Virtuoso to be better known! GOHAR VARDANYAN

A great young virtuoso by the name of GOHAR VARDANYAN has been on the scene for a few years and should be better known. I first net her here in New York at LUTHIER MUSIC CORPORATION ( 344 West 44th Street ) as she stopped by with her father in order to select a concert instrument. I stood right accross from the " High End Guitar room" and heard some of the most beautiful sounds coming from any guitar she tried out! Beautiful tone,exceptional clarity of articulation and technique to burn! I finally introduced myself and had a ton of praise to heap on her. Since I get my monthly issue of CLASSICAL GUITAR MAGAZINE from England, I was hoping to keep abreast of her progress.Over the last couple of years, GOHAR has been writing some very useful articles in the Online Mel BAY Guitar Sessions. Creating good sound,Tremolo Technique and other aspects of playing well! I would again lead you to that great source of live performances YOUTUBE and check out her magnificent playing! W O W !!!!!!!

YOUTUBE AND YOUR NEW LESSONS

I am a subscriber to CHAMBER MUSIC MAGAZINE and in the recent issue, they tutor us on working with our career in the New Internet Age and talk about the Masterclasses that can be found on the Internet-Specifically YOUTUBE- so I have been spending more time the last few nights, on this noble pursuit and have been rewarded with some great stuff! What I particularly enjoy is the old videos of the great masters of the past! Alirio Diaz,Jorge Cardoso,Athualpa Yupanqui, Eduardo Falu and so many. As far as Masterclasses, You should jump at the chance to experience the JULIAN BREAM MASTERCLASSES! What a treasure trove of great info from my SUPREME BREAM! You should not forget the playing of the great ABEL CARLEVARRO! Another treasure to behold! Well,this is just meant to be a prod for you to take advantage of all the great information available on the web. As I am preparing several concerts for the Fall, it is great to get the performances of the actual composers playing their works for me to deliver the most accurate portrayal of their works in concert! I particularly treasure the performances of the Great Argentine Virtuoso ATAHUALPA YUPANQUI. I was at Carnegie Hall when this great genius made his American debut and what a virtuosic performance he gave at the age of 75! The complicated rasgueados and tender renditions were"OFF THE HOOK"! So go and mine the treasure troves of the net! You will be rewarded with a ton of jewels!

The Magnificent JORGE CABALLERO

I have been fortunate to be based here in New York because we get a chance to witness greatness every day as celebrated artist feel it necessary to have that great "NEW YORK DEBUT" on their resumes. JORGE CABALLERO should be at the top of the greatest list of Classical Guitarists in History because it is a fact! I first met JORGE in a masterclass of the equally fabulous ASSAD BROTHERS, the foremost Classical Guitar Duo in the world! JORGE played a composition by Bach I I wrote down in my notes: "There is nothing negative the brothers could say about him! He has a great tone, excellent technique and even his ornaments in the repeats are crisp and firm! THIS KID CAN PLAY!!!! When the ASSAD brothers delivered their comments to the lucky audience in the small room, They repeated my above comments ending in stating that they are honored if he would mention that he played in their Masterclass. JORGE continues to draw waves of admirers around the world! I most recently caught him in Masterclass mode at the beginning of July at the Mannes Guitar Seminar and was lucky that the day I caught his masterclass, he gave an exceptionally crisp and detailed exposition on the basis of attaining a clean guitar technique. I know that some of the young guns in attendance,wanted to get down to playing their pieces but I hope they understood that they were given the "keys to the kingdom" of how to execute music on the Classical Guitar. Quite a few year ago, I was in heaven at the LUTHIER MUSIC CORPORATION ( 341 West 44th Street ) when one afternoon, I got a chance to experience this fantastic artist for over one half hour, as he played on and on on a Magnificent JOHN PRICE Guitar. JORGE was in the process of celecting a new instrument for his concert work and he just "TORE IT UP"! It was a shame that no one else was there except for me and the slight staff! Another thing that continues to strike me is the wonderful sweetness of this Great Peruvian Giant of our great instrument! He is so damn modest and unassuming! He continues to throw off the most difficult repertoire with the ease of a stroll through the park! I would press you extremely to run to any concert JORGE CABALLERO gives . You will never be disappointed and will witness one of the greatest musicians in Music History! MARK MY WORDS!!!!!!

The Mannes Guitar Seminar July 5-10 2011

I will be reporting on the fabulous 2011 Mannes Guitar Seminar over the next few weeks on my blogg here and various sites on the internet. As an active artist on the New York Classical and Jazz Guitar Scene since 1963, these reports will mark my return to my craft of reporting since my open heart surgery this past March 21st. The seminar had some of my dearest friends from the Classical Guitar scene in New York including one of the greatest Guitarists on the planet : FREDERIC HAND. Fred and I attended Mannes in 1968 and we were able to spend some quality moments reliving special events in that year including a visit from legendary Virtuoso ARTHUR RUBENSTEIN!

The artistic directors,MICHAEL NEWMAN and LAURA OLTMAN, delivered another flawless series of Concerts and workshops in the most positive setting and I will take my time in reporting on the wonderful events. This year I came in as a full participant only side stepping my 2 master classes as I am preparing for some non Classical Gigs and needed my head clear of a Master Class Head! I did participate in a guitar ensemble with some outstanding young kids who should go far in the Classical Guitar world. It contained an exceptional Guitar Duo who I will report on soon! We actually had a great time in our sessions together and I wish we had more to play.

I look forward to sharing this great festival with you as it was TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!

Back in the Saddle again.

