Jazz Scale Workout

A respected and active guitarist,

composer, and educator in the

Pittsburgh area, Ken Karsh has

been involved in music since he

began playing guitar at the age of

9. He attended Berklee College of

Music and received his B.M. & M.

M. in performance at Duquesne

University. He has performed with

Jimmy McGriff, Barry Miles,

Spider Rondinelli, Eric Kloss,

Bobby McFerrin, Lee Konitz,

Larry Elgart, Joe Negri, Joey

DeFrancesco, “Papa John”

DeFrancesco, Jack McDuff, Gene

Ludwig, Bernadette Peters, the

Wheeling Symphony Orchestra,

the Pittsburgh Symphony

Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Opera

Orchestra (performing on

Mandolin), Nathan Davis, Michael

Gibbs, and Angel Romero. Mr. Karsh was the guitarist for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera productions of

“Jesus Christ, Superstar”, “Chess”, “Chicago”, “A Chorus Line”, “Parade” (composed by Jason Robert Brown,

who also conducted), “Fiddler On The Roof” (performing on guitar and mandolin), “Copacabana” (composed

by Barry Manilow) and recently “The Lion King” (at the Benedum Theatre with Gazelle Company). In 1981,

Mr. Karsh was the electric guitar soloist in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Andre Previn’s

“Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra.” He has been featured on recordings with Bobby McFerrin, Gene Ludwig,

Nathan Davis, Eric Kloss, Jimmy Sapienza, Arnold Sterling, Darryl Alexander, Lisa Ferraro, and the Wheeling

Symphony. Mr. Karsh is a member of the Duquesne University faculty guitar ensemble “Catch 22” and is

featured, along with his colleagues Bill Purse, Mark Koch, and Jeff Mangone on their CDs “Reappearance” and

“Sly On Life”. Mr. Karsh’s composition “Sly On Life”, the title track of Catch 22’s new CD release, was

featured on the Black Entertainment Television network (BET) and on WQED’s “On Q” television program

(both performances by “Catch 22”). Recently, his arrangements and etudes are featured in the Mel Bay and

Warner Bros. publication, Jazz Guitar Standards (2002). In addition, Mr. Karsh has released a CD of his own

compositions and jazz standards entitled “Ventana”. For more information, please visit Ken Karsh on the web at

www.kenkarsh.com.