Guitar Emporium

I've had a good day today - why was it a good day ? A couple of things went OK AND there was no conflict - I'm all for taking the easy way out  Support the show

Another open ended phrase - forever hopeful - for what ? .. Do we sometimes expect too much, create too many expectations of life - I have no idea - but this is how it goes and seems to have been going for centuries and centuries. Forever Hopeful - of maybe a better way - that seems unrealistic - to say the very least .   Support the show

Why would you ? .. many answers or ways of completing the sentence. Vote Reform , go fox hunting for pleasure, carry a knife, use a firearm ,,, and on it goes  Support the show

This could be said of many who have made indiscretions - its very tempting to judge - and although nobody's perfect there's bad and then there's very bad.  Support the show

Things move on and rightly so - on to the next thing Support the show

Add your own ending to that phrase - in the UK it is linked to one person in particular - but there are many others . This is far too happy a tune to be linked to such a sad phrase- apologies - it might sound like I am celebrating.. Support the show

In a couple of recent press articles about the links between Donald Trump, Prince Andrew and Jeffery Epstein there was a recurring comment " He was a lot of fun to be with .." Which one was that then ?  Support the show

My own personal favourite from the Concerto for Classical guitar and Jazz piano trio and the last of this weeks Classical - Jazz crossover pieces. I was pleased with this recording - but to put it into context listen,if you can, to Angel Romero's version and the " Cadenza" he introduces. Support the show

Joaquin Malats "Serenata Espanola" was used as the basis of this crossover piece. Not improvised but structured in a way to give a least some impression of a jazz feel. Support the show

A second piece from Picnic Suite - once again with Ros on flute Support the show

Here I used a Venezuelan waltz by Antonio Lauro and introduced it as the high point of my own latin style melody. Support the show

Taken from Picnic Suite - for flute/guitar and jazz piano trio, with Ros on flute. Support the show

My attempt at a Classical - Jazz fusion. I played Alexander Tansmans "Variations on a theme by Scriabin" which used one of Scriabins Preludes as a basis for the piece. From that I applied the harmony and melody to a version - not an improvisation. Support the show

In the 1960' & 70's this fusion of styles emerged. Claude Bolling was one of the best composers in this style. The Concerto for Classical Guitar and the Hispanic Dance was written in 1976. I played the Concerto as part of the Brian Heeley Quartet  - and this recording was made 2002/2003 - I think. Support the show

  Stephen Hawking declared: “We are running out of space, and the only places to go are other worlds. Now is the time to investigate other solar systems. Perhaps the only thing that can save us from ourselves is to spread out. Humans must depart from Earth, in my opinion.” The entire world is very large. It is home to 8 billion people, more than 8 million animal species, and an enormous variety of...

One of the post covid business practices is reducing the number of employees - those who work - work harder , those who manage take more off the top .  Support the show

As I put this track up - the 9th October - there seems to be a possible chance of the Trump plan finding a way forward to a deal in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Lets hope so... Support the show

They were here for a bit but now they've gone - They've Been and Gone. Support the show

Although the older generation in the UK have a huge amount of economic clout I sense there is a feeling amongst younger people that the oldies time has passed. Its time to move on.  Most older people I know are acutely aware their time has been and gone- but they would still love to contribute. Support the show

As an aspiring executive the fourth floor in the company I worked at was where all the high flyers were - that was what I was working towards.  Support the show

Theres nothing to choose between two options "six of one half a dozen of the other" Support the show

The idea that Hope Springs Eternal is epitomised in this piece by the recurring theme which keeps coming back throughout the short piece.  From the US Dictionary : The proverb " hope springs eternal " means that hope is always present, even in the face of adversity. It is often used to express the belief that things will eventually get better, even if things are tough right now. In short...

The explanation given on the Grammar Whisper website is a good one - if a bit over the top. They use the phrase “ Ask Me No Questions and I’ll Tell You No Lies ”  Their description goes ..." it may sound like a clever turn of words , but it holds timeless weight . It’s more than just an expression ; it carries ethical undertones and speaks to the emotional distance people often create to feel...

Manuel Ponces big classical guitar pieces are monumental in their scale. I discovered his 24 Preludes ( working through the keys - as Chopin did for the piano) some time ago. Little pieces , varied but very beautiful - each with their own charm. I've been teaching Prelude 11 in B major to a grade 7 pupil . The more we play it , the more I like it. I've taken out some of the passages I re...

Anxiety issues - I can't be the only person with them - but it does make you sound like a mental health hypochondriac.  It all centres about some ridiculous notion of being left out, not part of something or left behind and isolated . Oh god - bring on the therapy.  Support the show