Classical Guitar Insider

Bay Area guitarist Giacomo Fiore argues that new music is not too new and I ask Chris Roberts from the San Fransisco Examiner if it’s ethical for Fanfare to charge musicians for positive reviews. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

EMI recording artist Xuefei Yang explains to me that China is a country that is not in Africa and that Africa is not a country either. USC Professor William Kanengiser comes on to talk about the new Los Angeles Guitar Quartet release, and I buy a chair for the park. 

ders of my favorite ensemble in New York, violinist Colin Jacobsen from the Brooklyn Rider, The Knights and Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road. But before I do that, I complain for 20 minutes about journalists that charge for positive reviews in magazines. Then I fantasize about going into real estate.  

Manhattan School of Music Professor Mark Delpriora takes time out from stroking his beautiful beard and dressing well to talk to us about the 70’s, Staten Island, King Crimson and Class Piano.

TJ and I tell it like it is in this no-holds-barred attack on everything you believe in (if all you believe in is atonality, all-Bach-concerts, and spring mattresses. Other than that we're probably on the same page).  

If you don’t want to hear grown ups talk about drugs, leather pants, dropping out of college, or putting a classical guitar through a wood chipper on stage, you shouldn’t listen to me and multi media artist Dominic Frasca.  

My first interview with people outside of the guitar world! I try and keep up with WQXR’s New Works Presenters The Brothers Balliett as they dance circles around my musical knowledge. Also it’s my birthday so listen. 

The legendary nylon string jazz guitarist talks about being in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Band, playing with  Burt Bacharach , Paul Desmond and  every other huge name in jazz, and getting hip surgery.  

Mak Grgic (pronounced Mahk Gergich) is the young up and comer who’s new album of transcriptions of film music is shining a new light on the classics (pronounced classics).  

Composer Carlos Rafael River talks about studying with Randy Newman at USC, writing the music for the movie  A Walk Among the Tombstones  staring Liam Neeson and his upcoming score for the film The Ballad of Big Diaper Bret, a story about a rosy cheeked California boy who dreams of opening a stand up MRI station in Grand Central. 

Adam Holzman, from the University of Texas, sits down with his old student (me) and reminisces about Segovia, Ghiglia, winning the GFA and getting a call from a student the night of his concert asking him where it was and how much it will cost. (also me age 19)  

San Fransisco has been to the Superbowl, the World Series and the NBA playoffs in the last year or so, but nothing more exciting has happened than the advent of Mobius Trio, a new and exciting group of young Bay Area guitarists out to beat new music into the minds of the many. Matthew Holmes Linder serves as their ambassador to Big Diaper Bret's winter estate. 

Soundboard Magazine calls him "masterful and stylish," The Boston Globe calls him "sensitive," David Sterobin calls him "Superb," and I call him "happy pie faced little oat oat," founder of Arc Duo, Bradley Colten joins me to talk about bacon (american composer Ernst Bacon).

Wanna hear me talk to a heavy metal guitar god who gave up touring with Ozzie to become a fusion finger style guitarist at New School University? Then listen to me DESTROY this interview with Testament Guitarist Alex Skolnick. 

The up and coming Colin Davin talks about being the assistant to Sharon Isbin at Aspen, Juilliard, performing new music for new audiences and coffee. The next time you get a coffee at Joe, the Barista could be one of the best guitarists in the world. 

Darth Vader comes on the show to talk candidly about performing classical music on electric guitars, teaching at Manhattan School of Music, and living with a mezzo soprano. Oh wait it's Oren Fader. Darth Vader doesn't play guitar. If he did he probably wouldn't record John Dowland's Melancholy Galliard.  

I take a vacation into the dreadlocks of Brazil Guitar Duo's Joao Luiz. He talks  about his move to the U.S. and sudden rise to Classical Guitar fame (meaning about sixty highly educated musicians and four hundred old men can't get enough). 

Manhattan School, Curtis Institute Professor and Grammy Award winning guitarist/producer/composer/juggler/tennis champion and non-stop dancer David Starobin is on the show

The Devil came back from Georgia! Andrew Zohn returns to his home in the North East and discusses his rise to power from the lowly groveling of Graham St. in Austin to the high chair of full time professor at Columbus State University.

Guitarist Ana Maria Rosdao talks to me about Puerto Rico, Segovia, judgmental pedants, and Segovia.

The best duo out of Italy since the Mario Brothers, Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli drop by the apartment. 

Head of the Yale University guitar department, Curator for the Art of the Guitar concert series at 92nd St. Y, and Vice President of the United States of America Ben Verdery gives us the dirt on John Williams, Chuck Berry and Keith Richards.

Australia is missing an angel; Simon Powis drops by and we discuss why we like people that make mistakes, dancers, and how he is receiving his Doctorate of Music Arts from Yale this month. Let’s get him an ice cream cake!

Big Bad Jerry Willard takes time out from transcribing Bach and making Guitar-Doctors at SUNY Stony Brook to teach me about ancient instruments and how to control my anger. 

I interview award winning guitarist and U.S. Artistic Ambassador to Africa, Dr. Lily Afshar.