The Augusta Experience (hut-tah hut-tah)

[IcemanLE@xxxxxxx]

What a wonderful week. 

There were many new students of high caliber, but the real excitement came 
from those that have become regulars.

These students have shown amazing improvement. They return year after year, 
absorbing what they've learned. The proof was in the evening jamming. These 
guys are the "anti-gusses", respecting space and time, picking and choosing their 
moments, building solos over 12 or 24 bars, using silence in their ideas, 
etc. 

This is the best form of ongoing education on the workshop market today. It 
mixes highly qualified teachers with much opportunity to play outside of the 
classroom, tosses in interaction with jazz/swing players as well, and offers 
many performance opportunities as well as jamming. Although mostly acoustic, 
there has been an electric jam/band lab added to the week.

Those of you that want the full bodied experience, look into attending 
Augusta Heritage Blues Week 2004.

The Iceman

ps - reviews by those that participated last week would be of interest to the 
list.