MUSIC
- Guitarist, producer, songwriter and composer
Travis Vega
From Lodi, California, Travis received his formal training at
the Musicians Institute in California but was learning to play "by ear" at age 11.
Once Travis began learning, he said he would read and play the "licks" in
the guitar magazines and he and a friend, also learning to play guitar, would "comp a lot" from CD's and
radio. At one point they formed their own small band, but beyond rehearsals
it never came to anything.
In high school he said he was "still doing
his own thing" until joining the jazz band in his junior year. he said
it was "a fun experience, being part of the rhythm section, we had the
freedom to work out the arrangements on our own". At this time he was also taking lessons
from a local guitarist, Mike Simone, who "like to jam". Travis said Mike taught him a lot during his high school years.
Travis also worked with his cousin, Dennis Sebastian, who released a CD "a
couple years back". During that time, they recorded and performed together.
After High School, Travis went to Hollywood to study formally at the Musicians Institute where he says
he was taught by "some of the best guitarist in the world", but one guitarist/instructor in particular,
Bill Lafleur, really took the time to show him what he "really needed".
Bill open his eyes and to see his potential. Travis said, "he just knew where I was coming from".
Travis has released three CDs, "Through the Valley" in 2004, "Just Let It Flow"
in 2007 and his latest "Smooth Urban Night" in 2008.
He has
performed at The San Jose Jazz Festival and as part of The Crocker Art Jazz Series.
He can also be seen and heard performing at the PASOS Vineyards "Smooth
Summer Night Jazz" sessions in Lockeford, CA and also at other venues in Elk
Grove, Turlock and Sacramento, California.
With the release of "Smooth Urban Night", Travis has provided us with new
songs to enliven our hearing experience.
About the music:
DCB: Based on my current information, you began to play the guitar "by ear" at age 11. Was
music a part of your life before the guitar and what was it about the guitar that attracted you to it?
TV: That's right, started playing guitar on my
grandfathers old acoustic, which was given to my brother, I would sneak in the room when he wasn't home
and play it. Music has always been in my life since earliest memories, as a family none of us played
an instrument, until I picked up the guitar, but the house was filled with popular music that came from
the late 70's, 80's.
DCB: With all the other genres of music to play, why did you decide to become a jazz guitarist?
TV: What attracted me to jazz guitar was the influence that Wes Montgomery
had on me. Wes Montgomery was a self-thought guitarist, who had a unique approach to the
guitar, visually he looked like other guitarist, but never used a guitar pick, instead used his
right thumb for soloing and comping. His playing alone has stood the test of time, combining
"block chords" which are inversions of various chords to create this melodic and rhythm
combination that at that time was genius, while his improvisations always changed, his phrasing
stayed articulate, innovative and lightning fast, his tone was full and round. That's what I wanted
to do, have his technique, use his style of "block chords" and phrase just like him, but
as I grew I found that I have my own unique style on the instrument and plus others have tried
to achieve what I tried, but always fell short, you just can't match the master.
DCB: When did you begin playing in your first band and when did you form your current group?
TV: I started playing with my cousin, who also
produces when I was 15, at that same time I was already doing recording sessions, once I started my recording
career at the end of my teens that's when the first band was formed, now the main staples of my group is myself
and my brother/percussionist Jason Vega, he has played with me through out and we filter other musicians to
round out the group, but that part of it is always changing. I couldn't do what I do without my brother.
DCB: You said you could not have accomplished what you have without your brother. It sounds like he
was a strong positive influence.
TV: I have three older brother, I am the youngest, so I
grew up listening to what ever they were listening to from rap, rock, r&b, classical, and pop, it was all over the
place, but my brother Jason would quiz me for instance, who's singing this song, who's playing it, etc. at a early
age, so I knew what was hip when I was in the third grade, lol. And once I picked up the guitar, we just kind of
bonded even more and he picked up the percussion, first the drums then the congas, bongos, etc. we were able to morph
what was a quiz game into this art form that grew from us playing together and to this day we are growing and evolving
and we hope this process never stops, I couldn't do what I do because he help laid the foundation that still is
growing, all my family members has had a major part in my accomplishments.
DCB: What influenced your choice of songs on your new CD? When someone listens to the "Smooth Urban Night"
CD, what would you like for them to take away from the experience?
TV: I am a strong believer of playing music that just
feels good and in doing so I perform all my material first before recording them, so I get that immediate response
from the crowd and they sure do let you know. I would like everyone to experience that consistant vibe of groove
that balances itself with great melody and progressive rhythms, that's my goal with this project, to really showcase
to everyone that this project came from the stage to your music player.
DCB: What other thoughts about your music, would you like to share?
TV: During my short tenure as a recording artist, I have
come across folks who don't have the best interest of there artist at heart, they manipulate, lie and even steal
from the very people they are suppose to help. With my personal experience and having gone through these examples, I
would like everyone to know that true music, true musicianship and true passion will always prevail and will always
be honest and pure. Music has provided a wonderful living for me, one where I am able to share what the Lord has
given me and as I grow and mature, I am blessed to work, perform and share knowledge with some of the brightest
musicians, always fueling that passion that we all feel for music, life and love.
Travis "Smooth Urban Night" PR Onesheet:
Full Authority Music Group Recording Artist/Guitarist Travis Vega is back with his latest release, "Smooth Urban Night".
Never to far from his infectious style of R&B, Pop, Latin and Chill; Travis again delivers a stunning performance with
his cycle of Smooth Jazz with his latest effort "Smooth Urban Night".
Straight from his 2007 release "Just Let It Flow", Travis was quick to lean on the success of "Just Let It Flow", which produced
hit single's "Don't Be Late" and "When Ever Where Ever", right up that alley is his latest singles, stemming from his newest
release "Smooth Urban Night"; hit tracks "It's All Good", "Vega Motion", title track "Smooth Urban Night" and retro groove
song "Like It Like That".
Third's the charm with Travis Vega and his latest release "Smooth Urban Night". Don't miss a step with this Full Authority
Music Group Recording Artist, please visit www.travisvega.com and www.myspace.com/travisvegamusic for all the latest information.
"He will certainly make the next step to stardom" ~HBH, www.smooth-jazz.de
"I look forward to hearing what he comes up with next time" ~John Luciano www.contemporaryjazz.com
"Travis has definitely taken his music to the next level" ~Doug Wulff, Program Director of The River 105.5, www.krvr.com
"Travis has taken smooth jazz to the next level and his star has risen and shining brightly over the jazz community." ~ Marvin
Dickey, The Urban Music Scene. www.theurbanmusicscene.com
To Purchase "Smooth Urban Night", please visit travisvega.com or CDBaby.com. "Smooth Urban Night"
is also available on most major digital distributors, iTunes, Napster, and Amazon.com.
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