It was a very cool, exciting and challenging experience for us to collaborate with VoiceBox on this upcoming “Lyric and the Lyre” themed hr long interview and playlist! Chloe brings her multiple talents into play — as vocalist, dramaturgist and New York Times journalist — into this relatively new addition to KALW’s awesome music programming. She’s in good company there, with Kevin Vance of Patchwork Quilt, Jo Ann Mar of Folk Music and Beyond, and the venerable Dore Stein of Tangents. In keeping with the acoustic music programming tradition at KALW, Chloe is making every attempt to feature as many local musicians as possible on her program, which is how we lucked out on the huge leg up with this interview. The interview takes a stab at untangling some of the ways in which guitar,voice and lyrics are indelibly bound.
We’re excited about it – so check us out Thursday night and if you can’t make it then you can listen online for up to one week after the show airs here: http://www.kalw.org/listen.html
THE INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT (IGN) brings together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists to perform their latest original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting. Each tour, IGN founder Brian Gore invites a new cast of guitar luminaries to join him for special evenings of solos, duets and quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar.
For the Fall 2010 United Kingdom tour a, Brian will be joined by Alexandre Gismonti an exciting young Brazilian guitarist and son of the legendary Egberto Gismonti, and Pino Forastiere from Italy, one of the leading players of the new contemporary steel string guitar world.
About the International Guitar Night
International Guitar Night is the world’s premier mobile guitar festival. Sponsored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, it is the only production of its kind to have grassroots origins. Ever since its beginning in 1995 in a converted laundromat in the California Bay Area, IGN has featured the best performing guitar composers from around the world. Since the beginning, audiences have cherished the friendly informal ambiance of the performances. Participants have relished the chance IGN affords to express reverence for one another, and to collaborate rather than compete. The unique brand of “guitar positivity” the forum provides has helped make IGN the most successful guitar showcase of its kind.
“With the International Guitar Night, Brian Gore has created a new niche for the myriad of styles that can be played by the unaccompanied acoustic guitar, as well as marvelous opportunity for virtuosos to interact and learn from one another onstage.”
Michael Parrish,
Dirty Linen (100th Anniversary Edition)
“A magical evening.”
Nikki Nelson
Cowichan Theater, Duncan BC
“The audience loved this show.”
Bruce Labadie
Villa Montalvo, Saratoga, California
Pino Forastiere
The music of Italian guitarist Pino Forastiere comes from a solid classical, contemporary, and rock background that is hard to define. He employs a dazzling blend of slapping, tapping, strumming, altered tunings, and harmonics combined with classical phrasing and a focus on distinct and addictive melodies. His music is “something like a mix of Steve Reich’s interlocking rhythmic patterns meet Michael Hedges’s techniques, all while admiring Eddie van Halen” (John Schaefer, WNYC Radio).
Born in Latronico, Southern Italy, Pino moved with his family to Rome in his early childhood. In 1992 he graduated from one of the most prestigious European Music Academy, Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Rome, with a degree in classical guitar, taking his final exam with a ten-string classical guitar. In the following years, he used this ten-string guitar in live performances with baroque, contemporary and original repertoire. In 1996 he laid down this instrument and picked up a six-string acoustic guitar. He has studied composition and chamber music, performed in various ensembles with classical or original repertoire, and collaborated with jazz, experimental, electronic and pop projects.
Pino Forastiere lives in Rome, Italy; he performs in festival and venues in Italy, United States and Canada, also for classical societies; in January 2008 he premiered at Teatro Palladium in Rome “Why Not?”, an epic concerto for electro-acoustic guitar and string orchestra (Roma Tre Orchestra, conductor Pietro Mianiti). Live recording of the concerto “Why Not?” is contained and gives the title to his third solo album, released by Candyrat Records (2008). His latest work, “Live DVD/CD” (Candyrat, 2009) is a ‘best of’ from all his previous solo compositions.