My recovery has been going ok and I returned to performances on Monday June 6 by performing at "THE TASTE OF TIMES SQUARE" Celebration.I performed from 5 to 9 pm right at the beginning of the event. The following week I returned to my regular job at "MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK",limiting myself to every other day in short traveling distance. I will be attending and reporting on the MANNES GUITAR SEMINAR both here on my blogg and hopefully for one of the Guitar Periodicals. I'm trying to give a day by day overview and hope I have enough energy to do a fine job. I have covered several seminars in the past and know that it will take all of my guts and energy to write my report in the way that I want to, so let's hope for the best. I would hope that the readers get a chance to attend some of the events because there are great classes and concerts by some great players.Go to the Seminar website for more information (www.mannes.edu/guitar or call 212.580.0210 x4883).There are 3 artists who I highly recommend you run to their concerts: JORGE CABALLERRO,RENE IZQUIERDA & SONIA HERNANDEZ. These 3 kids are really SUPER! JORGE is one of the greats even at his young age. He is in a class by himself! RENE is no slouch either! His name should be better known because he is great. SONIA HERNANDEZ is another young genius. At least a decade ago I actually attended her New York Debut at Weill Recital Hall and interviewed her on tape. I know I have that tape here somewhere! I have to get up to speed on some of the other artists. The professors MICHAEL NEWMAN and LAURA OLTMAN I have known for most of their life! I was at Michaels first public performance when he was 13 held at a Church on 13th Street off of 6th avenue! At that time, he was the most advanced student of the Great ALBERT VALDES-BLAIN ( and so was I for a couple of lessons!). Because of his slight build and massive virtuoso chops, he scared the crap out of the Classical Guitar crowd! I also Attended the 1st Masterclass Given by JACK DUARTE,Guitarst and better known as composer. That year - I believe 1973, at the now defunct GUITAR WORKSHOP in Oyster Bay Long Island, Michael stunned all in attendance with his Masterful performances. His sharp wit was mistaken for some as Smart alec arrogance! I knew better because there was Mike with pad and pencil, taking down every single comment made by both Duarte and I believe Jerry Willard. I even met his sweet wife LAURA OLTMAN when they 1st started dating before getting married! I would direct you to their website to find out more about this great performance and organizing team - WWW.GUITARDUO.COM ! They are both gems of Artistry and humanity as witnessed by me last year when I covered the Guitar Festival of the CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY OF UPSTATE NEW YORK! They were on hand to support three of their sudents who were in a special "HONORS STUDENT RECITAL"! I was seated in my usual front row seat when they came in and uttered "DON! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE"! I repeated the same words to which they replied" We came to support our students"! That loving care made my heart melt.At the end of that concert, we all hung out on main street at a nice Chinese Restaurant and walked their students to the bus stop and hugged them good bye! I love these two extraordinary people and the quality of this Seminar is the highest you can achieve because of these superlative human beings. Their supporting staff is also excellent in each and every way and has always given their all to do one hell of a great job so I hope you can get to some of the concerts or workshops. This years' topic is "HANDS ON" which will concentrate on how to get those hands of yours in top shape for playing out great instrument. Speak to you soon. By the way, if you see any misprints in this post, blame it on my opthamologist. I just came back from a series of Dye Injected eye pictures so my sight is not all there but I wanted to let you know I'm up and around.Hope this isn't rambling too much as I am having fun assembling these random thoughts as I look forward to reporting on more guitar topics. Hope you keep learning out there and I want to thank all of you how have sent wonderfull cards, called and e-mailed me during this recovery period PLUS ABOVE ALL- My great wife has really nutured me in every way especially with her totally outrageously fine culinary expertise! I really hit the jackpot finding this woman to be my mate in life. I can never really repay her for all she has done for me and with me.THANK YOU HONEY!

Quadruple bypass and Me

A few weeks ago I underwent Quadruple Bypass Surgery and am now in recovery. The operation went well and per my Cardiologist and Surgeon, my progress is great. It's so wierd not to be able to run around town to my gigs and having to walk so slowly during this recovery period only around the neighborhood but I see this as a new lease on life. My wife Heidi has been outstanding in helping me cope with the ups and downs of this ordeal and I owe her a tremendous dept of gratitude and I tell her every day- especially when I have a depressed period and snap at her. I should be back in the playing gigs form in another 2 or so months. Until then I have to walk and get this body used to the new veins pumping that blood around the body. I thank my dear friends Sue Wall,Dennis Koster, Jerry Willard and Gene Bertoncini plus my dear 1st Guitar teacher Dennis Turecheck for staying in touch with me plus all my dear comrades at MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK for some special get well cards. I want to get back to some posting of Guitar thoughts as I must take it easy so I hope that will get underway to lift my spirits!

I can't believe how time just zips by!

I'm still here! It is already the end of November and I am still out there playing my butt off. I have been studying like a monster but have not been up to blogging since my last input. I have so much to tell you but am in the realm of " Does anyone really want to hear this stuff?". It seems that I was asked to join a special site to share my writings. That was nice to see and maybe that will prod my desire to share. I don't have the time now but will try again to get myself on track with this blog and others on the web. Pia Gazarek-Offermann is awaiting some continuation of my coverage of her brilliant career. I have not been getting out to many concerts as I try to finally get to the best of my playing. There is awlays so much to learn and I am trying to curb my stupendous appetite for catching up with my teaching videos. There are so many nights when, while my sweet wife sleeps, I am hunched over my guitar in front of my tv trying to teach myself yet another guitar technique! I just want to cram all of these great guitar lessons down my throat! Alas,there is no magic pill that will speed up the process. I have gotta put the time in but am having the time of my life learning so much guitar! Anyway, time to take a break from the meat of tonight's work! I will see how it turns out and hope that you folks are applying yourselves to the best guitar tasks you can! See you soon right here on my blog.