USU Graduate's Recording tops Jazz Charts

A CD featuring the work of Utah State University graduate Corey Christiansen is topping the jazz charts across the country.

MB3 – Jazz Hits, Volume One, a CD released by Mel Bay Records, is the first CD from the guitar trio of Jimmy Bruno, Vic Juris and Christiansen. The CD also features Danny Gottlieb on drums and Jay Anderson on bass.

 

The CD reached the top slot on the JazzWeek Jazz Chart for Jan. 15, 2007. The chart measures radio airplay in North America.

 

Christiansen is known locally, but has built a national following. He grew up in Cache Valley, attended Utah State University and is the son of Mike Christiansen, head of the guitar program in the Department of Music at USU.

 

As his biography says, he grew up in “a musically driven family with excellent instruction from his father.”

 

His passion for playing the guitar might have been genetically based, but he put in plenty of work on his own. He received his bachelor’s degree from USU, earning a number of awards along the way, including Outstanding Music Student and Outstanding Guitarist Award. He sought a master’s degree in jazz performance and eventually studied with renowned jazz guitar educator Jack Peterson while working as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of South Florida. Christiansen completed his degree, then replaced Peterson at his retirement, becoming the adjunct guitar instructor at USF.

 

Christiansen joined Mel Bay Publications, Inc., as the senior music editor and advisor to product development in 2001. He has more 40 publications with Mel Bay and has conducted countless guitar clinics and concerts across the country and beyond.