Jonathan Clark

Jonathan Clark is an improvising guitarist originally from Lexington, MA. While studying jazz in Oberlin, OH, he played in the auditioned OJE big band and many small ensembles, and prepared two jazz degree recitals. In pursuit of deeper relationship with groove and internalized time, Jonathan also studied percussion under Weedie Braimah, Dylan Moffitt, and Jamey Haddad in the Djembe Orchestra and Samba Practicum. Jonathan has strong background in childhood, collegiate, and adult teaching, valuing opportunities to lead students toward freedom to play with facility and connection to their heart. He is a former guitar faculty at Camp Encore/Coda and taught undergrads at Oberlin College for three years.  Jonathan has a BM from Oberlin Conservatory, studying under Bobby Ferrazza  (Donald Byrd, J.J. Johnson, Benny Golson). His guitar mentorship was complimented by lessons extended by trumpeter Eddie Henderson (Herbie Hancock Mwandishi, Max Roach, Pharoah Sanders). Classroom and informal study with luminaries Billy Hart, Gary Bartz, and Sullivan Fortner guided his formal education in jazz improvisation, history, arranging, and theory. Outside of jazz, Jonathan maintains vibrant musical and extra-musical engagements. He played in masterclasses with towering classical guitarists Leo Brouwer, Eliot Fisk, and Pepe Romero and is a professional bass-baritone singer, working as a section leader at St. Paul Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights for three years and now subbing regularly at Trinity Church, Copley. Jonathan also has a BA in Chemistry from Oberlin. When not making music, Jonathan engages with backpacking, vipassanā meditation, and contact improvisation dance.