JAZZ FOUNDATIONS: From Basics to Advanced Mastery with Amos Hoffman

Join us for an exciting series of improv classes led by the incredible Amos Hoffman! Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills or explore new concepts, each session offers something unique. While the classes are designed to build on one another, you can also enjoy them as stand-alone events. Expect interactive elements that encourage you to play along and engage, or feel free to attend, take notes, and absorb the music. A basic understanding of scales, arpeggios, and instrument proficiency is recommended, but passion and curiosity are welcome at any level!

9/29, 3p Fundamental theory

10/6, 3p Blues deep dive (traditional, bebop, modern, etc)

10/13, 3p ii V7 I’s & Rhythm Changes

10/20, 6p* Advanced concepts (Coltrane, tritone subs, etc) + JAM SESSION!

*$15 per session OR $40 for all 4 (save $20!!)

Sundays (9/29 - 10/20*)
9/29, 10/6, 10/13:
Doors 2:30pm | Start 3:00p | Ends 5p

10/20:
Doors 5:30pm | Start 6:00p | Ends 9p (Jam session/concert at 8p!)

ColaJazz Foundation Office
2123 College Street
Columbia, SC 29205

ABOUT THE COLAJAZZ ACADEMY
A driving beat in jazz education, the ColaJazz Foundation supports our community with the ColaJazz Academy - an exciting series of jazz classes and workshops taught by authorities of their crafts. These sessions are for anyone who enjoys learning, growing, and exploring; especially, those who have an inclination towards jazz (a.k.a. black American music).

ABOUT AMOS HOFFMAN
Amos Hoffman, is an internationally recognized Israeli Jazz guitarist and oud player, celebrated as a pioneer in blending Middle Eastern rhythms and melodic themes with modern Jazz.

Hoffman's musical journey began at the age of 6 when he started playing the guitar, later adding the oud to his repertoire. After years of private lessons, he further honed his skills at the prestigious Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Seeking new musical experiences, he ventured first to Amsterdam and then to New York City, where he collaborated with established musicians and promising talents such as pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Avishai Cohen, and vocalist Claudia Acuña.

To date, Hoffman has released five solo albums: "The Dreamer" (1999), "Na'ama" (2006), "Evolution" (2008), "Carving" (2010), and his most recent work, "Back to the City" (2015). Additionally, he has contributed to numerous albums for artists worldwide, including Avishai Cohen, Kiko Berenguer (Spain), and Jan Młynarski (Poland).

In 2013, Amos received one of Israel's most prestigious awards, the Landau Prize for Arts and Sciences, in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of jazz. Now based in the United States, in South Carolina, Hoffman continues to embark on new musical adventures and reach an ever-expanding audience.

On his latest album, 'Minor Operation,' set to be released on Jojo Records, Amos Hoffman joins forces with iconic players Santi Debriano and Lenny White. In many ways, this album represents the culmination of Hoffman's journey as an artist, as very few contemporary musicians intertwine jazz and traditional Arabic rhythms to the extent that Amos has in this stellar new effort.