Expanding the World of Electric Guitar

In this exclusive video interview, Jazz Guitar Today’s Bob Bakert talks to DJ Sparr about blending his unique guitar and composition talents.

Bob Bakert, Editor: Part of the mission of JGT is to find and explore the reaches and opportunities to expand contemporary guitar and its musical landscape.  DJ Sparr holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Michigan (2003) and is a contemporary electric guitarist and composer.  He applied his talents to the composition of (Concerto for electric guitar and orchestra, 2013) played performed by JGT’s own contributor Ted Ludwig). DJ Sparr was the guitarist who performed the Kenneth Fuchs composition “Glacier” for electric guitar and orchestra with London Symphony.  “Glacier”, won the Grammy, was performed by the London Symphony conducted by JoAnn Falletta.   Enjoy our conversation with composer, guitarist, educator DJ Sparr.

D.J. Sparr and JoAnn Falletta record Glacier (Concerto for Electric Guitar) with the London Symphony Orchestra, Abbey Road Studio 1, 21 August 2017.

About DJ Sparr’s guitar… it’s a Paul Reed Smith 1990 CE24 with a maple top, alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard with Standard Treble and Bass pickups – it was the 2,785th CE built

Sparr concerto for Jazz Guitar and Orchestra

Performed by Ted Ludwig with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Philip Mann Conductor 

For more on DJ Sparr.