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Biography Based in Los Angeles, New West, featuring Perry Smith, John Storie, and Brady Cohan, has gained recognition as one of today's premier guitar ensembles.  Their original music combines the foundation of jazz with elements of blues, rock, and folk.

Originally a quartet, New West established themselves as a notable jazz group when they were all students at the University of Southern California.  As music majors, New West collaborated with USC to become the first group to receive the coveted Thornton Protégé Grant.  It was during this time that the Los Angeles Sister Cities Committee established the group as the city's musical ambassador.  This honor gave them the chance to perform at the 2005 World Exposition in Nagoya, Japan and the 2007 German-American Volksfest in Berlin, Germany.  The group has continued to perform in major venues throughout Canada, Japan, Europe, and the United States. 

With the release of their recent DVD on Mel Bay Records, New West transitions from a quartet to a trio.    Together they focus their music to combine the sounds of acoustic and electric guitars.  By utilizing  these different timbres, New West creates a new medium of chamber music.  Their performances and recordings have received critical acclaim, and while the members are still only in their early twenties,  New West looks forward to a bright future.

-QUOTES-

"New West is comprised of three of the brightest stars among a new generation of guitarists...I have a feeling that they are just at the beginning of a long and wonderful journey that will bring much joy to the global music community."

Larry Koonse
Jazz Guitarist
California Institute of the Arts Faculty

"...one of the premier guitar ensembles in the country."

Anthony Wilson
Guitarist for Diana Krall

 

Perry Smith:

Finalist in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition, recipient of the 2006 ASCAP Young Jazz Composers, and the USC’s Studio/Jazz Guitar Outstanding Leader Award.  Guitarist for the California-All-State High School Jazz Band and SF All-Star High School Jazz Band.  Bachelors of Music from USC (2005).

John Storie:

Semi-finalist in the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition and a three-time Down Beat Student Music Award Winner and four-time Oregon High School State Champion of Classical Guitar.  Bachelors of Music from USC (2006)

Brady Cohan :

Guitarist for the Grammy High School Jazz Band, Monterey All-Star Jazz Band, and the SF All-Star High School Jazz Band.  Bachelors of Music from USC (2007)

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