HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

U.S. Air Force band and chorus flash mob. Enjoy, and all the best for the new year!

Julian Bream receives Gramophone Award!

The ever-elegant gentleman at 80 years of age, Sir Julian Bream is interviewed after receiving the prestigious Gramophone Award.

Mr. Ed by Rodrigo?

This is a photo montage I posted on YouTube this evening. One of 3, actually. I have no videos of these, but I wanted to share them anyway. This one is from a CD called "MOZART TV", released by the old Delos label a decade or so ago. Yes, TV themes in the style of great composers!

This one is "Mr. Ed" in the style of Joaquín Rodrigo. Grant Gershon conducted the Hollywood Chamber Symphony, a group that was assembled specifically for this project, and included all of the top studio musicians in LA. What a blast it was to record this.

They did actually professionally film the session, although I don't have a copy. It can be seen now and then on public television's "Classical Showcase" late at night.

Add Shotat Taza

Taza in Sierra Madre is brewing Stumptown's Hair Bender today. Thought I'd sample it.
Any place that has there own personalized Italian scooter is hip, right?

COC Guitar Week

Don’t miss your chance to win an all-inclusive Crown of the Continent 6 - day experience for you and a guest featuring workshops lead by Scott Tennant.  Enter to win at www.musiciansfriend.com/crownfestival

A BOUQUET OF VIOLETS

I was searching for videos of my old flamenco guitar teacher, Juan Serrano. Nostalgic, trying to remember a zambra he had taught me. After a while of listening to some of my old favorites, which he also taught to me by ear many years ago, I came across this video which said "Juan Serrano-Un Ramito de Violetas". I watched the video. It certainly wasn't my old teacher Juan Serrano, but perhaps another JS who I certainly hadn't heard before.

Regardless, this guy does some outrageously amazing things on the guitar, old school. It's beautiful, and I simply had to post it. I hope you enjoy. Lyrics are below. Video ends abruptly...

Un ramito de violetas

Era feliz en su matrimonio
aunque su marido era el mismo demonio
tenia el hombre un poco de mal genio
ella se quejaba de que nunca fue tierno
desde hace ya mas de tres anos
recibe cartas de un extrano
cartas llenas de poesia
que le han devuelto la alegria.

Quien te escribia a ti versos
dime nina quien era
quien te mandaba flores por primavera
quien cada nueve de noviembre
como siempre sin tarjeta
te mandaba un ramito de violetas.

A veces suena ella y se imagina
como sera aquel que a ella tanto la estima
sera mas bien hombre de pelo cano
sonrisa abierta y ternura en sus manos
quien sera quien sufre en silencio
quien puede ser su amor secreto
ella que no sabe nada
mira a su marido y luego se calla.

Quien te escribia a ti versos
dime nina quien era
quien te mandaba flores por primavera
quien cada nueve de noviembre
como siempre sin tarjeta
te mandaba un ramito de violetas

Y cada tarde al volver su esposo
cansado del trabajo va y la mira de reojo
no dice nada porque lo sabe todo
ella es asi feliz de cualquier modo
porque el es quien le escribe versos
el es su amante, su amor secreto
ella que no sabe nada
mira a su marido y luego se calla

Quien te escribia a ti versos
dime nina quien era
quien te mandaba flores por primavera
quien cada nueve de noviembre
como siempre sin tarjeta
te mandaba un ramito de violetas..

(english...)

A Bouquet of Violets

She was happy during her wedding
Even though her groom was the very devil
The man had a bit of a bad temper
She complained that he was never affectionate
For about three years now
She's been receiving anonymous letters
Letters full of poetry
That have brought her joy again
Who wrote you [those] verses girl, tell me who was it
Who sent you flowers in the spring
Who every ninth of November
As always without a card
Sent you a bouquet of violets
Sometimes she dreams and tries to imagine
How that person must be who holds her in such high regard
Could he be a man with gray hair
A broad smile and tenderness in his hands
Who could he be that suffers in silence
Who could be her secret love
She who doesn't know anything
Looks at her husband and then falls silent
Who wrote you [those] verses girl, tell me who was it
Who sent you flowers in the spring
Who every ninth of November
As always without a card
Sent you a bouquet of violets
And every afternoon when her husband returns
Tired from work, he goes and looks at her from the corner of his eye
He doesn't say anything because he knows everything
She is happy nonetheless
Because it is he who is writing her the verses
He is her secret lover, her secret romance
She who doesn't know anything
Looks at her husband and then falls silent
Who wrote you [those] verses girl, tell me who was it
Who sent you flowers in the spring
Who every ninth of November
As always without a card
Sent you a bouquet of flowers.

LAGQ finally has a YouTube channel!

Yes, it took a while, but the LAGQ finally has it's own YouTube channel. Please consider subscribing! Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LAGuitarQuartet?feature=watch

Planes, (no) Trains, (no) Automobiles

On my way today from LA to Louisville for the 2013 GFA Convention. So far all flights have been late. But it's a pretty laid back day with no hard schedule.

In the spirit of this blog I feel inspired to recommend a great coffee place at the MSP airport. It's called "World Bean", and is by gate G17. It's definitely world class. Great beans, and the baristas know what they're doing. 

That's it. More to come.

Learn Guitar with RICKY GERVAIS!

Ricky Gervais (aka David Brent) gives a guitar lesson, philosophizes about life, and gives us a little song. Using only a few chords, I might add.

Maestro Lorin Maazel shows his colors

I love this, especially since I'm a Bayern fan. Lorin Maazel and the Munich Philharmonic give their own "pep rally".

One-String Guitar!

Musical Quote of the week

"It's always better to play the wrong note at the right time than the right note at the wrong time. Because the right note at the wrong time is ALWAYS wrong!" - David Russell, USC Masterclass, March 12, 2013.

Please take a step in stopping illegal music distribution

Please take a moment to sign this petition, and take the first step in stopping websites from distributing, and in some cases profiting from, stolen music. It's not fair for people to profit from others' hard work! Please be a part of this movement to help all working musicians. Thank you. 

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/962/812/993/stop-online-sheet-music-theft/#sign

Playing Fast

Enjoy and learn!

Kenny Hill is Featured in Bay Area

Go get 'em, Kenny! This is a great little video posted on the Mercurynews.com site as part of a series featuring successful businesses in the Bay area. See for yourself. Enjoy.
(yes, an annoying ad starts it off...sorry).