The Ann Arbor Guitar Trio was founded on the idea that more guitar is better. Alex Anest formed the group with Evan Veasey and Adam Kahana in April 2016. All three musicians are talented, creative players who have been performing and recording in the Ann Arbor area for years. With three guitars there are endless possibilities and the A2G3 looks to explore as many of them as they can. The current repertoire includes original compositions, a commissioned work by Josh Harlow, and arrangements of works by Abby Clemens, Malcolm Dean, Bill Frisell, Tiny Grimes, Ernie Krivda, Marc Johnson, Pat Metheny, Oliver Nelson, Miles Okazaki, Charlie Parker, Lou Reed, Ellen Rowe, Brian Wilson, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, and Janelle Reichman. Improvisation, creative use of space, and the interesting harmonies achievable with so many strings are some of the ideas that the A2G3 is exploring. The group is continually developing new and challenging repertoire and released their first record, “Tides,” in May of 2018.
Past Shows
Detroit Public Library, Detroit, MI Oct 14, 2018
A2G3 presents Josh Harlow’s “Never a Rip,” Ypsilanti Freighthouse Aug 30, 2018
Ann Arbor Summer Festival – O&W Acoustic Stage, Ann Arbor, MI June 17, 2018
Kerrytown Concert House, CD Release Show, Ann Arbor, MI May 17, 2018
Ypsilanti District Library, Ypsilanti, MI Apr 6, 2018
Trinity House Theatre, Livonia, MI Mar 16, 2018
Evan Veasey Senior Recital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Feb 17, 2018
BGSU Visiting Artists, Bowling Green, OH Jan 26, 2018
House Concert, Dexter, MI Sep 23, 2017
A2 JazzFest, Ann Arbor, MI Sep 9, 2017
5:00 Rush, Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI Jun 13, 2017
Ann Arbor District Library, Ann Arbor, MI Apr 18, 2017
The Ark, Ann Arbor, MI – Opening for California Guitar Trio Mar 1, 2017
Stone Chalet, Ann Arbor, MI Jan 27, 2017
Collage Concert, UM, Hill Auditorium Jan 14, 2017
Private Event at First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI Oct 19, 2016
UM Jazz Department Showcase, Ann Arbor, MI Oct 6, 2016
A2 Jazz Fest, Ann Arbor, MI Sep 10, 2016
Band Member Bios
Alex Anest has been performing and recording music professionally in the Southeast Michigan area since 1996. In addition to the Ann Arbor Guitar Trio, he is currently playing with a small jazz group called the Alex Anest Trio, the Bluewater Kings, and Klezmephonic. Alex has studied guitar with Miles Okazaki and Chris Buzzelli. He holds a Masters of Music in Improvisation from University of Michigan, where he studied with Benny Green, Mark Kirschenmann, and Ellen Rowe. Alex has been a founding member of many groups including Giraffe, the Jericho Guitar Trio, Never Nebula, Secret 7, and Delta 88. He has toured Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy with songwriter Kevin Meisel and has played on stages throughout the Midwest and New England.
Evan Veasey is a guitarist born and raised in the Southeast Michigan area. A recent graduate from the University of Michigan (SMTD class of 2018!), Evan has been playing guitar for 12 years now. in those 12 years he has toured the Midwest, New England, and Canada with a variety of groups, most notably Ann Arbor based rock band Fallow Land and the University of Michigan Jazz Ensemble. He is also a member of the new music trio Glitter Glam as well as the Ann Arbor Guitar Trio. In addition to these groups, he has done freelance work playing with rock bands Parkway and Columbia, Bad Television, and the Hotel Arch. projects on the horizon include a collaboration with local jazz pianist Josh Harlow, a book of Pet Sounds arrangements for three guitars, and songwriting and session work on Fallow Land’s upcoming record. Other than playing, Evan is an educator (teaching guitar lessons in the Ann Arbor area), and a published poet (Huron River Review, Solos Literary Magazine, Café Shapiro 20th anthology).
Adam Kahana is a musician, arranger, singer, and composer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Though classically trained, he grew up on the Blues. Following graduation from Pioneer and Community High Schools, he is currently a rising senior at the University of Michigan majoring in Jazz Guitar Performance. He sang Tenor 1 for the University of Michigan’s Men’s Glee Club, which toured South Africa in 2016. At the 2015 Detroit Jazz Festival, Adam performed on guitar as part of the J.C. Heard Jazz Week@Wayne All Stars. He was chosen to perform for Wayne Shorter and Chick Corea in 2017 and 2018, respectively, as part of the Detroit Jazz Festival’s events honoring each Artists in Residence for each year. In addition to A2G3, Adam splits his time between pursuing his other major in Data Science, playing in the Ypsilanti-based band Speak Mahogany, and leading his own jazz and pop groups in performances around Southeastern Michigan. Adam currently studies guitar with Miles Okazaki and arranging with Dennis Wilson.
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