Eli's Jazz Biography
Eli Reisman became curious about jazz guitar at the age of 21 while a freshman attending Western Washington University. By his junior year he was hired to teach the jazz guitar lessons for the school by famed bassist Chuck Israels, and by his senior year he was on contract with the university to direct one of the jazz ensembles as well. In addition, Eli was performing frequently with notable jazz artists such as Larry Holloway (former bassist with Harold Land and Chet Baker), Mike Allen (award-winning Vancouver, BC saxophonist), Israels himself, Hungarian pianist Attila Juhasz, David Feingold (WWU Classical Guitar Professor and now Dean of the Music Dept.) and drummer Julian MacDonough.
Since arriving in Portland Eli has been in constant demand to perform, record and educate with a who's who of local and national jazz talent from traditional voices like Harry Allen, Donnie Osbourne, and Rebecca Kilgore to more experimental players such as David Friesen, John Gross, and Randy Porter - and everyone in between!
Eli chose to make his home in Portland, OR where he now teaches jazz guitar students from both Mt. Hood Community College and Clackamas Community College. For almost five years Eli taught private lessons in all styles (beginner to expert) at Portland musical landmark Artichoke Music before recently opening his own private teaching studio in S.E.Portland.
Eli performs on Gagnon handmade guitars which are produced in Beaverton, Oregon.