The Whole Music Experience

Gabriel Ayala Portraits (Music for Classical Guitar) Canyon Records According to the Canyon Records website where Yaqui classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala is featured, classical guitar playing takes much dedication. Not only that, to learn the techniques which must later be augmented by a palette of musical emotions, involves many lonely hours of just getting it right. However, any loneliness an artist feels would be compensated by performing such luxurious music. On his debut Canyon Records album, Portraits (Music for Classical Guitar) , Ayala performs challenging compositions and does this so well that it seems natural and easy for him. His dedication has paid off in numerous ways. First he chose a wide canvas in which to express himself that includes French composer Erik Satie's popular Gymnopedia No 1 , Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz's Leyenda from Suite Espanola , J.S. Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor and the Celtic Wild Mountain Thyme , among other clas...

Photo: Gazpacho Andalu (from Joe's Pub, New York) Gazpacho Andalù Flamenco De Vuelta E Ida Independent Release Juan Manuel Cañizares Suite Iberia (Albeniz por Cañizares) Sony BMG Masterworks Gazpacho reminds me of a scene from Pedro Almodovar's "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," where the most crazed woman of them all splashes a bowl of gazpacho on the lead character. Tomato, garlic and remnants of sleeping pills run down the face of the woman and soak her dress. This is one side of Spain, (over-the-top characters), via the movie business that has shaped my life, along with hearing fiery flamenco guitar and vocals. My ancestral DNA goes on alert and my heart feels energized when I hear sounds of Andalusia. So I am delighted to have received two flamenco recordings recently. The first recording I am going to mention, Flamenco De Vuelta E Ida hails from the New York based, Gazpacho Andalù. This fusion project blends music from North Africa, South...