Sun. 11/8, 2–4 pm
| Age | Adult |
| Event Type | Workshop |
| Department | Guitar, Theory and Improvisation |
| Day | Sun |
| Instructor | Lisa Liu |
| Status | inperson event |
Learn how to shape a guitar solo with a clear beginning, development, and conclusion using Django Reinhardt’s “Swing 42” as a musical framework.
Participants will explore melody variation, embellishment, chord-melody techniques, and other approaches for creating a stronger narrative arc in a solo. The workshop will also introduce classic Django phrases and cover the fundamentals of la pompe accompaniment and rest-stroke picking.
Designed for guitarists who want to move beyond simply playing through the changes and develop solos that feel more coherent, expressive, and personal.
Prerequisites
A working knowledge of jazz chords, improvisation, and lead sheets is recommended.
About Lisa Liu
Lisa Liu is a San Francisco–based guitarist specializing in jazz, jazz manouche, and solo guitar. She has performed at venues and festivals including Birdland, the Guggenheim Museum, the Django Reinhardt Festival in France, Djangofest NW, the Freight & Salvage, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, and Joe’s Pub.
As an educator, Liu has taught for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, TrueFire, Django in June, and the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, and has worked alongside guitarists including Mimi Fox, Martin Taylor, and John Knowles. She has also participated in educational outreach through the San Francisco Symphony’s Adventures in Music program.
Liu has released two jazz albums, Introducing Lisa Liu and Temperance, and has served as an artist in residence with the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and programs in France. She is also an Artist Ambassador for Santa Cruz Guitar Company, Sadowsky Guitars, Larkspur Guitars, and Krivo Pickups.