International Guitar Night 2017 is on its way to Duncan.
This tour that features a lineup of exceptional guitarists includes Lulo Reinhardt, Debashish Battacharya, Luca Stricagnoli, and Chrystian Dozza.
The performance, Friday, Jan. 27, at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre, will be the sixth show of the tour. The music starts at 7:30 p.m.
International Guitar Night, founded by Brian Gore, is the world’s premier touring guitar festival, with each show bringing together interesting and innovative acoustic guitarists to exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting.
It’s a special evenings of solos, duets, and quartets that highlight the dexterity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar.
Because Brian Gore is on hiatus from touring, gypsy jazz legend Lulo Reinhardt will be stepping in as guest host for this show.
He will be joined by three new musicians: Italy’s contemporary guitarist Luca Stricagnoli; Brazilian composer/performer Chrystian Dozza, and Indian slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya.
Stricagnoli’s inventive “tapping” techniques have garnered more than seven million views on YouTube. Dozza has garnered many prestigious awards as one of his country’s leading young guitarists. Bhattacharya has invented his own technique for playing classical Indian music on the slide guitar and has collaborated with musicians from around the world.
When you hear the name Reinhardt, you immediately think: Django Reinhardt. He did leave behind an indelible musical legacy, introducing and defining a passionate style of gypsy jazz guitar that was astonishing in the 1930s and is still revered and emulated today.
Lulo Reinhardt, Django’s grandnephew, is a third generation master from Germany. He has retained the Reinhardt soul, speed and dexterity while updating the repertoire.
Lulo was first taught by his father at the age of five. At 12, he played in the Mike Reinhardt Sextett and later co-founded the group Django Reinhardt and the Heartbreakers. In 1991, he founded I Gitanos with his father Bawo and cousin Dege, touring throughout Europe and first establishing his national reputation.
A spontaneous musician, he followed his curiosity to southern Spain in search of flamenco roots, and to South America, exploring various musical styles of latin jazz.
Since 2002, he’s been busy around the world.
Bhattacharya started learning Indian music from his parents early. In his childhood he mastered many Indian classical instrumental styles as well as vocal music from different musical teachers. Later, his studies saw him working with acclaimed experts, but he’d already been on All India Radio and by his 20s, he had developed a unique style of his own.
Now, he is perhaps the greatest slide guitarist in India, eager and more than qualified to collaborate and blend with musicians from any other country.
Stricagnoli has always shown a great natural talent for the guitar. His original playing style has brought him into the public eye.
Signed to a U.S. label at age 22, his debut videos garnered significant internet success plus major attention from famous guitar players all around the world. He will be making his North American debut with International Guitar Night.
Dozza is one of the leading lights of the new generation of Brazilian instrumental musicians, a young guitarist/composer whose talents have been widely displayed and rewarded.
He will be making his North American debut with International Guitar Night as well.
Tickets are $30, with students and Cowichan Folk Guild members getting in for only $27.
To purchase tickets, visit the Cowichan Ticket Centre, go online to cowichanpac.ca or call 250-748-7529.