the late 1960’s he was offered a scholarship to study music at Jacksonville University but chose instead to attend The University of Florida where he was accepted as a member of the Gainesville Symphony. He became the caretaker and sole resident of The Bent Card Coffee House, which at the time was a vortex of musical happenings and allowed him to meet a huge array of musicians glad to share their considerable knowledge of folk instruments (mandolin, dulcimer, banjo, fiddle, autoharp, psaltery, etc.). · During a tour of Florida coffee houses, he performed with George Winston (Grammy winning pianist with Windham Hill Records) at Stetson University in Deland. In 1969, during a hiatus from school he moved to St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and played 12-string guitar with Scott McKenzie (If You’re Going to San Francisco). After moving to the island of St. John a wide variety of experiences provided him with material for his novel about the ’60’s, A Slice of Paradise. During this time he also began playing sitar and had some of his drawings displayed in The Virgin Islands Art Show. · In 1970-71 he hitchhiked across the US with a tent and guitar, played in The French Quarter, New Orleans, was introduced to classical guitar in a Memphis, Tennessee park and ended up living in Greenwich Village, NYC where he played music and drove a taxi. · In 1972, he returned to Florida, finished his BA in Philosophy, began work on his MA, taught (substitute) in all grade levels (K-12) and began pastoring The First Church Of Metaphysical Science (founded by H.S.E. Nobileo, D.D., Ph.D.) in Jacksonville. John met Dr. Nobileo in 1967 and studied metaphysical healing, homeopathy and herbalism under him for seven years. Dr. Nobileo (1891-1988) was a powerful psychic and a healer who during extensive touring of the world worked with many including Father Divine during the 1930’s. While he lived in California, Nobileo was many times mistaken for Paramahansa Yogananda, whom he closely resembled physically and spiritually. Studying with Dr. Nobileo, pastoring the church and teaching in the seminary greatly influenced John and forged the direction of his life. · In 1974, he received an MA in Theology, taught at the seminary and began working on his Ph.D. in Metaphysics. He moved to Marin County, California and studied sitar, sarod and tabla under Ali Akbar Khan and Zakir Hussain at the Ali Akbar College of Music. · In 1975, he took the required education courses at UNF to become a certified teacher and until 1979 taught Bible History & Humanities at the high school level, Philosophy & Self Development at the seminary, Psychology and Music Theory at FJC (now FCCJ) and college prep courses for project Upward Bound at Edward Waters College. · In 1976 he gave radio interviews (89.9 FM) and demonstrations on guitar and various other instruments (sitar, sarod, dilruba, tamboura, and tabla) and performed North Indian Classical Music for the Indian Cultural Societies of Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida. He also put on several demonstration/lectures at local elementary schools in Duval County, which many years later he learned were vividly remembered by those students into their adult lives. At this time, he also recorded a gospel album with Glenn Jones and the Gospel Sensations just before they went on tour with Michael Jackson. · In 1977, Robert Conti and John attended the NAMM Show in Atlanta to preview a guitar they designed for Aria Guitars. John traded guitars and guitar licks with George Benson who was also there to preview his signature guitar for Ibanez. Later, John and Bob jammed with Attila Zoller and Jeff Berlin. It was Attila’s 50th birthday and a party was planned. That night, after hanging out with Ray Brown, Howard Roberts and Maynard Ferguson and giving a demonstration with Attila Zoller for the staff of Guitar Player Magazine, including the late Bud Eastman (its founder, who introduced John to Chet Atkins & Les Paul) there was an all night jam session/party at EJ’s, which featured Lenny Breau, Zoller, Conti, Shaffer and many others until dawn. · In August 1978 John was granted a Ph.D. in Metaphysics for his textbook, Transmuted Metaphysics. He then left a comfortable, stable, respectable situation, moved back to St. John, US Virgin Islands and lived in a shack in the woods to pursue a career in music. There had never been a “jazz scene” on St. John but that would