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Monday Jazz Mentor Series at Cafe Paradiso hosted by Tim Bedner

The last Monday in September will be the start of a new music series at Café Paradiso in downtown Ottawa aimed at helping up-and-coming jazz musicians. Area high school and college students will have a chance to play and improvise music in a duo format with some of Ottawa’s seasoned professionals including John Geggie, Roddy Ellias, Mark Ferguson, and Tim Bedner. Music students will be playing with a jazz mentor in front of a live audience, and they will have an opportunity to receive real-life experience and constructive critique, which is often a missing component in today's jazz  scene.

Guitarist and series organizer states: “Starting this series is a way for me to also say thanks to my mentors. While I was a student I had the chance to play regularly with some of the best jazz musicians in the world. These master musicians were kind and very encouraging, and would often give me advice or indicate what was working in my playing. I can look back now and say that this had to be some of the most important musical instruction I’ve ever received.“

On Monday September 28, 2009 starting at 8pm, four up-and-coming jazz guitar students from Carleton University will perform with jazz mentor John Geggie at Cafe Paradiso. The four guitarists are Alex Suatac, Alex Moxon, Justin Duhaine and David Gaw. Each student will perform two jazz selections of their choice with John in front of a live audience and receive a critique of their playing, improvisation and presentation. This series is open to the public attendence and would be of benefit to anyone who plays jazz or who is a jazz fan. There is no cover charge. Cafe Paradiso is located at 199 Bank Street.

Monday September 28, 2009 - Jazz mentor John Geggie

Monday October 26, 2009 - Jazz mentor Roddy Ellias

Monday November 30, 2009 - Jazz mentor Mark Ferguson