More to Come from the DONNIE EXPRESS

Over the last week there was so much happening and I decided that I could not get to it all but I did get to see two long time buddies" MICHAEL CEDRIC SMITH and ARYEH ELLER this past Friday Night in their First Duo Concert together and yesterday one of the truly great young concert artists whom I have known for a couple of Decades - DANIEL LIPPLE gave us an extraordinary concert that really rocked on a 1998 ROBERT RUCK Guitar. More about both concerts in separate reviews. I must ask forgiveness for not attending the brilliant Guitar/Flute ARC DUO. I had too much on my plate both having two gigs on their concert day leaving me drained.

I have more interviews and reviews coming to you folks. I have my "To DO" list right here at the computer and will get to all of my promises!

I will be seeing you all at the GFA in a few months. Don't know if I will be going as a competitor but will be there because my man Eliot Fisk and Anielo Desiderio will be kicking serious Guitar butt and I want to be there for all the fireworks!!!

I also am gathering a list of sites you should know about to sharpen your playing. I sincerely believe that you should all learn to cross fertilize your playing by learning different styles of guitar playing.

I am devoting this year to me becoming the best I can be.I was destroyed and heartbroken at the recent GFA SYMPOSIUM here in New York when I was not chosen to perform at the evening concert. I played a perfect medley of pieces by Brazilian Virtuoso LUIZ BONFA in an effort to give them something special and was on the top of my game both musically and technically. My friends and colleagues DR. ANA MARIA ROSADO and DENNIS KOSTER came over to me when they saw I was going to audition and told me to "GIVE THEM HELL DONNIE". When I didn't get a slot, I was stunned and deeply hurt so I left. I was supposed to play in the Guitar Orchestra and do an interview about playing in ensembles.Here I was with many of my colleagues here including FRED HAND whom I attended Mannes College with in 1967-1968 and ANDREW YORK whom I have known for a couple of decades. The two judges are well known and I will not name them. They know who they are and one of them I have had difficulty with before involving and incredibly gifted virtuoso artist from Germany. My best revenge is to make sure I embarrass them with my playing. I have been on the New York Classical and Jazz Guitar Scene since 1962/1963 and have studied with the finest Classical and Jazz Guitarists in history both here and abroad and I am physically ill as I remember that day. I was humiliated beyond belief and probably should not even say something on this international platform about this incident but this moment haunts me deeply and these two judges will hear from me in the future as I will prevail in front of their eyes.

Sorry I had to state this but I am decently respected by quite a few people around the world and I have given my heart and soul to this great and noble instrument and  that was just not right! Enough for now. I will continue to let my playing talk volumes.

Hugs to MAURICE SUMMERFIELD and that noble magazine CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE for making me love the Classical Guitar and it's various avenues of information as we are kept abreast of all the daily happenings around the world with our great instrument. This year if I stay in decent health and step on the gas peddle, I hope to devote several posts to the great articles contained in this wonderful magazine. I call it my "MONTHLY PAGES OF JOY".

Folks for some Great Guitar fun you should pick up a copy of "My FIRST GUITAR" by Classical Guitar Magazine columnist  JULIA CROWE ( Letter from New York). A great Read!

When is my buddy HUBERT KAPPEL coming back this way to stun us with his virtuosity? How about the GREEK PHENOM COSTAS COTSIOLIS!

Folks it is crazy trying to travel these days! Every year I try to go to the most prominent Festival that would feed my hunger for more learning and the tickets for air fare kicks my butt heavily! It is a tough world our there especially for all the young and gifted kids trying to start their concert careers. I feel for you all. There are so many details you have to attend to and even when you think things are covered, out of nowhere you are shot down by weather, unforeseen obstacles and just bad luck. You must maintain your passion and continue to march to your goals. I will try to make people aware of you this year through this blog.

If I had the money, I would fund one of our young tigers to record all of the SEGOVIA ARCHIVE . Angelo Gilardino will be here for a couple of days at the Manhattan School of Music next month and I will speak to him about that possibility ( Not me) How about my superman Guitarist JORGE CABALLERO? Pay him some good bucks and let him loose!

What about the great body of work composed by MARIO CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO! So many delicious pieces unplayed!!!!! How about the PUERTO RICAN GUITAR? ERNESTO CORDERO and JUAN SORROCHE ?

I wish there was a Classical/Jazz Guitar magazine devoted to Female Guitarists!

It is a shame WORLD GUITARIST is down the tubes! That was a great and supportive site!

I miss ROSE AUGUSTINE! I knew her since the early 60s and in fact played for a special concert at her original string factory when she recovered one of her rare Guitars. I loved that woman dearly and was stunned that week she died because I had just visited her at her factory and she was coughing and told me she had that cough for a couple of weeks. I would have been at her wake that Friday night if I had known. She died in the beginning of that week and I was on several discussion groups and no one mentioned it. I found out Saturday night when Eliot Fisk announced it from his concert stage!!! We have got to band together in our Guitar community. This woman was a Saint for us and I don't know how Guitar Review is doing without her.

Congratulations for my buddy JOAO LUIZ of the Fabulous Brazil Guitar Duo on receiving a teaching post at New Jersey City! What a genius this kid is!!!!

Celil Rafik-Kaya is a monster player and get to one of his concerts and check him out. You will by amazed!!

That's it for now. It is 1:28 am Tuesday and I have a gig later today and should get some sleep but must spread some thoughts out there.

Garrett Lee makes a fantastic guitar. Just ask my school buddy FRED HAND!!! And let me make Garrett Blush by letting you know that he is one hell of a guitarist! What a beautiful player and master Luthier. Go to his website! W  O  W !!!!!! Really super detailed and awe inspiring!!!

I have several Newly released CDs by several colleagues I will be reviewing so be on the lookout!

German Virtuoso PIA GAZAREK-OFFERMANN will soon be releasing a new CD and I can't wait to review that! She is a great artist deserving to be better known around the Guitar globe!

DR. ANA MARIA ROSADO!!!! Fantastic human being and superb concert Artist. I was at her first concert here in the United States when she came from Puerto Rico. It was held here in Brooklyn at Prospect Park at "The Boat House" . Check out her You Tube Videos. She gave an awesome Lecture/Demo of Latin American Rhythms at the MANNES GUITAR SEMINAR a couple of years ago and plays Guitars by one of our greatest Luthiers CANADIAN DARYL PERRY. We should have DR. ROSADO at the top of our list of "GREAT ONES".

See ya soon kiddies!@!