Since 2003, year of release of his debut solo album “Rag Tap Boom”, Pino collaborates with the fingerstyle leading authority John Stropes, Director of Guitar Studies of the UWM University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and editor of guitar composer such as Leo Kottke, Michael Hedges, Alex de Grassi.
» It’s hard to find a CD for solo instrument that could be completely appreciated also by non-instrumentists: here is one. Daniele Bergesio, World Music Magazine
» Contrary to the in-your-face approach taken by many of his peers, Forastiere opts to delay overt flexing of his guitar muscles until quite late in the disc, thus drawing the listener in with his gentle musical narrative rather than with garish technical displays. This disc is truly exceptional because its virtuosic qualities are secondary to its inception as a piece of fine art. Timothy Smith, Minor7th.com
» Like Hedges, Forastiere employes a dazzling blend of slapping, tapping, strumming, altered tunings and harmonics. However, he also combines those elements with classical phrasing and a focus on distinct and addictive melodies. Anil Prasad, Guitar Player
Alexandre Gismonti
A guitarist from a renowned family, with a profound musical knowledge, Alexandre Gismonti has developed his own language as both a performer and composer.
With his father, the legendary Egberto Gismonti, he has played in major theaters and festivals in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Cuba, México, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Spain, Israel, Denmark, Portugal, and France.
As a soloist, Alexandre has performed in theaters both in Brazil and abroad, including the Baden Powell Room, Finep, Ibam, Cecília Meirelles, SESCs, Furnas Cultural, Municipal Theaters in several cities, and the series “Music in the Stars” (Planetarium of Rio de Janeiro) in “Music at the Museum”.
In 2002, Alexandre represented Brazil in the international guitar festival “Entre Cuerdas”, in Chile. In 2003, he performed as a soloist in the 41st Villa-Lobos Festival, in Rio de Janeiro. In 2004, he was selected for the 7th Visa award prize of Brazilian music, in São Paulo.
In 2001, Alexandre made his recording debut with Egberto Gismonti on the disk “Nicanor Teixeira ” (Rob Digital). In 2006, he recorded his own arrangements, interpreted by the great singer Jane Duboc, in the disk “Golfinho Gaivota” (Independent).
Alexandre’s compositions have been selected for important Brazilian instrumental music festivals, such as the 1st Festival Guarulhos instrumental (Guarulhos-SP), the 1st Tim festival of “choro” (Belem-PA), and the 7th Visa prize.
He has received much critical praise in both the Brazilian and foreign press. According to the newspaper “Brecha”, Uruguay, July 2001:
“The son of Egberto is a young guitar virtuoso. Alexandre`s approach is very different from that of his father…he played with an amazing interpretive authority for his age of 20”.
As the culmination of a long and illuminating musical journey, Alexandre returned to the studio in 2007 to record another duet record with his father for ECM Records. In this project, Alexandre split with Egberto all the arrangements and compositions for two guitars.
In 2009, Alexandre’s first solo CD will be released. As an established touring artist, Alexandre performs in various configurations. In solo performances or with his trio, he presents a repertoire ranging from new arrangements of Brazilian music classics to his own compositions. He also plays in another trio, with Eli Joory (saxophonist and composer) and Michel Maciel (guitarist). And, Alexandre regularly appears beside Egberto Gismonti, bringing new music and new acclaim to his father’s brilliant career, and assurance that his legacy lives on in capable hands.
Brian Gore
“Brian Gore’s strong, well developed melodies and intriguing chord sequences set him apart from the myriad of steel-string fingerstylists who compose in open tunings. His finely crafted poetic “songs without words” take the listener on a spellbinding emotional ride.”
–Ron Forbes Roberts, Acoustic Guitar Magazine
“An artist of the highest caliber.”
–Ray Toumey, the Boulder Chautauqua
San Francisco guitar poet Brian Gore is gaining a reputation as one of the most interesting and influential performers of “the next generation” in fingerstyle guitar. A musical romantic, his compositions draw inspiration from myth and modern literature. Hailed as having “…one of the most unique new acoustic guitar styles on the scene today (News and Review),” his lyrical, understated compositions integrate classical and percussive techniques that display what the Los Angeles Times calls “a characterful bounce and spaciousness all his own.”
