Burning up the frets-YAMANDU COSTA

I had a chance to experience one of the current Guitar Wiz kids YAMANDU COSTA a couple of years ago at the 92nd street "Y" at the Brazilian Guitar Marathon and must admit that the kid is a GUITAR TIGER! Go to you tube and check his videos out!I'm looking at a couple right now.

The Amazing Guitar of Pia Gazarek-Offermann = Part 1

Over the last few years, I have followed with interest the fantastic rise of an exceptionally gifted artist in the world of the Classical Guitar. Her name is PIA GAZAREK-OFFERMANN and she deserves to be held close to the top of the list of outstanding artists in the world of the Classical Guitar. Her website is : www.piaoffermann.com. I would suggest you type her name into your search engine and feast on all that has been reported on this oustanding virtuoso so far! She has left an extremely positive trail of magnificent performances at every turn in her travels and needs to be celebrated and cherished with open arms by the Classical Music commnunity.
This is meant to be an opening introduction to you of my experience with this great artist since we first met several years ago so hang on to your information hats. This opening post was meant to be typed and presented to you after I spent time with Pia on her last visit to New York in which she played two fabulous concerts : One for the New York City Classical Guitar Society and another for the Long Island Guitar Festival. Both concerts exposed the audiences to and exceptional artist of both technical facility and musical genius. At this writing, I must apologize to my readers and Pia for the tardiness of this post but I have had to deal with several curves from the game of life most upsetting being quadruple bypass surgery this past March 21st. Before that were a few other "nasties" that derailed all my positive intentions and of course, time waits for no one. I also believe so much in Pia,that I wanted to put the best and most complete representation of her in print so here I am having just received an e-mail from her.

My first meeting of Pia was at The Yale Guitar Extravaganza in 2006 where she demonstrated aspects of her husbands' excellent lecture on THE INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO GUITAR TECHNIQUE .Our next meeting was in 2007 here in Brooklyn, New York at Brooklyn College thanks to The Excellent Classical Guitar Department led by LARS FRANDSEN. At that meeting she both demonstrated aspects of her husbands' lecture and gave a concert afterwards! As I mentioned at the top of this post, this is just a little background for you to tell you how and when I hooked up with this great artist and I hope I don't make her blush too much as I shower her with praise. She deserves it and you know I'm not the bashful type. With the financial suffering around the world and shortage of funds, I still hope that this quality artist can draw the financial support of smart people who want only the best artists for their concert series,to the door of PIA GAZAREK-OFFERMANN! She is a W I N N E R !!! End of part 1! More to follow!

THE FABULOUS ANA VIDOVIC

I was just sniffing around youtube and caught Pepe Romero talking about the Carcassi studies and somehow caught myself wondering how many videos my special friend ANA VIDOVIC had at the site and see that she has quite a few! I have known Ana for quite a few years now and she is one of the greatest virtuosos in musical history possessed of a stunning technique,warm and wonderful tone and superior musicianship. On top of that, you must add a sweet and charming personality coupled with a generous and open heart. I suggest you rush to the youtube and feast on her fantastic artistry and you will see that DONNIE tells the truth. She has earned her top place in the world of music and the Classical Guitar world through a lifetime of hard work and loving devotion to her noble instrument! LONG LIVE ANA VIDOVIC!!!!!

JASON VIEAUX - CATCH HIM

Jump on YOUTUBE and catch the playing and lectures of my colleague and buddy, the great young virtuoso JASON VIEAUX!!!! One of the most articulate young talents of our generation! His recordings and live performances are not to be missed! If he is in your neighborhood, you must scurry to catch him! Beatiful tone and musicianship plus a winning softness of heart!

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!!!!!!