soon change. John gathered local musicians who were willing and formed several groups to play in. A jazz trio opened the famous Back Yard Bar in Cruz Bay. A different jazz trio played at “The Last Stop” in Coral Bay. There was jazz at “The Kite” in Peter Bay (long before Kenny Chesny moved there) and jazz at Maho Bay Campground. When Rudy imported an organ to Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke, John sailed over and put together a jazz jam session. History was in the making… · An ex-roadie for The Grateful Dead and his fiancée learned of Rev. Shaffer’s credentials as an ordained minister and asked if he would perform their wedding ceremony because all of the local ministers refused to officiate weddings outside of their churches. What he thought would be a one-time event transformed into an industry. Over 4000 wedding ceremonies in 5 different languages for people from all 50 states and 20 foreign countries on beaches, sailboats, cruise ships, deserted islands, mountain tops at sunrise, sugar mill ruins by the light of the full moon and even underwater on submarines and with scuba tanks (one with 20 people kneeling on the sand 30 feet down) became Dr. Shaffer’s day job. He then founded Wedding Isles, Inc., which was the very 1st wedding agency in the Virgin Islands and led to many articles in magazines (Brides, Modern Bride, Nautical Scene, Jet, Conde Nast Traveler and more). Yes, he is writing a book about these adventures. · In 1979, unable to find even guitar strings locally (there was no internet yet) he opened The Kit’n’Caboodle Music Store and supplied much needed quality equipment to musicians as far away as Anegada to the north and Montserrat to the south. In many ways it helped keep local music fresh and eventually spawned other stores and recording studios. He even sailed his Guadeloupe built 23 foot sloop to Jost Van Dyke and other nearby islands to deliver equipment and teach music lessons to those who otherwise would have to do without. From 1979-85 he operated a private studio in the shack/store, teaching a variety of instruments and styles to locals and those who were lucky enough to find him. Amongst his students were Hal Lindes (a founding member of Dire Straits) and John Buscarino (one of the greatest luthiers in the world). · Late in 1979, he organized the very first Virgin Islands “jazz festival” on St. John, which was held at The Out (Jazz’Iz In At The Out) and played with world-renowned saxophonist Rene McLean and local talent from five other islands. Also, while teaching public school in St. Thomas (BCBochulte) as Band Director (with Ari Arri) he participated in a seminar/clinic featuring Frank Foster, the leader of the Count Basie Band. · Also in 1979, he participated in a brass quartet put together by French horn maestro John Cahill (Julliard) and Zora (well known sandal maker), which rehearsed a lot but never actually performed due to schedule conflicts. · By 1980 he was playing more in St. Thomas and one night Eddie Shu (recorded with Louis Armstrong and was called the greatest multi-instrumentalist in the history of jazz by Leonard Feather) showed up and sat in on tenor sax. Shaffer actually recorded the session, which included Windsor Rhoden (worked with John Coltrane, Bill Evans, etc.) on piano and soon he began working with Shu on a regular basis. Playing behind such an amazing talent as Shu (he once sat in for Charlie Parker) was a learning experience beyond compare. · Working 6 or 7 nights a week as a jazz musician and teaching public school during the weekdays provided John with enough money to buy a Jeep and Driftwood, a gaff-rigged sloop which he entered in Foxy’s Wooden Boat Regatta and finished a close second. · In 1981, he did shows in St. Thomas with world-renowned tenor master Frank Vicari (Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson. John Lennon, Tom Waits, etc.) and persuaded the great artist to play on St. John, much to the delight of the smaller island’s now growing jazz community. · At the beginning of 1982 he leased and ran the largest bar/restaurant on St. John called Mugsies and formed St. John Jazz, Inc. to promote musical and other events locally. He sailed to Tortola BVI and played the grand opening of Rhymer’s in Cane Garden Bay. In April, his 1st daughter, Mi’Eisha was born and life as a father began. While performing at Caneel Bay Resort he presented a Christmas program attended by actress Anne