Gore’s style of playing offers strikingly beautiful tone and dynamics– qualities that are often hard to find in steel string players. His melodic, evocative songs rely heavily on the use of open tunings, extending the “stream of consciousness” style of guitar composing he grew up with in Northern California. “Music started out as a kind of therapy for me,” says Gore. “Consequently, I am a very emotional player. Now, my style of playing has also become a well honed craft. I am very grateful I can share this with people.”
His buoyant personality and odd sense of humor help add lightness to his shows. “By the time I’m done with a performance,” explains Gore, “people really know the meaning of the term ‘extroverted introvert’.” While Gore integrates some of the flashier percussive techniques into his pieces, the poetic quality of his music is preserved. “Because my music is simple and somewhat rootsy, it’s easy to relate to, which is something I’m thankful for. Also, it helps keep me grounded.”
Gore is an artist in residence at the Boulder Chautauqua, and endorses LR Baggs Equipment, Ryan Guitars and Morris Guitars. He is founder of the International Guitar Night, sponsored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. His first CD, produced by Peppino D’Agostino, is called The Path of Least Resistance. His second CD, Legacy: Solo Guitar and Duets, is available on Germany’s Acoustic Music Records Label. His music has been featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated Echoes Radio, and many other local public radio programs.
Brian founded The International Guitar Night in 1995 as a forum for the world’s finest guitarists/composers to play their latest original songs and share musical ideas with their peers in public concert. This has evolved into critically acclaimed annual tours in the US (starting in 2000), Canada (starting in 2006) and the UK (starting in 2007), a CD on Favored Nations Records released in 2004, a guitar instruction book published in 2005, and IGN releases on Warner Music Canada (the 3rd annual CD will be released in 2008).
Download our album FREE at the Soundcloud Widget Below!
Quote from a YouTube Fan:
“Unreal !!! The second your feature vid Flame Flower started playing I instantly felt a Nina Simone feel – nothing to do with your appearance which is lovely, perfect for being in the public eye but your voice – love it- your expression, emotion, the way you slide those notes – very, very good – I’ll look forward to listening to all your singing – fantastic guitar and lyrics are deep – keep going no matter what – you both have something really special – Gabrielle”
“Scheherazade Stone is a superb musician and a stunning singer with a magnetic stage presence” – (Robert Hurwitt, SF Examiner)
Scheherazade (pronounced Shuh-herr-uh-zahhd) Stone got her first name from her parents who raised her in a musical way. Her contributions to the music scene have been appropriately eclectic, reflecting the rich diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was born and bred.
She’s collaborated with players ranging from Don Cherry, Chico Freeman and Omar Sosa to Jai Uttal and Cheb I Sabbah. She even appeared on a Grammy nominated tune from the Hieroglyphics Ensemble. Additionally, she’s received BAMMIE (Bay Area Music Award) nominations for her vocal talents as well as for her work with Hueman Flavor.
“I love Scheherazade Stone and it’s always interesting to hear her sing,” proclaims JH Tompkins of the SF Guardian. Regardless of the project, she’s always met with considerable critical acclaim. Julia Chase of the SF Weekly says, “Vocalist Scheherazade Stone is the scene stealer, a vision of Josephine Baker in vintage gowns, she drifts effortlessly between her character Paulette and her place in the band.”
Known as a “poet of the guitar,” Brian Gore’s emotive, expressive style combines influences from folk, jazz and classical music. Ron Forbes-Roberts of Acoustic Guitar Magazine says, “Gore’s finely crafted poetic ‘songs without words’ take the listener on a spellbinding, emotional ride.
He has great facility as a player, but it’s the depth and range of moods his pieces evoke that makes his music such a pleasure.”
