- Vicki Genfan
Died =
Origin =United States
Instrument =Guitar ,piano ,hand percussion ,trombone
Genre =Fingerstyle guitar
Occupation =Musician ,composer ,singer ,songwriter ,therapist
Years_active = 1991–present
Label = Acoustic, Vicki Genfan/NafnegV
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.vickigenfan.com/ www.vickigenfan.com]
Notable_instruments = Muse 12 string by Luna Guitars, Vega 6 string Deering-BanjoVicki Genfan (born
June 15 ] is a US-Americanfingerstyle -guitarist ,composer andsinger .Biography
Vicki Genfan took up the
guitar at the age of five. Her father played 12-string guitar,mandolin andfiddle and had a good voice, her older brother played guitar too. [http://www.lunaguitars.com/feature_vickigenfan.php Vicki Genfan’s page at Luna Guitars.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.] She studiedclassical music andjazz atIthaca College in New York. [http://www.vickigenfan.com/Article_Vickix.html "Tap Tones" - Bill Milkowski writes about Vicki Genfan in "Acoustic Guitar Magazine", issue 109, January 2002.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.] Besides guitar Genfan playspiano , handpercussion andtrombone . [http://www.landmarkonmainstreet.org/larkin_interview.html Interview with Patty Larkin and Vicki Genfan by Ann Latner.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.]1994 she produced her first album "Native" on cassette, but didn't sell it in commercially significant numbers. 2001 her equally self - produced CD "Outside the Box" was published. She won the "Just Plain Folks Award" the same year for her title "New Grass" on that album. 2003 her second CD "Vicki Genfan Live" was published by the German label "Acoustic Music Records", a live-recording at "Open Strings Festival" in
Osnabrück ,Germany . 2004 Vicki Genfan placed second at "Mountain Stage New Song Festival" inWest Virginia with her song "Eleanor".In 2006 Genfan published the double CD "Up Close & Personal". The first CD is titled "Up Close" and contains only instrumentals, the second CD "Personal" showcases her singing and songwriting abilities.Vicki Genfan was on stage with several well-known fellow guitarists, for example
Tommy Emmanuel ,Laurence Juber ,Kaki King andJennifer Batten . [ [http://cdbaby.com/cd/genfan3 Review of Genfan's CD "Up Close & Personal" at CD Baby.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.] Because of her extraordinary technique and lyrical way of playing and singing she was compared toMichael Hedges orPat Metheny . [ [http://www.myspace.com/vickigenfan Vicki Genfan's website at MySpace.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.] Vicki Genfan featured in several American and international magazines and was labeled »Queen of Open Tunings«. [ [http://www.acousticguitarmagazine.com/issues/pastissues/toc.aspx?issueid=176 "PRIVATE LESSON – Vicki Genfan", by Teja Gerken.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.]Genfan won "
Guitar Player " magazine'sGuitar Superstar '08 contest at San Francisco'sGreat American Music Hall in September 2008.cite web |url= http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/15/DDFT12TUC6.DTL |title= Acoustic player wins Guitar Superstar contest |author=Joel Selvin |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date= September 15, 2008 |quote= ]While not on tour abroad she gives concerts in the northeastern US. She is an experienced and good teacher, lectures at
workshop s andguitar clinic s and teaches private lessons. Currently she works on a guitar video featuring her music and technique and plans to publish a book with her music. [http://cdbaby.com/cd/genfan2 Review of the CD "Vicki Genfan Live" at CD Baby.] Accessed on November 18, 2007.]Vicki Genfan lives in Fairview,
New Jersey .Guitar technique and musical influences
Vicki Genfan labels her music »Folk meets Funk«. It's a blend of jazz, funk, pop and
world music in a contemporaryfolk -context. She uses various uncommon open tunings, complex harmonies and intricate rhythms, combining them with percussive grooves. Her playing is characterised by ‘two handedtapping s’, explosive ‘tapped’ and ‘slappedharmonic s’ with one or more fingers of the right hand and slapped bass lines. Genfan is not only a guitar player, she is asongwriter and singer too.Her main musical inspiration was her father. Other influences were
James Taylor ,Michael Jackson , Pat Metheny,Joni Mitchell ,M'Shell Ndegocello ,Marvin Gaye ,Jonatha Brooke andLeo Kottke .Guitars and technical equipment
Genfan plays a "Gibson L-140" [ [http://www.planetguitar.net/magazin/vicki_genfan/index.html "Gibson presents Vicki Genfan". By Bernd Strohm (german).] Accessed on November 18, 2007] , a "Gibson LG" and a "Alvarez Silver Anniversary". The "Alvarez"- Guitar uses a "TrueTone"-
pickup -system, where two mikrophones and a "L.R. Baggs LB6"-pickup send their signal to two separate outlets. [ [http://www.acousticguitar.com/issues/ag109/gear109.html Bill Milkowski describes Vicki Genfan's Guitars in "Acoustic Guitar Magazine", issue 109, January 2002.] Accessed on November 18, 2007]She owns a "
Guild " 12 string Guitar, a Muse 12 string by "Luna Guitars " and plays a "Vega" 6 string "Deering"-Banjo [ [http://www.deeringbanjos.com/cgi-local/artists.cgi List of artists using a Deering-Banjo.] Accessed on November 18, 2007] . She uses medium-gauge "D'Addario " strings.Her engineer Tay Hoyle is responsible for the full and tone clear of her guitar amplification, takes a main part in producing Genfan's CDs and accompagnies her on numerous tours.
Discography
Original work
* 1994 – "Native" (Vicki Genfan)
* 2000 – "Outside The Box " (Vicki Genfan)
* 2003 – "Vicki Genfan Live " (Acoustic Music Records)
* 2006 – "Up Close & Personal" (Harmonic Touch Records)Collaborations, guest musician
* 1991 – "Mistaken Identity" (Donna Summer, Atlantic Records)
* 2000 – "Home Away From Home" (Dee Carstensen, Exit NineRecords)
* 2000 – "Fourth Floor" (Sonya Heller)Compilations
* 2005 – "La Guitara: Gender Bending Strings" (Vanguard Records)
* 2006 – "Indie Music For Life" Compilation (Indie Music For Life)
* 2007 – "Indie Music For Life" Pop/Jazz Compilation (Indie Music For Life)References
External links
* [http://www.vickigenfan.com Official Homepage of Vicki Genfan]
* [http://www.myspace.com/vickigenfan Vicki Genfan MySpace page]
* [http://www.tothestage.com/MediaDetail.PAGE?ActiveID=1142&MediaId=671 Tapping lesson with Vicki Genfan]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clR9PInwDb4 Vicki Genfan plays "Atomic Reshuffle" (YouTube-video)]
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