Rick Vandivier October 12, 2011

Rick Vandivier is a virtuoso guitarist who has found inspiration in influences that stretch from Andres Segovia to Pat Metheny and Jimi Hendrix. His performances are daring, soulful, and evocative.

Raised in Ohio, Vandivier was drawn to the guitar at age 13. "When I got to hear jazz live, that was what really did it. The combination of the spontaneity, the energy and the interplay really appealed to me." Gradually, Vandivier developed his own guitar style. "It's something that I worked at. It filters out of our life experience, as much as it does our musical experience. There's a distilling that happens over time." He studied at Berklee College of Music, where his teachers included Pat Metheny.

Upon relocating to California in 1979, Vandivier attended San Jose State to round out his Music studies with subjects like Psychology, English and Art, to find that they had a thriving Jazz program, founded by Dwight Cannon. It helped him find his musical path. "I met some very good players and teachers. So, even though I'd gone for the academic, the music was my primary focus." He completed his studies at SJSU in 1981 and has been teaching there ever since. In addition to performing with Nate Pruitt in Primary Colors, Rick has been active in numerous other projects as a guitarist and composer, including leading his own ensemble.

rickvandivier.com

Official Website: http://www.sanjosejazz.org/es/jazz-wednesdays/icalrepeat.detail/2011/10/12/177/59/rick-vandivier.html