Bancroft and played at private parties for actor Alan Alda and the cast of the movie, The Four Seasons. One evening after playing solo guitar, George Harrison took his seat and performed for guests. · In 1983, he played sitar concerts at The Lime Inn, country rock with the Cowbay Cruzboys, blues with The James Montgomery Blues Band, R/B with his own popular 9 piece band, Commotion and jazz with his long standing group, Triad. · In 1984, The Purple Line Company replaced Mugsies after it burned to the ground and John did concerts there with The Shirelles and Little Anthony. There were also jazz shows with vibist Gary Burton, bassist Steve Swallow and clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton (Duke Ellington Orchestra). · Near the end of 1984, he organized and hosted a 12-hour marathon jazz jam session as a farewell concert for Sandy Allen, long time resident pianist and friend. It turned into quite an event with musicians from St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John, which gave John ideas for a more extensive festival in the future. He also began working with Dadisi Komolafe, one of the greatest flute/alto players in jazz history. · In 1985, Jon Faddis (director of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra) performed with John’s group at Cruz Quarter, a popular restaurant in Cruz Bay, St. John and the crowd went wild as John & Jon traded licks. · Performing weddings almost every day and working almost every night in St. Thomas at Stouffer Grand Beach Resort led to the need for more gigs than John could provide as one person. He became a booking agent by default and soon provided all of the entertainment for the resort including redesigning, choreographing and acting as Master of Ceremonies for their popular Caribbean Review (a weekly show which included a steel band, mocko jumbies, limbo dancing, quadrille, etc). One evening, as he arrived for his usual solo guitar gig, he found Michael O’Shiver, a harpist from Kansas City who was hired by old friend Greg Miller (Food & Beverage Director) on the stage. Soon, John’s casual island style booking was replaced by Ta-Da Music, Inc. and a new partnership with Mike was formed. · John Shaffer had always admired the great Jon Lucien from the early 1970’s when he bought Jon’s 1st album, attended a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall in 1975 and then watched Jon mesmerize the audience at Frenchman’s Reef Resort in St. Thomas (1979) but little did he suspect that in 1985, Jon would be available and willing to back him on bass for over four years. This marvelous experience forced John to grow quickly and try to match what Jon Lucien’s genius heard. Eventually concerts were produced with Mr. Lucien playing piano, bass, guitar and of course, singing. · At the beginning of 1986, his 2nd daughter, Kali was born (on the birthdays of Jon Lucien and Elvis). Raising two girls in the Virgin Islands was a unique challenge but he took them with him to many weddings and gigs. · Later in 1986, Shaffer met tenor sax/flute maestro John Shaw (living in St. Croix at the time) and through him produced a standing room only show on St. John featuring alto sax artist/clinician Pete Yellin, Attila Zoller & Shaffer, guitars, Shaw, sax/flute, Joe Delaney, keyboards, Jon Lucien, bass, Eric Harrigan (Jon Lucien’s brother), drums and others, which was talked about for a long time afterwards. Fortunately, this show was also recorded. Later, there were shows at Barnacle Bill’s in St. Thomas with Don Friedman, one of the best vibes/piano players in jazz. · Full Moon Jazz, the next installment from Ta-Da Music, Inc. brought world-class jazz musicians to the Point Pleasant Resort pool deck with one of the world’s most beautiful views on the night of the full moon backed by the John Shaffer Group. Meanwhile, flutist Herbie Mann, drummer/producer Norman Connors (You Are My Starship, Betcha By Golly Wow), alto master Gary Bartz (soon to be on the cover of Downbeat Magazine) and others played St. John at Mongoose Restaurant & Frank’s. Richie Cole (voted one of the best alto players in the world) and Attila Zoller filled out the roster. The seeds were now sown for a major jazz festival. · Mike and John (and Bill Grogan) worked non-stop for over a year planning the 1st International Virgin Islands Jazz Festival (August 1987) and as an 8 day event it was a success with concerts on all three Virgin Islands ending with