About

about the site

This approach to learning developed as a contrast to other methods available. They are great for developing the skills of someone who already has a grasp of jazz improv. This method keeps the beginner in mind.

about the musicians

Eron Woods  – Graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in jazz performance. He has performed with artists such as Clint Holmes, Carol Lawrence, “The Spinners,” “The Drifters,” “The Coasters,” and Dominck Allen. Eron started his drumming career with a traveling circus.

eron woods playing drums
eron recording the backing tracks

The creator of the site is Michael Abresch. He has performed jazz for many years and teaches private music lessons in Blaine MN. Most recently he has been a member of the National Flute Association Jazz Flute Big Band, and was named a finalist in the NFA jazz masterclass.

Mike A playing the flute
mr. abresch playing flute for the nfa audition

As a former professional flutist, Alison Young enjoyed a diverse music career as an orchestral principal, soloist and teacher performing on five continents. She has a knack for solo recitals, the Atlanta Constitution and Journal agreeing, calling her “a recitalist of great poise and technical security, dazzling precision and virtuosic flair.” Before dystonia ended her playing career, she made the recording premiere of David Diamond’s flute concerto much to his delight. He said hers was “some of the finest flute playing I have heard.” Two years later, she toured Argentina, playing her own arrangements of Piazzolla tangos and other works, releasing a CD and finally publishing her arrangements in a book that takes its name from a newspaper review, A Little Tango in Her Blood, music for Flute and Piano from Argentina. Nowadays, Alison is a cheerleader for music and musicians, hosting a mid-day disc spin on Classical Minnesota Public Radio as well as American Public Media’s syndicated concert program SymphonyCast, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and St. Olaf Christmas. Alison is an avid kayaker, rock and ice climber, long-distance backpacker, biker, and skier. She lives with her husband across the street from the birthplace of F. Scott Fitzgerald in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

alison as mpr host
alison as mpr host
Principal flutist of the Minnesota Orchestra, Adam Kuenzel, has regularly appeared as soloist at Orchestra Hall. In October 2007 he gave the world premiere of Stanislaw Skrowaczewski’s Fantasies for Flute and Orchestra, Il Piffero della Notte, with the composer conducting. In January 2009 he performed Bernstein’s Halil, earning acclaim from The New York Times and MusicalAmerica.com. He premiered Manuel Sosa’s Eloquentia: Espacio para Flauta y Orquesta in April 2010; the work, which was written for Kuenzel, garnered the composer a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in 2011.
A native of Cincinnati, Kuenzel attended the Oberlin Conservatory, studying with Robert Willoughby. Kuenzel has been a guest artist with the Aspen Music Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, Spoleto Festival, St. Bart’s Music Festival in the French West Indies and Oregon Bach Festival.
jammin' adam
jammin’ adam