Pro Bassist to Perform Alongside Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Larry Mitchell and Others During this Chance of a Lifetime Week Where Local Musicians Play with the Stars
From July 29th to August 1st, Guy Brogna, from the legendary bands Scatterbrain and Ludichrist is back together with Scatterbrain drummer Mike Boyko performing as part of the backing rhythm section alongside two legends; namely Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, and some of the best national and upstart musicians around the world, at this year’s Steve Vai Academy 5.0 – happening at The Mansion at Glen Cove, 200 Dosoris Ln, Glen Cove, NY 11542.
For schedule and itinerary please visit: https://vaiacademy.com/#schedule
Vai Academy 5.0 is an event for players and music-lovers of all ages, levels, interests, and taste. Master players, beginners, and enthusiastic fans take part in a four day program which offers activities and workshops. The environment is non-competitive and is strictly about immersing oneself in the joys of music in their lovely surroundings.
Guy remarked, “It’s an honor to play with such seasoned musicians, helping to give emerging acts and hobbyists alike a chance to express themselves at a high level; performing with people who have succeeded in getting to the top of the business”.
Also involved in the Academy this year are other accomplished artists and music industry professionals including ANDY TIMMONS, DEVIN TOWNSEND, LARRY MITCHELL, PLINI, MATT PICONE, DAVE WEINER, JEREMY COLSON, PHILLIP BYNOE, DOUG DOPPLER, STIG MATHISEN, STEPHANIE BRADLEY, CHRIS CISNEROS and FEDERICO MIRANDA.
Learn more at www.vaiacademy.com
ABOUT SCATTERBRAIN/LUDICHRIST: Scatterbrain was an eclectic thrash metal band founded in 1989 by Tommy Christ and Glen Cummings after their Long Island, New York hardcore (NYHC) group Ludichrist broke up. The band performed distinctive live shows incorporating bizarre cover songs such as a Mozart medley mixed with Motörhead, cross-dressing, and giant chickens. Their most popular single “Don’t Call Me Dude” was a top-twenty pop single in Australia. The video received regular rotation on MTV’s Headbangers Ball. The same video is also featured in the episode “Blood Drive” on MTV’s Beavis and Butt-head. The band contributed a cover of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” to the soundtrack of the 1992 movie Encino Man. In 1993 Cummings parted ways with the others and moved to Nashville, founding the group Stone Deep. Christ, Neider, Brogna and Boyko wrote and released Scatterbrain’s third album, a 7-song E.P. titled: Mundus Intellectualis (1994). The band stopped writing, recording, or touring in 1994. In 2007 Christ, Neider, Brogna and Ludichrist drummer Dave Miranda reunited to perform a handful of Scatterbrain / Ludichrist reunion shows. Cummings did not participate.
More About Guy Brogna: The quote “Music is not what I do, it’s who I am” can be seen all over the world on posters, inspirational websites etc. etc., but few musicians and music enthusiasts can truly say they live by it. Guy was a touring musician with the bands Ludichrist and Scatterbrain, and had albums out on Relativity Records and Elektra Records as well as music videos on MTV. He is also owner of All Music Inc one of the premiere music stores in New York; With over 700 guitars on the floor, Brogna’s store has almost everything you can think of, and his knowledge as a working musician has helped him stock only the best and has also given him the opportunity to sell guitars to the likes of Keith Urban, Joe Satriani, Anthony Esposito (Lynch Mob, Ace Frehley), and Robert Kearns (Cry of Love, Sheryl Crow) from their ebay store. He also runs a music school on premises, building the lesson program to over 400 students, renting over 1500 instruments to local budding musicians and doing repairs for guitarists such as Richie Blackmore, Jessie Lacey from Brand New, Toby Walker and Brian Daniels from Madball!
