Corey Christiansen
Widely heralded as a gifted young player with a passionate sound, jazz-guitarist Corey Christiansen took up the instrument at the age of five under the direction of his father, Mike Christiansen, Chairman of Guitar Studies at Utah State University. Corey earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Utah State and a master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of South Florida.
Awakening, Corey’s first CD as a leader, was the initial release on Mel Bay Records, the entertainment-recording division of Mel Bay Publications. Awakening spent twelve weeks on the JazzWeek chart, reaching number sixteen in March 2005. The title track, an original composition, consistently receives the most airplay from the recording.
Recently Corey had the opportunity to visit Australia for a two-week tour of stores and conservatories. He has also performed at many notable festivals and venues including John Pisano's Guitar Night in Los Angeles, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, the Clearwater Jazz Festival, the Daytona Beach Jazz Festival, the Classic American Guitar Show, and the St. Louis Jazz Festival. He has also performed and/or recorded with many outstanding jazz artists including Jimmy Bruno, John Pisano, Joe Negri, Willie Akins, Chuck Redd, Rob McConnel, Sid Jacobs, Jack Wilkins, and Danny Gottlieb.