A Fingerstyle Guitar Soiree with Teja Gerken, Adam Miller and Prawit Siriwat - January 23, 2026
ABOUT TEJA GERKEN
San Francisco Bay Area guitarist Teja Gerken has enchanted audiences ever since coming onto the acoustic fingerstyle scene in the late 1990s. Initially influenced by guitarists such as John Renbourn, Michael Hedges, and Leo Kottke, Teja ultimately began weaving together his diverse musical interest into a style that is his own, releasing his debut album On My Way in 1999. In the two decades since, Teja has fine-tuned his sets to include original compositions, Celtic traditionals, classical pieces, jazz standards, and some favorite tunes by his fingerstyle guitar peers, several of which are included on 2005’s Postcards. Teja’s latest release is 2024’s Test of Time, and he also collaborated with fellow Bay Area guitarist Doug Young on 2020’s Duets.
“Test of Time is a sonic marvel, from top to bottom” – Blair Jackson, Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“Gerken’s technical facility is obvious, his performances impeccable, and his tones gorgeous”
– Barry Cleveland, guitarplayer.com.
ABOUT ADAM MILLER
"Often compared to Charlie Hunter, Tuck Andress, Julian Lage and Tommy Emmanuel... The jazz harmony is there, but worked seamlessly into pieces that could almost be considered closer to instrumental pop."
Prawit Siriwat is a guitarist, composer, and educator whose music seamlessly blends jazz, folk, and improvisation. With a sound rooted in fingerstyle technique and an evolving approach to harmony, Siriwat’s work balances structure and spontaneity, offering listeners a rich, nuanced experience that invites both reflection and exploration.
Born in Alabama, Siriwat moved through North Carolina and Maryland before moving to New York in 2011. After a decade of studying, performing, and teaching in the city’s creative music scene, he relocated to California in 2021. His musical journey is shaped by his experiences across various environments, influencing his adaptable, listening-based approach to playing and composing.
Siriwat’s Nature Walk EP represents his solo guitar work at its most introspective and lyrical. The record reflects his focus on tone, phrasing, and rhythmic space, capturing the essence of his acoustic approach. Nature Walk explores the subtleties of fingerstyle playing, creating a calm but emotionally resonant atmosphere that emphasizes the natural flow of melody and movement.
His trio album Blueberry is a stark contrast, reflecting the more experimental and improvisational side of his music. Recorded with longtime collaborators Daniel Durst (bass) and Abel Tabares (drums), Blueberry spans a broad sonic palette, from dense electric grooves to more reflective, melodic improvisations. It’s an album that thrives on contrasts—intense energy and meditative quiet, chaotic moments balanced by lyrical passages. Together, these two releases highlight Siriwat’s versatility, offering a comprehensive view of his musical voice.
Siriwat holds a BFA from The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he studied with Steve Cardenas, Julian Lage, and Jane Ira Bloom. He completed his Master’s in Jazz Studies at NYU, where he also taught as an Adjunct Instructor, guiding undergraduate guitarists in private lessons and improvisational techniques.
As a performer and collaborator, Siriwat has worked with artists including Del Water Gap, Ruby Greenberg, and RVBY MY DEAR, and has performed across the U.S. in venues such as National Sawdust, Pete’s Candy Store, The Stone, and Bar Next Door. His work spans multiple genres, from jazz to indie rock, and his performances emphasize both technical skill and emotional expression.
Siriwat continues to write and record new material, often exploring the intersection of jazz, folk, and improvisation. He remains committed to music that feels personal, with an emphasis on nuance, curiosity, and emotion.
