Click on a subject taught by this artist-teacher for a course description.
Guy Le Claire began to play guitar at the age of 14, by 17 he was enrolled in Sydney School of Guitar studying with Peter Andrews and the famous British Jazz guitarist - Ike Isaacs. At the age of 20 Guy attended Boston's Berklee College of Music (USA) and completed their correspondence Certificate in Hong Kong one year later (a course that was highly respected for it's Arranging, Jazz Harmony and Improvisational content). In 1994 Guy was awarded a Diploma of Music from the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney, Guy's main studies at this time were conducting, European Classical music & Contemporary European styles. By 1996 Guy was enrolled in a Masters of Music program at the University of NSW (Sydney), but due to family commitments, left Australia and his studies later that year to relocate to Hong Kong and a lucrative performing career in Asia.
In 2000/01 Guy spent time in NYC studying with Jazz Greats Richie Beirach, Steve Kahn, John Abercrombie and devouring the NY jazz scene, and also in 2001 participated in the Banff Centre for Arts International Jazz Workshop with Joe Lovano, Judi Silvano, Jim Black, Kenny Werner and Dave Douglas. The following year he was part of a scholarship to return to Banff with Peter Knight, Fiona Burnett (Aus) and 3 Canadians - Joe Sorbaro, Michael Bates and Cindy Fairbank in a short-term residency.
In addition to his jazz studies, Guy was invited to India by the Vrindaban Institute to immerse himself in an intensive 10 day Indian Classical Music pilgrimage. Guy also lived and traveled in South West China exploring the ethnic music of the Miao, Dong, Bai and Lijiang people.His interest apart from from ethnic Chinese Musical traditions includes Traditional (Han) Chinese music and in 2004 the Shanghai Music Conservatory offered Guy an exchange post.
Guy's Professional Performing career began in Hong Kong in 1980 playing solo guitar in LKF, from here Guy moved back to Australia to form jazz groups with the very best of young Australian Jazz talent - musicians such as Andrew Gander, Kevin Hunt, Steve Hunter, Jason Morphett, Dale Barlow, Sandy Evans, were all part of Guy's jazz scene. However, by 1985 Guy made a change and entered into performing Pop/Rock music, within 5 years he had toured, recorded and been a part of such famous Oz bands as The Tribe, The Eurogliders, Matt Finish, Rick Price, Ian Moss Band, Troy Newman - all at some personal cost.
By 1991 Guy released his 1st self-titiled CD - the Australian music press hailed him as 'Australia's Joe Satriani', USA Guitar Magazine featured him in their new talent page and PFP Polygram Music Publishing signed him on the dotted line. Next up was super fusion group 'Playdiem' featuring Guy, Steve Hunter on bass, David Jones on drums & John Foreman on keyboards. Their shows at the Harbourside Brasserie in Sydney are legendary and a CD was released in 1994 by Larrikin Entertainment.
At this time Guy had become the Head of the Guitar Department of the Australian Institute of Music. In 1994 there were over 100 full-time guitar students and 14 teachers, Guy had to co-ordinate all aspects of the department, from the curriculum/syllabi to Class schedules/allocation, and teacher's schedules, to liasing with other departments and to the Director/Chairman of the school!
In 1994 Bruce Cale (one of Australia's finest double bassists and composers) and Guy began playing in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney every weekend - they built up a steady following which resulted in a performance at Australia's most respected Jazz Festival - Wangarratta Jazz Festival 1996 - and a CD recorded by John Franks (Standard Time - 4 star rating in the Australian).
By November 1996, Guy had settled into a professional musicians life in Hong Kong.
From 1997 to 2003 Guy was known as one the top guitarists in Hong Kong - his experience includes touring the wolrd with Canto/Mando-Pop stars (famous Chinese pop singers), performing with at least 30 Blues and RnB greats in concerts and the HK Jazz Club (now defunct), Musical Director and Artist of special concerts promoted by Swire Property Group & Leisure and Cultural Dept HK & Macau Cultural Centre, Performed in Jazz Festivals in China/Philippines/Taiwan/Macau/Australia/Canada, tours and gigs with Jazz artists Dale Barlow, Quinsin Naschoff, Bruce Huron, Scott Tinkler, Eugene Pao, Ted Lo, Elaine Liu to name a few, he also released a number of CDs independently.
In 2003 Guy moved to Yangshuo, SW China to concentrate on Acoustic music, both composing his own ideas and exploring the nature of Traditional Chinese Music and Ethnic Chinese Folk music. He also trained to become a Tai Chi Qi Gong Teacher.
Guy's 7th CD 'Xin Xin' was released and it documents some of the musical material Guy was working on in Yangshuo. In addition to the Xin Xin material, Guy wrote about 20 songs that he hopes to publish soon.
Now back in the Hong Kong/China region, Guy is part of the Professional Hong Music scene and recently returned from a successful tour to Japan. Guy continues his Tai Chi training and hopes to perform and delight audiences here with his vast musical catalogue!
Awards:
Finalist in World Paters Media Awards - Music Division (judge included Joni Mitchell).
Winner of 2MMM Homegrown Radio Competition.
Banff Centre for Arts Scholarship
Honorary Member Hong Kong Jazz Association
Certificate of Music - Berklee College of Music
Diploma of Music - Aust Institute of Music
Exchage Program with Shanghai Conservatory of Music
Bu Di Zhen Tai Ji Qi Gong Teacher's Certificate - China.
