New at Mel Bay Publications in 2007 Our 60^th Anniversary Year!
by Stephen Rekas

Sixty years ago, pioneering guitar educator Melbourne E. Bay (1913-1997) "saw a need and filled it" with his Orchestral Chord System (now Rhythm Guitar Chord System) and 7-volume Modern Guitar Method. Back in 1947, besides making a living as a performer, arranger and teacher, Mel's goal was to help returning GIs from WW II become better sight readers so they could more effectively fill positions in the developing pop music, radio, film, and television industries. Finding little by way of progressive guitar literature, Mel transcribed clarinet music to create his own teaching repertoire. Scores of books for various fretted instruments followed his initial chord and method books, many of which are still part of our inventory at what Mel called "the plant"- our publishing facility here in Pacific, Missouri.

Mel traveled the nation extensively in his early years as a professional musician. Even into the late 50s, he marketed his books from the trunk of his car during working vacations. By then he had long been a musician's musician on the St. Louis scene, appearing on radio and television, performing in every imaginable scenario from St. Louis Browns' home games to the Admiral riverboat, and playing in schools gratis to spread the gospel of the guitar.

In 1952, tired of the rigors of the road, Mel followed Johnny Smith's lead and established the Mel Bay Music Center in Kirkwood, Missouri; Mel worked there daily, supplying the community's need for instruments and music lessons and enjoying visiting with old or newfound friends. When I first met Mel in December of 1989, although 76 at the time, he was sweeping snow off the sidewalk in front of the store. I learned from reading Ray Dankenbring's anecdotal biography The Mel Bay Story (96470) that such activity was normal for Mel. "Somebody has to do it," he would say. Little did I know that in six years' time I would be working at the Mel Bay Publications plant.

Mel's son William "Bill" Bay has presided over the plant since its inception in 1978. Regarded as a trumpet prodigy in his youth, Bill earned a master's degree in music and played in and arranged music for his own big band. With his father's business acumen, sharp wit and love of the guitar, Bill has guided a small family-owned business to the vanguard position it occupies today in the music publishing industry.

It's no accident that Mel Bay Publications is still filling the needs of musicians worldwide- not only guitarists but instrumentalists of all kinds and styles. Bill Bay and his staff work diligently to stay ahead of the curve, anticipating industry trends and hopefully the needs of musicians in general before they become full-blown. That's what it takes to not only survive, but excel in this business. Hence the Mel Bay Guitar Advisory Board, the exploitation of the Internet not only for sales but as a medium for enhanced customer service plus offerings of downloadable products, and this very webzine are all concepts that Bill Bay set in motion.

Besides hard work, innovation and gathering an outstanding stable of authors, the company has had to add flexibility and diversity to its operational priorities. These are trying but exciting times in the music publishing industry. The competition is admittedly fierce, but Mel Bay Publications is up to the challenge.

If you're planning to attend the NAMM Show in Anaheim California this month, Bill Bay invites you to our gala Mel Bay Publications 60^th Anniversary Concert featuring the MB3 Trio of Vic Juris, Corey Christiansen and Morty Ferber (filling in for Jimmy Bruno) together with Danny Gottlieb on drums and Chuck Berkhof on bass. John Pisano will perform with Anthony Wilson as well as with The Flying Pisanos featuring vocalist Jeanne Pisano. The evening will be capped off with John Pisano's Jam Session. The event will be staged at the Sheraton Park Hotel Ballroom at the Anaheim Resort on Harbor Boulevard on Friday January 19 from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is free!

So What's New?

Here, with a prejudicial guitar focus, are but a few of the new products and ideas that our readers can anticipate in 2007:

Books

Master Anthology of New Classic Guitar Solos, Volume 1 (99760BCD) - features newly composed works by 21 outstanding guitarist/composers with two CD recordings of the composers demonstrating their own pieces to allow listeners to quickly discern whether the music appeals to them enough to add it to their own repertoires.

Mel Bay Guitar University/Fingerstyle - A 5-volume "best of" series derived from scores of Mel Bay fingerstyle collections!

Mel Bay Guitar University/Rock Guitar - 3 volumes so far with more on the way, compiled by Nite Driscol and Jon Finn.

Jazz, classical, and flatpicking editions of the MBGU series are forthcoming!

Kurt Rosenwinkle:Compositions (20749) - This book showcases solo transcriptions of Kurt's critically acclaimed album "Deep Song" as well as lead sheets for many of Kurt's personal favorite tunes presented in standard notation and tablature. The book is personalized with photos of Kurt's tours and recording sessions and is a valuable collection of modern jazz guitar.

Coming Soon! Fred Hamilton: Jazz Guitar Ensembles- featuring 4-5 guitarists plus bass and drums.

Mel Bay Records

MB3 - Jazz Hits, Volume 1 (10312CD) - A jazz guitar power trio! Jimmy Bruno, Corey Christiansen and Vic Juris pool their talents on fresh interpretations of 10 classic tunes, including "Milestones", "All Blues", "Killer Joe" and "Freedom Jazz Dance". Drummer Danny Gottlieb and bassist Jay Anderson provide the ideal rhythm section for the first jazz guitar ensemble recording on the Mel Bay Records label. This month[January 07] the album reached #1 on the Jazz Week chart of airplay in North America.

John Pisano's Guitar Night (10412CD) - A 2-CD set with sterling performances by a dozen of the world's best jazz guitarists including historical appearance by the incomparable George Van Eps and Ted Greene! Recorded live at Spazio's in Los Angeles.

Coming soon! Frank Vignola Plays Gershwin - Gorgeous acoustic jazz guitar interpretations of some of George Gershwin's wonderful melodies. Corey Christiansen plays backup with Tom Kennedy on bass and Joe Ascione on drums.

Concert and Instructional DVDs

The Lick Library DVD Series - Covers a vast array of rock and blues topics.

Corey Christiansen is producing an instructional DVD series addressing a variety of subjects including: stringing the guitar, fretboard harmony, memorizing note locations, and other topics of interest to the serious guitarist.

Mel Bay is soon to release a concert DVD performance by Alex de Grassi as well as a new series of documentaries based on the lives of icons of the music business including luthiers Paul Reed Smith and Bob Taylor.

Downloads

Finally, our offerings of downloadable sheet music and video will be vastly expanded, including brand-new material appearing for the first time anywhere. Check our 30 and 60-day "Hotlist" pages under "Products" on the Mel Bay Publications website as well as the "Featured Product" segment of Guitar Sessions often for news of the latest Mel Bay products.

With your help, 2007 will be another banner year for this world-class family business, continuing a tradition begun 60 years ago by a man with a singular vision.

Best New Year's wishes,
Stephen Rekas
Guitar Sessions Editor