an all day jazz jam on Magens Bay Beach (Weekend at Bernie’s 2 and many other movies) where the jazz bands performed on a boat just off shore and the audience either sipped drinks on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches or literally walked in the water out to the stage. It was magnificent. The festival included Dizzy Gillespie, Richie Cole, Gary Bartz, Bobby Hutcherson, Paul Horn and Jon Lucien and every local band available. It provided scholarships for local student musicians and was an event that made history. · Hanging out and playing with Paul Horn (Inside the Taj Mahal, Inside the Great Pyramid, Inside the Potala, Lhasa, Tibet, Inside the Kremlin, etc.) was inspiring, fun and enlightening. · In 1988 after working with Will Akkerman (founder of Windham Hill Records), John promoted and performed with Scott Cossu and Van Manakis (Windham Hill recording artists) on a concert tour of all three Virgin Islands. West Indies Entertainment, Inc. was also born and now John was working with Bernadette Gelvan and Joel Barnes, two old friends. He also worked one on one with McCoy Tyner before his outstanding show at Barnacle Bill’s. · In 1989, he was chosen to play solo guitar for the introduction of Veuve Cliquot Champagne (to the Virgin Islands) at Café Normandie, and then did a series of concerts with Jon Lucien for Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent when he introduced Jazz Perfume to this part of the world. · In September 1989 Hurricane Hugo totally destroyed his house, boat and belongings. There was no power for three months and no real phone service for over six months. He was forced to close West Indies Entertainment and concentrate on more personal enterprises. · In 1990, he participated in a classical recital sponsored by the St. Thomas Arts Council and was featured as the only solo artist at that concert. He also did several benefit concerts for the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. By now with his classical chops in high gear, he put together a very successful duo with the world-renowned 8-string guitar virtuoso David Harris (worked with Julian Bream) and together they toured the Virgin Islands. · Toward the end of 1990 and into 1991 Mike O & John organized the Z Band, a 13-piece Big Band (a Virgin Island first) which played music from all eras and was very popular. John directed and of course played in the band. Cable TV (new to the islands) aired a segment on the band. In addition during 1991-92 Dr. Shaffer taught Music Theory and Guitar at the University Of The Virgin Islands. · 1991 saw the successful continuation of the monthly Full Moon Jazz Series with Richie Cole, Michael Bolivar, Andy Haigh, Lou Terricciano (Bonnie Raitt), Attila Zoller (taught Pat Metheny, Mike Stern, John Scofield, Peter Bernstein), and finally Joe Beck (Steely Dan, Miles Davis, etc.). After the concert on the night of the full moon, John played on all three islands with these artists and literally kept the jazz scene alive. An hour-long video was produced from a concert with Joe Beck on St. John at Wharfside Village (check You-Tube). · By 1992 the wedding market had increased to over 500 ceremonies a year (daily & nightly) and Rev. Shaffer was officiating at more baptisms, funerals and memorial services than he could ever have anticipated. One day, he performed 14 weddings in 14 different locations on two different islands. He moved his family onto a converted ferryboat hoping to find a little privacy but people would stand on shore and yell until he would answer. He performed over 700 ceremonies en Espanol (Spanish) and became known as “The Savior” for many poor Spanish & French people from The Dominican Republic & Haiti. This caused a stir in the local government and although the ceremonies he performed were completely legal, he was arrested without being read any rights and thrown in jail. After a month in jail he fought the government for a year and won but he was emotionally beaten and at his lawyer’s advice thought of leaving his island home. · In 1994 while playing solo guitar at Seychelles Restaurant in Cruz Bay, Eric Clapton walked by and made very favorable comments to one of John’s students. George Clinton (Parliament) also had a few drinks with John after watching him play. As a final musical endeavor, John formed Namaste, a sitar/tabla/tamboura trio, which performed around St. John. He also did many gigs with his new jazz-fusion