Victor Saumarez

Classic jazz as background music, ideal for quiet, romantic settings, venues, and events.

BEGINNINGS
A late bloomer, I took up jazz guitar in my late twenties, or early thirties. Before that, I had doodled on the guitar like many teenagers, but nothing prepared me for the steep learning curve that lay ahead. In fact, the challenge was so great, that I tossed in the demands of full time career making, and took a year out to see if I had what it takes. A year was not long enough, and I now know neither is a life time. However, the bug never left me, and has distracted me with its demands ever since.

THE ROAD TRAVELLED
With no formal music training, and no mentor to guide me as was the custom, I relied on private lessons, workshops, jam sessions, and rehearsal bands to hone my craft. However, it wasn't really until working in duos under the more intense spotlight of regular paying gigs, that I actually started to notice a change in my playing, but it wasn't until I started to listen to myself in recordings that insecurities came knocking at the door. .

The next stage of my journey, literally involved packing my bags and leaving the UK shores (2001), and spending three years in the Mediterranean area, where I concentrated on recording. Being able to listen to one's self is a revelation, and has led to changes in my playing, which for the most part are welcome. The downside is that recording takes away the spontaneity which playing live imparts. I had anticipated that my next move (2004), which was to the US should redress that imbalance, but the Great Recession put a dampener on that.

THE ROAD AHEAD
With some years to go before the physical demands on playing take their toll, I hope to continue recording, producing useful educational material, and to do a little more live playing.

DISCOGRAPHY

All CDs are available on CD Baby, Amazon and other online retailers. MP3s are available on iTunes, Napster, and many other online stores. For more details visit my online store at (link hidden)

FRETISH, recorded in Hawaii, in 2010. Contributing artists include Diane Hubka on vocals, John Classick on upright bass, Andrew Goodloe, and Balint Sapszon on keyboards, Russell Jarrett on guitar, and Matt DiGiovanna on saxophone.

DJYPSICAL, recorded in Los Angeles, in 2009. Contributing artists include Kyle Newmaster on trumpet, Diane Hubka on vocals, Ruben Ramos on bass, and James Doyle on drums.

CHUNKIN', recorded in Los Angeles, in 2008. Contributing artists include John Classick on bass, Louis Fanucchi on accordion, Marcus Milius on harmonica, Mathew Price on Drums, and Frank Bonifazi whistling.

SWING STRINGS, recorded in Los Angeles in 2007. Contributing artists include Tim Powell and David Lockeretz on bass, Kyle Newmaster on trumpet, and Benedikt Brydern on violin.