Brilliant Strings is programmed with great care to offer a wide variety of guitarists and musicians that are showcased in a listening-friendly space. In addition to a monthly headliner, each gathering provides several special guests and other surprises: artists, touring acts, builders, guitar-like instruments, guitar pedals, amps, and master-class workshops.
Volume 1 “First Note” was held on June 2nd and was attended by a house-full of musicians and aficionados. The headliner was Diego “El Twanguero” Garcia who is known for his brilliant blending of traditional Spanish, tango, flamenco and American styles.
As I wrote in my JazzTimes.com review of his album “Energy”, "...to listen to Goh Kurosawa is to force oneself to abandon any notion of category or genre. While it is true that he flows effortlessly between flamenco, jazz, rock, samba and even classical, it should not be said that Goh has not firmly planted his flag in the fabled land of jazz. It should not be mistaken that he is not a jazz player..."
The headliner for Volume 2: "Crazy Little Boxes" is the amazing ukulele artist Abe Lagrimas, Jr. He is best known as a jazz drummer but staggers all expectations with his solo ukulele performances. See an example of his work at http://youtu.be/xx6itEgzxBM.
Lagrimas has performed at ukulele and jazz festivals around the world and has released his own albums in the United States, Japan, and Korea. His album "Solo Ukulele - The King of Pop" pays tribute to the music of Michael Jackson and was awarded the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts’ “Na Hoku Hanohano Music Award” in 2011.
Other featured artists include Turntablist-guitarist Andre Lafosse (http://altruistmusic.com) a “guitarist, producer, and chronic deconstructionist tortured (solo) artist”.
Composer/Guitarist Ryo Sean Okada (http://www.reverbnation.com/ryoseanokada) from Japan who writes acoustic instrumental music and employs a unique finger-tapping style.
Jack Sanders (http://www.sandersguitar.com) is a highly-trained classical and baroque guitarist who plays with exquisite ease, even effortlessness.
Pete Morris (http://youtu.be/TAy34LUknd8) is a unique visual artist who paints improvisational portraits of the musical atmosphere at the moment of the musical’s creation.
The suggested donation for the event is $10.00 and the parking at the venue is free. For more information on the event, contact Goh Kurosawa ([email protected]) or Juli Emmel ([email protected]). The event can also be found at www.facebook.com/BrilliantStrings.
Coming August 4th will be Volume 3: "Transcending Borders" with the inspiring and enlightening Mon David (http://mondavid.wix.com/jazz).