Jay Myerson

Guitarist for Hip Graffiti

Artist Biography by: Meryl Klemow

“Jay Myerson, Oceanside resident and guitarist of jazz band Hip Graffiti, is both an accomplished performer and gifted instructor. The release of their CD, This is Hip Graffiti, will show that jazz is a funky, hip and unconventional way to express all styles of music.” – North County Magazine “50 People to Watch in ‘05”

Jazz guitarist Jay Myerson is known for his speed and accuracy as a player, along with his serious work ethic and passion for performing and teaching music. He takes his musicianship quite seriously, yet also has an open and “hip” attitude when it comes to all aspects of Hip Graffiti.

Born in Kent, Engand, in 1971, Myerson knew at an early age that his main calling in life was to play the guitar and devote his life to music. His experience began once he heard a song called “Eighth Day” by singer Hazel O’Connor. The passion and energy Myerson heard in O’Connor inspired him to pick up the guitar, and by the age of 17, Myerson was the youngest person in England to be accepted into the Musician’s Institute in Los Angeles. While he was at the Institute, he studied with well-known recording stars Norman Brown, Scott Henderson and Peter Sprague. After completing his studies, he returned to the United Kingdom, where he enjoyed much success by performing, recording and teaching the wonders of finger-style jazz guitar. Upon his return to the United States, Myerson studied with guitar greats, Julie Goldberg and Norman Ruiz. He continued to teach classical, jazz and contemporary guitar at Lake Forest College in Chicago and, most recently, at the Giacoletti studios in California.

This is: Hip Graffiti features 12 great jazz standards, combined with two interpretations of non-jazz themes that create a perfect blend of sensational beats complemented by powerfully delivered and soulful vocals.

While in the Musician’s Institute, Myerson found his other significant inspiration when he met his future wife, vocalist Carol Fuller. The two were married in Annan, Scotland, in 1992, and their combination of professional and personal chemistry is apparent in each Hip Graffiti performance. They have been playing together for over 14 years, and currently run NoteFarm Recording Studios in the seaside town of Oceanside, Calif., where they record the music of Hip Graffiti and other local musicians.

For more information: www.jaymyerson.com

Photo by: © Barry Lumkin

Click here for printer-friendly version of review.

Send this page to a friend.