quartet. While performing at Morgan’s Mango with a conga player in Cruz Bay, Bela Flek & the Flektones were in the audience. Even so, it was time to leave and as one reporter wrote, “Last week, when guitarist John Shaffer got on a plane and moved to Florida, it was like the end of an era in the musical history of the Virgin Islands.” · In 1995, having returned to Jacksonville, Florida he began performing at several local venues and was subsequently hired as Band Director at NB Forrest High School. In 1999 he composed, arranged and scored all of the music for both the Marching Band and the Jazz Band. The band proudly marched and played his music in the Mid-City Parade during Mardi Gras 2000 in New Orleans. · In 1997, Mike Molter, a renowned local luthier, custom built a signature guitar to John’s exact specifications and decided to have him endorse and promote an elite line of custom built instruments. The unveiling of this guitar was a front-page item in the Entertainment section of The Florida Times-Union and was featured on Fox 30 News. However, Mike contracted lung cancer and was given a short time to live. John immediately booked a studio, recorded a solo CD using the new guitar and dedicated it to Mike. The CD release party at All That Jazz (Mudville Grill) actually featured 3 different John Shaffer CD’s but Mike was honored before he passed away. · From 1998-2000 John performed with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (Neal Sedaka Show, etc.) and brought international double bass virtuoso Peter Kowald to town for workshops and concerts. · From 1998-2005 he ran a very successful jazz jam session at Cortesse’s Bistro. One night the world famous guitarist Jimmy Bruno sat in along with Howard Paul (Just Jazz Guitar Magazine) and Barry Greene (UNF). It was a night to remember. · In 2001, he opened a coffee house at Murray Hill Methodist Church (the pastor was a student of Shaffer’s) and organized a praise band for the congregation. · The Riverside Fine Arts Council approached Dr. Shaffer in 2001 to accept the position as director of Project Listen, which provided demonstrations of various styles of music to local schools. He presented both Western & Eastern music and was well received. · In 2003 while playing an engagement at The Adam’s Mark Hotel with Dino Rhelos (voted best guitarist in Pittsburgh, 1992) the world-renowned flautist Dave Valentin sat in. He and Shaffer had the audience on the edge of their seats. · In 2004 at The House Of Jam he organized another successful jazz jam session, which provided a forum for local jazz musicians of all ages from a wide variety of backgrounds to perform before an appreciative audience. · 2005 saw the publication of his novel about the 1960’s, A Slice Of Paradise and the announcement of the sequel Still A Stranger In Paradise, which should be completed soon. · In 2006 he played for the Alhambra Dinner Theater production of Dreamgirls. · 2006 also saw the formation of The Guitar Unlimited Series with Fernando Rio. This series of instructional DVD’s offers a first hand look at how to become a better guitarist either as a solo artist or as part of a group. In 2007 he played for the Alhambra Dinner Theater production of Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and performed sitar and sarod concerts at the Jacksonville Zoo for their International Week. 2008 saw the reforming of Two Guitars with Maestro Dino Rhelos. This was and is a pet project of Shaffer's featuring unique arrangements of an eclectic repertoire that is exciting to see and hear. Also in June of 2008, Tyson, Shaffer's new grandson was born... From late 2008 until the present, John & Dino have been hosting a Jazz Jam Session at Mudville Grille every Wednesday, providing the opportunity for local jazz musicians to fellowship and keep jazz alive. John is also currently mixing and mastering CD's from his Island Archive Series (recorded live in the Virgin Islands) and will be releasing them soon. With over 7000 gigs behind him, Dr. Shaffer offers unique insights on the subjects of chord melody, comping and improvisation. He is available as a teacher, clinician and performer. He has a very large repertoire of solo guitar music and also works in a variety of settings (duo, trio, big band, etc.) covering musical styles ranging from classical, flamenco, folk, rock, R/B, calypso, reggae, salsa, bossa nova, samba, blues and of course jazz.
|
Return to profile
|
