Space Coast Live

Event Story: This year, the Space Coast Jazz Society has showcased some of the younger jazz talent in our community. This concert highlights Ryan Waszmer, a promising young guitarist and composer, who has included bassist Ron Pirtle and percussionist Doug Grover in his trio. Ryan Waszmer majored in jazz studies at the University of Central Florida; he graduated with honors. While in college, he won several prestigious scholarships in recognition of this musical and academic excellence, played with jazz combos and was the lead guitarist for Jeff Rupert’s Flying Horse Big Band. He has performed with notable musicians such as Richard Drexler, Larry Coryell, Marty Morell and other jazz luminaries now residing in Florida, at jazz festivals throughout the state, and at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. “My style is steeped in tradition but mixed with a modern approach,” Waszmer says. Saxophonist John Coltrane and guitarist Wes Montgomery are greats who have influenced him. Currently, Waszmer is active in the local and Central Florida jazz scene and performs with various jazz groups, including leading his own trio. He also teaches advanced guitar techniques to musicians and tutors college students. Most recently his trio performed at the Vero Beach Art Museum. And, as part of the Caesar Frazier Organ Quartet and along with Jeff Rupert and Barry Smith, he recorded a WUCF “Live from Studio A” radio program which aired in July. The video presentation of the performance will air on WUCF’s public station in the near future. Waszmer was also selected to participate in the international 2019 Wilson Center Guitar Competition in the category of jazz; the outcome is forthcoming. Well known to Central Florida jazz aficionados and the SCJS stage is Ron Pirtle who will join the trio on bass. Pirtle plays regularly as lead of his own group and with may jazz combos, to the extent that Florida Today referred to him as “one of the most sought after bass players in Brevard County”. Rounding out the trio is percussionist Doug Grover, who has been playing drums since age of 11, and who studied with jazz legend Elvin Jones. Grover has adopted styles as diverse as jazz, orchestral, rock, avante garde, blues and country. He is also a successful recording engineer/mixer, television producer and former percussion instructor at Florida Institute of Technology. Support some of the best of Brevard’s local jazz talent in a program that Waszmer promises will be “a mix of jazz standards, some modern jazz, as well as some (of his) original compositions.” OPEN TO THE PUBLIC – general admission tickets can be purchased online below or paid at the door: – $10 for members of the Jazz Society and Rockledge Country Club, – $15 for guests, – Students are free. Food and beverages are available for an additional cost. The Rockledge Country Club is located at 1591 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge, FL 32955. For more information email Jazz@SpaceCoastJazzSociety.org or call Bobbie at (321)960-4897.