The Ryan Waszmer Trio on the Space Coast Jazz Society stage in September
During the past year, the Space Coast Jazz Society (SCJS) has showcased some of the younger jazz talent in our community. The September concert will continue this trend. It highlights Ryan Waszmer, a promising young guitarist and composer, who has included bassist Ron Pirtle and percussionist Doug Grover in his trio.
Waszmer majored in jazz studies at the University of Central Florida; he graduated with honors. While in college, he won several prestigious scholarships in recognition of this musical and academic excellence, played with jazz combos and was the lead guitarist for Jeff Rupert’s Flying Horse Big Band. He has performed with notable musicians such as Richard Drexler, Larry Coryell, Marty Morell and other jazz luminaries now residing in Florida, at jazz festivals throughout the state, and at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
“My style is steeped in tradition but mixed with a modern approach,” Waszmer says. Saxophonist John Coltrane and guitarist Wes Montgomery are greats who have influenced him.
Currently, Waszmer is active in the local and Central Florida jazz scene and performs with various jazz groups, including leading his own trio. He also teaches advanced guitar techniques to musicians and tutors college students. Most recently his trio performed at the Vero Beach Art Museum. And, as part of the Caesar Frazier Organ Quartet and along with Jeff Rupert and Barry Smith, he recorded a WUCF “Live from Studio A” radio program which aired in July. The video presentation of the performance will air on WUCF’s public station in the near future. Waszmer was also selected to participate in the international 2019 Wilson Center Guitar Competition in the category of jazz; the outcome is forthcoming.
Well known to Central Florida jazz aficionados and the SCJS stage is Ron Pirtle who will join the trio on bass. Pirtle plays regularly as lead of his own group and with may jazz combos, to the extent that Florida Today referred to him as “one of the most sought after bass players in Brevard County”. Rounding out the trio is percussionist Doug Grover, who has been playing drums since age of 11, and who studied with jazz legend Elvin Jones. Grover has adopted styles as diverse as jazz, orchestral, rock, avante garde, blues and country. He is also a successful recording engineer/mixer, television producer and former percussion instructor at Florida Institute of Technology.
On September 8th come support some of the best of Brevard’s local jazz talent in a program that Waszmer promises will be “a mix of jazz standards, some modern jazz, as well as some (of his) original compositions.”
Space Coast Jazz Society concerts are open to the public. General admission can be paid at the door or purchased online at www.SpaceCoastJazzSociety.org; $10 for members of the Jazz Society and the Rockledge Country Club, $15 for non-members and guests, and no charge for students. Food and beverages are also available for purchase.
The Rockledge Country Club is located at 1591 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955. For more information, call Bobbie Vance (321) 960-4897 or email Jazz@SpaceCoastJazzSociety.org. You can also join this unique and fun organization at the concert or through the website.
The Space Coast Jazz Society is dedicated to preserve and promote jazz ---
hosting monthly concerts by a variety of professional musicians and bands and awarding scholarships to graduating Brevard County high school seniors.
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