Jimi Savage

Jimi Savage has been with the IGF from the beginning teaching at Bath alongside the National Guitar workshop from America. Ever since this Jimi has been one of the main guitar tutors of the IGF courses. Inspiring and teaching all those who come onto Jimi's classes.

History

From the age of 0-6 years I lived in different countries in Europe, due to my father being in the Armed Forces. Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England is now my home. I was born in Co. Durham and went to a comprehensive school in Washington, Tyne & Wear and spent seven years further education in Music, Performing Arts, Teaching and Business Studies at Newcastle College, Durham College & Northumbria University.

I took a serious interest in guitar and music from the age of fifteen and was inspired at the time by players such as Edward Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, etc. In 1993 I auditioned for Ozzy Ozbourne hard rock/metal band but Steve Vai got the position at the time. In 1994 I took an audition for contributing for a national guitar magazine Total Guitar by Future Publishing Ltd I got the appointment as the regular monthly rock columnist and also I demonstrating new guitars, amps, effects, etc. to go onto the Total Guitar CD that comes with the publication.

I have travelled throughout the UK doing gigs, master class seminars, workshops and master sessions as a guitarist/musician. Also appearing at guitar shows such as the Bath International Guitar Festival (BIGF), Penrith Vintage Guitar Show, Penrith Fender Club and Total Guitar Tours. Savage Guitar Studio is the business that I own and run teaching guitar and music. I regularly play live either session (as a dep.) or with a few friends here and there I also session for studios up and down the country.

I have closely worked alongside some of the top music industry guitar artists such as, Ritchie Sambora (Bon Jovi), Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Michael Lee Firkins, John Petrucci (Dream Theatre), Martin Taylor, John Abercombie, Dominic Miller (Sting), Scott Henderson, Isaac Guillory, Steve Fairclough, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Phil Hilborne (Guitar Techniques), Lawrence Juber (Paul McCartney), Paul Gilbert (Mr Big), Gordon Giltrap, Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) and many more.

Since then I have been caught in a musical web of life and have been in various bands throughout the North East of England. Right now I'm still running my business teaching Guitar & Music. Some of the venues that I have performed at include National Music Show at Wembley. I once got the privilege to jam with Paul Gilbert (Racer X) at Wembley. I have given master-class seminars for the Total Guitar Magazine, Newcastle Music College, Newcastle University, The Fender Club, Guitar Weekends, The International Guitar Festival, The Overwater Jam Factory and of course his place of work Savage Guitar Studio.

Jimi's influences

Jimi has been influenced by a lot of professional Bands, Artists, Guitarists. He say's..."My admired players are: - Joe Satriani, Steve Vai are the masters of cyber - space age guitar music. Edward Van Halen the solo from Ice Cream man is like Red House on Steroids. Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck & Michael Lee Firkins are kings of the Blues in my eyes. John Petrucci (Dream Theater) is very solid and accurate. I really like Yngwie Malmsteen, he plays like a modern day Paganini and has the best vibrato I have ever heard, apart from David Gilmour.Steve Morse for introducing a real good southern sound to the world of rock. Steve Lukather to me this guy has some of the tastiest licks and chops I think this planet will ever come across. Jeff Beck for sounding so English and being very strong but graceful with his notes, he can actually make his guitar sound like an electric drill then the next track is an opera singer!! I find Dave Gilmour quite similar in refinement, he treats his guitar like a very expensive instrument and makes each note sound expensive too, the intonation of his bends are absolutely masterful. Dan Huff knows how to rock and is a fine country player. Paul Gilbert is so down to Earth and can be very humorous (he loves Tom Jones you know!!). Prince is like a purple cartoon he really brings out the animation in his music. Kee Marcello has such amazing legato and melodic note choice. I like Sting & Dominic Miller because of their chordal knowledge and arrangements, Shawn Lane for being very amazing, Frank Gamble for all the technique you'll ever need to know. Mike Stern is my hot favourite funk-rock-jazz fusion player, he has the note choice, melodic lines and saxophone phrasing to die for. I think that all guitar players should look for the different instrument within their guitar. Steely Dan are awesome again chords, chords, chords then great solos. John Schofield and Larry Charlton for me these guys can make their guitar-playing phrase like a piano when playing chordal arrangements. And Francis Dunnery for taking the guitar outside when ever he wants. I like studying from the New Real Books finding all sorts of different chordal progressions and changes. To me, chords are everything, solos come 2nd in my book."

Jimi Savage Band

I have my own band called The Jimi Savage Band, which only consists of Guitar, which is my department. Craig Gill on Drums & Percussion, Craig is a great friend if mine and I have worked with him since I was 19. He's a very reliable drummer and a brilliant person to know. He lives Killingworth, Tyne & Wear, North East England with his wife Lynn and son Joe. Craig plays a Tama Kit. John Dawson on Bass lives in Seaton Delaval near Whitley Bay the coastal area of the North East England with his wife Karen and baby daughter Eleanor. He plays Overwater Basses and uses Ampeg and Roland amplification. Both guys have worked with me in the past with various different things ranging from recordings for Total Guitar magazine, gigs, promotion, CD's, etc.

Trinity Heights

"The Jimi Savage Band" have completed an EP/CD titled "Trinity Heights". This was recorded in 1997. There are five original instrumental tracks on the EP ranging from different styles such as Heavy Rock, Country, Hard Blues, Acoustic and Fusion. Jimi wrote all the tracks and have plenty more songs written which are waiting to be recorded sometime in the future. The reason for the EP is to tell people that I'm here and available. "Trinity Heights" is just a little peak of what Jimi Savage Band can get up to! We are going to be recording a new album soon, we're in the process of writing some new tunes.

More About Jimi Savage

At present my ambitions in life are huge, I would be lying if I said I'm with being at the status I am now. I want to keep moving and developing more skills and to be very successful at my job. Whilst at college my aim was to be a guitar/music teacher. I succeeded in this line of work as you can see. But I have also worked as a session player for live bands and studios around the UK. My goals at the moment vary one of them is to be a solo artist (such as the artists I have mentioned above) and have albums in different countries all over the World. The other is be a "Side Artist" in a huge kick off World famous band or for a top artist and to be established and recognised as one of the brilliant guitarists/artists in today's music industry. I have a wide variation of styles to his guitar playing, as you will hear on my CD.

Works

Samples of Jimi's work can be found below. Select your preferred format and size:

Wolf
 

Beach Girls
 

Contact & More Information

Savage Guitar Studio
4 Blackswan Court
69 Westgate Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SG

Tel: 0191 222 1515
e-mail: jimisavage@talk21.com
www.jimisavage.co.uk