Guy also partners with radio station WBAB for intimate shows at the store or radio station like Devon Allman and Geoff Tate from Queensryche and does food and toy drives with Long Island Cares Harry Chapin Food Bank and ROCKcanROLL. ALL MUSIC likes to also have informative and entertaining clinics in the store and have had guests like Larry Mitchell, Mike Orlando (Adrenalin Mob), John Moyer (Disturbed), Greg Koch, Michael Angelo Batio, Manelli Jamal (Cole Clark endorsee), Joe Rock and Mark Mendoza (Twisted Sister – Joe Rock and the All Stars).
One of Guy’s most recent efforts has been with Special Needs Music Educator and Musician Lee Stockner. They are the founders of “Music Lee Inclined Guy, Inc.” which produced the revolutionary book series Occupational Octaves Piano. OOP is designed for students with Autism and other special needs to be able to easily and effectively play the piano through a new language of music, now with training and certification available for instructors of various backgrounds related to the worlds of Special Education, Music Education, Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy and more. They have opened locations in NY, California, Florida and overseas in Bahrain, Jordan, and Ireland. Finally, teaming up with Long Island music impresario Rick Eberle to form G&R Events in 2017, they currently run the concert season at the Jones Beach Bandshell. The two also have a long standing relationship with Long Island venue The Space at Westbury, Brogna’s All Music Lounge at The Space has become the new haven for local musicians to perform every genre under the sun.
A message from Steve Vai himself on the company website: It’s that time again! I’m very excited to invite you all to join me at Vai Academy 5.0, taking place July 29 – August 2, 2019 at The Mansion at Glen Cove on Long Island in Glen Cove, NY not far from where I grew up in Carle Place. I was a teenager on Long Island in the 70’s and it was an amazing place to grow up. New York City wasn’t far, nor was The Hamptons. Living in California is nice, but I’m one of those guys that pines after the seasons so growing up on Long Island was pretty magical. Summertime is especially beautiful so I’m already looking forward to it.
Vai Academy 5.0 will include all of the things we usually offer – a myriad of classes with outstanding teachers, study and discussions on technique and theory, and of course, my own metaphysical meanderings that I believe are at the core of the transformation you are capable of with your instrument. But this year, the theme of the camp is “Sound Sculpting,” and we will be diving deep into the quality of the tone that comes out of your amp, focusing heavily on signal path and the use of FX. Signal path is integral to the quality of your tone. The way the signal comes out of your guitar, and goes into various stomp boxes, and then into your amp, alters tremendously based on the FX you use and the order in which they are plugged in. There will be discussions on the most effective signal path, when to use a digital or analog FX, how the FX loop actually works, how various FX work and the terminologies of FX perimeters when programming. It’s a vast field that many guitarists don’t quite understand, even though it’s integral to their sound.
At my last camp, I personally taught more classes than ever before. I really enjoy speaking to the campers so that will continue at Vai Academy 5.0. We will also have a number of other extremely competent artists around to offer their wisdom and tips. The other teachers I’ve invited are all accomplished in their field, although that does not necessarily mean they need to be famous to be effective teachers. Of the utmost importance is that they are able to teach in a way that encourages and inspires the students to expand their own tools for the discovery and manifestation of their own uniquely creative visions. Having said that, we certainly do have some “famous” artists joining us.
One thing that I think makes Vai Academy so special is that I jam with each and every attendee. This might be my favorite aspect of the camp. Connecting with another person on a musical level is an intimate space I love embracing. We musicians are always learning something on some level, and I believe I learn something every time I jam with a student, no matter what level they are at. I can make music with someone even if they show up with a dime and a rubber band.
This is our fifth Vai Academy, and I’m so appreciative of how it has grown and evolved over the past five years. At the end of every camp we send out a questionnaire to those that attended, with very specific questions regarding what they liked, didn’t like, what they would like to see more of, etc. We really listen to what they tell us so hopefully this next camp will be our best yet. There’s a diverse group of people that attend, all at different levels of proficiency, with different understandings of music and the music business. We try to keep things at a level that is helpful for all, and the way we go about doing that is continuing to evolve at every camp.
I know I’m personally looking forward to Vai Academy 5.0. Hope to see you all there!
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