5th International Workshop
for Jazz Guitar 2009 in Provence
with Bruce Forman (Los Angeles)
and Ulrich Hoffmeier (Berlin)
October 20th-24th, 2009 in Maussane-Les-Alpilles,
Relais du Silence Val Baussenc
All photos of South of France on this page: Dietmar Liehr
Topic of the course: Blues
The 5th International workshop for jazz guitar, organized by Uli Hoffmeier and Sonntag Guitars will take place under the sign of changing venues and a reunion. We are happy to have Bruce Forman from California again as our second tutor – together with co-organizer Uli Hoffmeier.
During the workshop 2008 the name Bruce Forman was mentioned extremely often when brainstorming whom to book for teaching in 2009. Bruce had left a deep impression on those who had been with the course of 2006. Many of the participants, who where lucky to experience Bruce Forman‘s teaching, asked for him to come again because of his humorous, affable style and his professional teaching.
Therefore we approached Bruce after returning from Provence 2008 and it was not necessary to persuade him, we immediately got his promise to come. He had a very good afterglow of the workshop week in Frigolet 2006 and he was very happy about our invitation for 2009.
Change of Venue
The change of the venue is due to repeated organisational complications with the hotelier in Aigueze in 2007/08. We decided to leave this place, even though we felt very comfortable there. Thanks to Uli‘s very good knowledge of Provence and with the help of our former bistro-innkeepers of our first two seminars, Gilles and Brigitte Ribaudeau, we were lucky to detect a new venue very quickly.
We chose the Relais du Silence Val Baussenc, quietly situated at the outskirts of Maussane-Les-Alpilles in the heart of Provence. This Hotel has the characteristic charm of Provence and provides an enjoyable and quiet ambiance which we need for the relaxed atmosphere of our course. Moreover we were successful enough in our negotiations to be able to reduce the course fee by 25%, despite higher costs for running the seminar.
How Blue Can We Get?
The workshop 2009 will be taking place under the headline »Blues«. The experiences of our past courses showed that a principal topic will make it easier for both tutors and participants to prepare for the course. Hand outs and teaching contents can be phased more effectively and learning targets achieved faster and easier.
The Tutors: Bruce Forman
“Bruce Forman is one of the great lights of our age.”
Barney Kessel, Jazz Times
“Bruce Forman is a wonderful guitarist; extremely versatile and very musical…a first-rate accompanist and soloist.”
Kenny Burrell
A busy touring schedule; soundtrack performances on two of Clint Eastwood’s distinguished films--the Oscar-winning Million Dollar Baby and Oscar-nominated Flags of Our Fathers; thirteen recordings as a leader; over twenty appearances at the landmark Monterey Jazz Festival; a featured role on one of jazz great Ray Brown’s last albums; in residence at USC’s Studio / Jazz Guitar Dept. — when does Bruce Forman rest?
Forman is a seasoned jazz player with top-level skills as a leader, entertainer and sideman. He creates soulful, lyrical melodies, inventive harmonies, and solid accompaniment. Though he can shred bebop at blistering tempos with the best of ‘em, he is no urban snob. Cow Bop, Forman’s unique “western bebop” band, hit four separate charts with its CDs, Swingin’ Out West and Route 66.
Forman is also a distinguished music educator and in-kind philanthropist. His national music-mentoring program, JazzMasters Workshop, has provided over 2000 sessions for kids. Always free of charge, JazzMasters sessions occur during after-school hours, which are critical to adolescents’ development.
The Tutors: Ulrich Hoffmeier
is a member of the famous German orchestra »Das Palastorchester mit seinem Sänger Max Raabe« who have recently played and recorded at Carnegie Hall. In this orchestra he plays various kinds of guitars and also banjo, mandolin, violin and other quirky stringed instruments. When the tight schedule of the orchestra allows, Ulrich Hoffmeier leads the »Premier Swingtett« and a duo with singer Anja Sonntag. In this duo he plays 7-string guitar, „seven strings, lady sings“. His translation of Jerry Coker‘s „Elements of the Jazz Language“ for guitar enables the participants very fast to improvise more „jazzy“ and helps to enlarge, vary and deepen the repertoire of patterns. More information on Ulrich Hoffmeier.
The Venue
The hotel Relais du Silence Val Baussenc is situated at the eastern exit of Maussane-Les-Alpilles. Maussane is a characteristic town of the South of France at the foot hills of the Alpilles, a ridge which cuts through Provence from east to west. The town has an idyllic market square on which a market takes place once a week, and an olive oil mill which produces one of the best oils of France. Numerous vineyards surround Maussane, some of them produce award-winning wines.
