The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) is getting ready to blow the roof off the Southern Theatre to open the Columbus Jazz Orchestra’s 2010-11 Great American Songbook season. From Johnny B. Goode to Jimi Hendrix, Guitar Summit (September 24-25) will explore the impact of the guitar on American music and culture featuring guests Vernon Reid (Living Colour); Dan Faehnle (Pink Martini); and Sheryl Bailey.

Grammy award-winning English-born American guitarist Vernon Reid has been named by Rolling Stone as number 66 on the list of top 100 greatest guitarists of all time. Reid founded Living Colour in 1985 whose debut album Vivid went double platinum featuring the hit “Cult of Personality.” Besides his work with Living Colour, Reid has collaborated with a wide range of other artists, such as DJ Logic as the Yohimbe Brothers, as well as pursuing a diverse solo career including composing multiple motion picture soundtracks. His fusion of punk, funk, rock, avant-garde jazz and lightening quick solos make his music a hallmark of unmistakable sound.

Ohio native Dan Faehnle was until recently based in Portland, Oregon where he established relationships with such legendary jazz artists as Leroy Vinnegar, Chuck Israels, Dave Frishberg and Rebecca Kilgore. Beginning in 2000, Faehnle stepped into the guitar chair with Diana Krall where he garnered accolades from such publications as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, JazzTimes and Downbeat magazines, as well as many international publications. He continues to work with such noted musicians as Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Delfeayo Marsalis, and he has also worked with Eddie Harris, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims, and Jeff Hamilton. His solo recordings include My Ideal and Ohio Lunch. Faehnle currently lives in Ohio and is a regular member of the band Pink Martini.

Sheryl Bailey began playing the guitar at age 13, when her mother finally relented to her begging for a Harmony Strat from the JCPenney catalog. Sheryl eventually attended Berklee College of Music and won 3rd place in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition in 1995. In 2000, Sheryl was chosen as a Jazz Ambassador for the U.S. State Department for a South American tour. She is now said to be, “one of the top players in an emerging generation of jazz guitarists.”

Guitar Summit is both for the layman and the enthusiast and will include a post-concert talk with CJO Artistic Director Byron Stripling and guests covering everything guitar.

In conjunction with the Guitar Summit concerts at the Southern, Sheryl Bailey will conduct a free workshop at the Jazz Academy at the Lincoln Theatre on Saturday, September 25 at 2 PM. Bailey will discuss her own experience as a working musician, play a little guitar, and share techniques and practice skills used in her own playing. Bring your guitar or just your ears and enjoy hearing from one of the best that ever did it!

Season subscriptions are available through the CAPA Ticket Office at 39 East State Street or by calling 614-469-0939. Single tickets are also on sale now for $49 (main floor), $46 (first balcony) and $41 (second balcony) and available by phone at 614-469-0939 and through all Ticketmaster outlets. For more information, or to register for the workshop with Sheryl Bailey, call 614-294-5200 or visit http://www.jazzartsgroup.org.

The Great American Songbook music series is presented by the Jazz Arts Group with ongoing support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Ohio Arts Council, the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the Columbus Foundation, and the Westin Columbus. Media support for Guitar Summit is provided by The Columbus Dispatch and CD101. Additional financial support for the Guitar Summit workshop at the Jazz Academy is provided by Music Go Round.