Jan Knutson

Washington based guitarist and composer Jan Knutson incorporates elements of Jazz and Classical, Bluegrass and Pop to create his original works and unique takes on classic jazz standards. His music explores and stretches the wide range of the guitar as a solo instrument, showcasing his lyricism and virtuosic command.

Jan has performed with some of the world’s finest guitarists including, Frank Vignola, Martin Taylor, and Julian Lage. He has recorded two solo CD’s, Looking Both Ways and Out of Nowhere, and participated in several music festivals including the Savannah Acoustic Music Seminar. He was a featured artist at the Richmond Folk Festival, the True Blue Jazz Festival, the Marlow International Guitar Series, and was an Artist in Residence at the Strathmore Music Center in Washington, DC.

After beginning a degree at the Manhattan School of Music studying with Rodney Jones, Jan joined the US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” as a guitarist and arranger in 2018. He completed his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland studying with Gerry Kunkel in 2021 and now performs regularly throughout the Washington DC region.

Jan is indebted to his many wonderful teachers including Paul Wingo, Steve Abshire, Rodney Jones, Gerry Kunkel, Frank Latino, Heather McKay, Frank Vignola, and Martin Taylor.

For more video performances, please check out Jan’s YouTube Channel

“There have been solo shows at Blues Alley in the past. I remember Chick Corea performing solo. For Jan, though, this was a debut performance at the iconic venue. He exuded on on-stage ease and rapport with the audience... His inventive playing, and the constantly shifting moods of his compositions erased any thought that 75 minutes of solo guitar might be more than enough.
A brilliant Blues Alley debut and two brilliant albums. Not a bad start to 2023 for Jan Knutson.”

— Ken Avis Antidote Sounds

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