The Camarque is only a half an hour drive away. Arles, the town on the banks of the Rhone river, is situated just a few kilometers west of Maussane. An ancient roman amphitheater and theater can be visited there. North of Maussane the world-famous remains of Les Baux are looking down from the Alpilles. North of this place, on the other side of the Alpilles, lies the little town of St. Remy where Vincent van Gogh spent his sunset years in a sanatory.
The hotel is just a short hop from the center of Maussane. It is a three star venue and it’s hidden from the road by olive and cottonwood trees. The comfortable rooms have windows facing the green surroundings. The outdoor facility is created like a park, a pool is at the guests’ diposal. You enter the hotel and find yourself in a spacious lobby with a fire place, which offers enough room for spontaneous sessions. At the restaurant they serve typical delicious provencal meals, the tables offer a view into the park. A nice patio lushly overgrown by vines invites for relaxing and talking guitars while having a pastis in the afternoon.
The lessons will be held in the lobby and in the seminar room.
In the town there is a hall available where the traditional final concert is to be held.
All in all the Val Baussenc will be more than a substitute for Aigueze. The secluded setting in the green and the open, light-flooded hotel rooms allow the mind to flow and breathe and gives the musical phantasy room to absorb new inspirations. And then the pleasures of Provence style cuisine of the restaurant will complete our well-being. According to Gilles Ribaudeau they cook at a very high level at the Val Baussenc. Gilles will know, since he himself was running his own restaurant some time ago.
The Hotel
The hotel has 23 double bedrooms which are reserved exclusively for us. In case we need more, there will be additional rooms available at a Best Western hotel situated next to the Val Baussane, for guests or other visitors of the course. Unfortunately we do not know the conditions yet, which might be slightly different, but we will post them in time. We will have meals together at the Val Baussenc (breakfast € 6,- , dinner € 15,-). So early booking will ensure you will get a room at the Val Baussenc. We will allocate the rooms according to the chronological receipt of payment.
Room Prices
Single: € 70,70 per night/person, incl. half-board and visitor‘s tax.
(six nights: € 424,20)
Double: € 111,40 per night/person, incl. half-board and visitor‘s tax.
six nights: € 668,40)
The Workshop
First course day: Oct. 20th, last course day Oct. 24th
Lessons will take place from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
We will have two tutor groups, one with each tutor. Half way through the workshop the groups will change tutors.
The language of Bruce Forman‘s lessons will be English, Uli Hoffmeier will teach in „FrenDenglish“ (French, Deutsch, English).
Everybody is invited to begin or join a session at any time.
On the last evening of the workshop a valedictory concert is planned in which every participant will hopefully take part.
Please don’t forget to take a music stand and an amp if needed. There will be Sonntag guitars available for being tested.
Supporting Programme
Yoga
Since the yoga course of Anina von Molnar was so highly appreciated, we plan to offer a yoga course again in 2009 for friends and partners of the participants. The course will again be held by Anina von Molnar. To date there is no venue available for the course. There are several suitable rooms in Mausanne but we still need to negotiate about terms and conditions. As soon as this will be straightened out we will publish the dates of the course at this point.
Cookery Course
Gilles Ribaudeau will give cooking enthusiasts a chance to look inside the secrets of the Provencal cuisine. Our good spirit of the days of Abbeye Frigolet, who already was a chef himself, will offer two cookery courses.
He will run a one day seminar each for both partners of the participants during the workshop and for the participants on sunday, Oct. 25th. The course will be open for ca. five participants. The fee will be ca. € 25,- (depending on what will be cooked).
Applications and inquieries for the cookery course please send directly to Gilles Ribaudeau: 0033 (0)4 90439324,
(Gilles speaks English)
Conditions
Deadline: August 20th, 2009
Costs for the course:
€ 769,20 per person for single room
€ 1013,40 for double room (1 participant + company)
€ 1358,40 for double room (2 participants)
The costs for the course include course fee and costs for hotel, incl. half-board for six nights from Oct. 19th-25th (Oct. 19th day of arrival, Oct. 25th day of departure)
Transfer information:
Please transfer the course fee to the account of
Ulrich Hoffmeier
Account No.: 189545-104
BLZ: 10010010
Postbank Berlin
IBAN: DE24 1001 0010 0189 5451 04
BIC: PBNKDEFF
You will be entitled to attend the course only after receipt of your payment on Ulrich’s account. We will send you the confirmation as soon as the money comes through.
In case of cancellation
- in case of cancellation until August 20th 2009 the complete course fee minus 20,- € will be refunded. After August 20th 2009 there will be no refund.
- In case there will not be enough participants the workshop will be cancelled and the money will be completely refunded.
- Number of participants will be limited to max. 20 persons.