Hot Jazz and Swing inspired our one-of-a-kind Vintage Jazz workshop, Red Hot Strings May 15-19, 2019, encompassing the many genres enmeshed in that rhythmic dialogue. The Jazz Age influenced music-making across the Americas, from every corner of the mainland to the far-flung reaches of Hawaii and the Caribbean, inspiring stringed instrument players to engage in a compelling vocabulary of musical improvisation.

Our faculty reflects the diversity of our offerings—professional musicians from around the globe and from a variety of string traditions bring Fort Worden back to the Jazz Age for five days. On the bluffs of the historic Fort Worden state park you’ll work directly with contemporary masters, including: artistic curator for the program, guitarist and contemporary master of 1920s and ’30s jazz styles, Matt Munisteri; guitarist Albanie Falletta (pictured above); violinist George Washingmachine; steel guitarist Mikiya Matsuda; mandolinist Dennis Lichtman; bassist Matt Weiner, and tenor banjoist Tyler Jackson.

They are coming from far and wide and are among a crew of very accomplished professional instrumentalists who have been drawn to these older traditions, and have allowed them to inform their own playing. They’re a righteous bunch of fun and accessible virtuosi. Class instruction will be offered on guitar, mandolin, violin, tenor banjo and guitar, steel guitar, and acoustic bass, with individual classes geared for intermediate to advanced students.

This workshop is limited to sixty people and is intended for those with a reasonable degree of skill on their instrument. Learn more at our Red Hot Strings page.