Jim Beard, one of the great music producers of our time, very skilled composer and sideman to such big names as John Scofield, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter recently gave a workshop in our insitute. He has recorded with artists from an extremely wide range of musical styles - from Dizzy Gillespie to the Brecker Brothers, Dianne Reeves to Meshell Ndegeocello, Toninho Horta to Walter Becker.
Giving us balanced lecture about his composing process, touring remarks, a bit of jazz history he participated in and actually making us play some excersises he like to pursue, he left a big exclamation mark in our heads insisting that we pursue the music further, deeper and in more competent fashion. That was a good day.