Biography (condensed, musical performances)

John Shaffer is an International Performing and Recording Artist, Musician, Composer, Arranger and Author. His main instrument is the guitar and he is available as a teacher, clinician and performer. He has a very large repertoire of solo guitar music and also works with others (duo, trio, big band, etc.) in many settings ranging from classical, flamenco, Brazilian samba and bossa nova, salsa, calypso, reggae, rock, folk, blues, R/B and jazz.

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Late 1960’s - played trumpet as a member of the Gainesville Symphony.

1969 – worked with George Winston (Grammy winning pianist & co-founder of Windham Hill Records)

1969 – played with Scott McKenzie (If You’re Going to San Francisco…)

1971 – worked with Buddy Guy in NYC (Village Gaslight)

1974 – studied sitar, sarod, tabla with Ali Akbar Khan & Zakir Hussain  (Marin County, California)

1976 – taught, worked & recorded with Glenn Jones & the Gospel Sensations (appeared on TV)

1977 – played with George Benson at the Omni in Atlanta

1977 – worked with Lenny Breau, Attila Zoller, Robert Conti, Jeff Berlin in Atlanta

1977 – gave a solo guitar demonstration for the founder (Bud Eastman) & staff of Guitar Player Magazine

1979 – moved to US Virgin Islands and created a “Jazz Scene” on St. John (17 years)

1979 – St.John’s first Jazz Festival with Rene McLean & various local musicians from 5 islands (USVI & BVI)

1979 – As a Band Director on St. Thomas, presented a clinic with Frank Foster (Count Basie Band)

1980/83 – performed and recorded with Eddie Shu (greatest multi-instrumentalist in jazz history)

1981 – taught Hal Lindes (founding member of Dire Straits)

1980/83 – worked with Frank Vicari - world renowned tenor sax recording artist (Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Tom Waits, John Lennon)

1983 – played with The James Montgomery Blues Band

1983 – created and performed with 9 piece rock, R/B band, Commotion

1984 – concerts with the Shirelles & Little Anthony

1984 – concerts with Gary Burton & Steve Swallow

1984 – concerts with Jimmy Hamilton (Duke Ellington Orchestra)  

1984 - 12 hour mini jazz festival with musicians from 4 islands

1985 – played with Jon Faddis (director Carnegie Hall Jazz Band)

1985 – initiated Full Moon Jazz that brought world famous jazz musicians to perform monthly on St. Thomas at Point Pleasant Resort backed by John Shaffer’s group

1985 – Herbie Mann, Norman Connors, Lou Terricciano (Bonnie Raitt), Don Friedman, etc.

1986 – began a fulfilling four year relationship with Jon Lucien (Grammy nominated singer)

1986 – organized, performed & recorded monumental St.John concert with Pete Yellin, John Shaw, Attila Zoller (taught Pat Metheny, John Scofield), Jon Lucien, Joe Delaney, etc.

1987 – Virgin Islands Jazz Festival featuring Shaffer with Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby Hutcherson, Richie Cole, Paul Horn, Gary Bartz / Nov’87 Downbeat Magazine says “outstanding guitarist”

1988 – worked with Will Akkerman, Scott Cossu, Van Manakis (Windham Hill recording artists)

1989 – concerts with Jon Lucien for Yves Saint Laurent introducing Jazz Perfume to this part of the world

1990 – only solo performer at a classical recital on cable TV for St. Thomas Arts Council

1991 – toured with David Harris (world renowned classical guitarist) later Shaffer taught music theory & guitar at UVI

1991 – organized, directed, performed with the Z Band ( 1^st USVI 13-piece Big Band) for concerts, cable TV

1991 – made hour long video with world renowned guitarist, Joe Beck

1994 – 1^st & only sitar concerts with his group Namaste on St. John

1995 – back in Jacksonville, Band Director at NB Forrest High School

1999-2000 – composed, arranged, scored music for marching band and participated in Mardi Gras 2000 (New Orleans)

1998-2000 – performed with Jacksonville Symphony (Neal Sedaka Show and others)

1997/2004 – Jazz Jam Session at Cortesse’s (Jimmy Bruno & many others sat in)...now at House of Jam !

1968-present – over 7000 gigs and counting…teaching for 42 years…a consummate professional !

©Copyright 2007 and 2008 John Shaffer.
All Rights Reserved.