Schedule / Past Festivals
10 U.S. Premieres by 10 Dowtown composers
Marco Cappelli commissioned 10 musicians to compose “extreme” guitar pieces for him to play, wielding both the unusual possibilities of his own guitar style and the composers’ rigorous written structures. The composers include: Elliott Sharp, Otomo Yoshihide, Ikue Mori, Marc Ribot, David Shea, Anthony Coleman, Nick Didkovsky, Mark Stewart, Erik Friedlander and Annie Gosfield.
The extraordinary singer, guitarist, and percussionist Badi Assad showcases her exhilaratingly adventurous style. The sister of Sergio and Odair, the famous classical guitarists "Duo Assad", Badi followed in her brothers' footsteps on the instrument, while exploring her own creative vision, winning Guitar Player magazine's 1995 Readers' Poll for Best Classical Album of the Year.
Choro Ensemble captures the authentic, swinging sounds of Choro music with dazzling instrumental virtuosity. New York's only group dedicated exclusively to the preservation and perpetuation of this once-endangered musical form best identified with the celebrated composer Pixinguinha. www.choroensemble.com
One of the most original and creative artists of today, David Torn is a texturalist/guitarist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer and occasional singer. Torn has released many acclaimed records as a leader and has recently collaborated with a diverse array of artists, such as Annie Lennox, Jeff Beck, David Bowie and Tori Amos.
Paying tribute the genius of this American original, are veteran bluesman, John Hammond, singer-songwriter Eleni Mandell (referred to by the New Yorker as "perhaps the best unsigned artist in the business.") and Tin Hat Trio, the freewheeling chamber music ensemble described by Acoustic Guitar magazine as “the poster band of a new folk-jazz fusion.” Presented in association with WFUV Radio and
Our 2nd biannual Guitar Marathon at the 92nd Street Y's Kaufman Auditorium will run from 2 - 10pm, with one break at 5pm. “An epic event" is how the The Wall Street Journal classified our last Marathon, and Jazz Times called it “a veritable guitar orgy.” Half- and full-day tickets are available now.
Christopher Parkening (guitar) & Jubilant Sykes (baritone)
Performning works by Sanz, Brouwer, Piazzolla, Rodrigo, Tórroba, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Albéniz, Gustavino, de la Torre, Scheer, Copland, Geoghegan, Myers & Domeniconi.
Renowned for his technique, innovation and compelling compositions during his two-decade recording career, Alex De Grassi is considered one of the world’s top fingerstyle, steel-string acoustic guitarists.His album The Water Garden was a nominated for a Grammy Award and he is the subject of a PBS concert/interview television show, “Alex de Grassi: The Artist’s Profile.”
Jorma Kaukonen, Ernie Hawkins, Roy Book Binder and Brandon Ross.
Reverend Gary Davis (1896-1972) was a giant in the field of acoustic blues and gospel music. A powerful singer and a masterful guitar player, many rock and roll legends of the 60s learned his songs and playing style, some from him personally. His works have been recorded by David Van Ronk, Taj Mahal, Jorma Kaukonen, The Grateful Dead and Stefan Grossman.
BILL FRISELL (GUITAR), KENNY WOLLESEN (DRUMS) & TONY SCHER (BASS)
The world premiere of new Bill Frisell film scores commissioned by the New York Guitar Festival®. The scores will accompany five early films by Georges Méliès, including "A Trip to the Moon" (1902) and "The Impossible Voyage" (1904).
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