<< Click player below for a sample video from the course >>
TrueFire's radar screen started beeping loudly when it picked up that two of our favorite jazz players, Andreas Öberg and Frank Vignola would be within a hundred miles of our studios within just a few weeks. Both also happen to be very accomplished students of gypsy jazz guitar, a subject we've long wanted to present. And while both artists had heard of each other, they had not met nor played together in the past.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we worked out the logistics of the session while Frank and Andreas worked out the curriculum and outline for the course. Frank and Andreas met for the first time on the day of the session to review the material. We powdered their noses, someone shouted "action" and what followed is one of the most amazing, masters workshop on gypsy jazz guitar ever recorded.

Over the course of the session, Andreas and Frank perform several improvisations over standard gypsy jazz forms followed by an extensive breakdown during which they cover all of the requisite techniques, discuss gypsy harmony and present a wide variety of improvisational and duet approaches.

In the midst of these breakdowns, Andreas and Frank would often bridge out to related  tutorials, many of which are worth the price of admission alone. Topics covered over the 66 video lessons include: gypsy jazz voicings, tritone subs, chromatic reharmonization to V7, cycle of fifths with tritone substitutions, chromatic guide tones, gypsy-style soloing and improvisation, arpeggios with chromatic embellishments, soloing on one string, rhythm la pompe, rhythmic dynamics, sweep picking diminished lines, gypsy picking, stutter picking, duo soloing approaches, chromatic approach to chords, whole tone voicings and patterns, bebop approach, melodic voice leading, gypsy and bebop articulation, trading 4's, playing outside, comping and reharmonization, rhythmic variations, comping and soloing over ballads, motific development, personal style, double time rhythm, extensions and voice leading, off beat 1/8th note patterns, triplet patterns, distinguishing gypsy and gypsy swing feels, scatting and duo communication.

Swedish guitar phenom Andreas Öberg has performed with and earned the accolades of such guitar luminaries as Toots Thielemans, Bireli Lagrene and Larry Coryell. Frank Vignola is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional artists in the biz. Monster player, composer and widely respected bandleader, Frank's played with everyone from Les Paul to Madonna to Donald Fagen.

Gypsy Jazz Duets is a valuable resource of wisdom and insight from two young masters of the guitar. Like those great jazz records cut in a day, where all of the stars must have aligned to create that magical moment forever preserved on vinyl, Gypsy Jazz Duets captures such a moment for students of jazz guitar.