A musical romantic, who draws inspiration from literature and philosophy, he employs his virtuosity in the service of the heart. He is a self-taught guitarist who’s developed “one of the most unique new acoustic guitar styles on the scene today” (News and Review). He has “emerged in the past decade as a leading figure in the new acoustic music movement pioneered by the late Michael Hedges.” (Contra Costa Times).
Gore performs as the founder of International Guitar Night (IGN/USA). He can also be found touring solo, as well as in double bills, in concert halls and festivals around the world. He’s been featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated Echoes Radio and performed live on many NPR affiliate stations in the US.
Benefit for Sunset Preschool at Nico and Marie’s Place in Haight Ashbury!
May 1, 7:30 PM. One set followed by champaign and munchies
$25 donation – 100% goes to Sunset Cooperative Preschool
RSVP – thesingstrings@gmail.com or 415.608.2316
“Absolutely beautiful. Great work… It’s so nice to see and hear this.”
– Steve Vai
Scheherazade Stoneand Brian Goreof “The Sing Strings” blend two unique styles for voice and guitar into one mesmerizing melange of soul, blues, folk, jazz, and fingerstyle guitar influences. Their combination of top notch solo fingerstyle guitar in tandem with duets featuring world class vocals is one of a kind.
BRIAN GORE has emerged in the past decade as a leading figure in the world of acoustic guitar. His emotive, expressive style combines influences from folk, jazz and classical music. Acoustic Guitar Magazine says, “Gore’s finely crafted poetic ‘songs without words’ take the listener on a spellbinding, emotional ride. He has great facility as a player, but it’s the depth and range of moods his pieces evoke that makes his music such a pleasure.” Brian is the founder of International Guitar Night (IGN/USA), a grouping of some of the most creative acoustic guitarists worldwide.
Scheherazade Stone got her first name from her parents who raised her in a musical way. She’s collaborated with players ranging from Don Cherry, Chico Freeman, Doug Carn, Donald Byrd, and Omar Sosa to Jai Uttal and Cheb I Sabbah. She also appeared on a Grammy nominated CD from the Hieroglyphics Ensemble on a song entitled “The World Is Gifted.”
“I love Scheherazade Stone and it’s always interesting to hear her sing,” proclaims JH Tompkins of the SF Guardian.
Julia Chase of the SF Weekly says, “Vocalist Scheherazade Stone is the scene stealer, a vision of Josephine Baker in vintage gowns, she drifts effortlessly between her character Paulette and her place in the band.”
BRIAN GORE has emerged in the past decade as a leading figure in the world of acoustic guitar. His emotive, expressive style combines influences from folk, jazz and classical music. Acoustic Guitar Magazine says, “Gore’s finely crafted poetic ‘songs without words’ take the listener on a spellbinding, emotional ride. He has great facility as a player, but it’s the depth and range of moods his pieces evoke that makes his music such a pleasure.” Brian is the founder ofInternational Guitar Night (IGN/USA), a grouping of some of the most creative acoustic guitarists worldwide. See http://www.myspace.com/guitaristbriangore
SUSAN Z is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor, who has been called “a knockout”, says Don McConnel of the Berkeley Voice. Robert Hurwitt of the SF Examiner calls her a “bewitching, full throated nightingale.” Her first CD, “Believe”, (’00) received a “four star” review from fans at cdbaby.com, and was the one of the top 20 listened to cds on radio MILO, (103.1 ), Belgium in 2000. She has performed at The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, Slims, Bimbo’s, Freight and Salvage, Sweetwater Saloon, and numerous other Bay Area venues. See http://www.myspace.com/susanzmusic
“Nina Gerber‘s music career began soon after hearing the late singer/songwriter Kate Wolf perform in Sebastopol, CA in the mid seventies. Nina was so inspired by Kate’s music that she decided to become a professional accompanist and followed Kate around until she finally hired Nina to play in her band. That collaboration lasted for 8 years, until Kate’s death in 1986. Since then, Nina has performed and/or recorded with Karla Bonoff, Eliza Gilkyson, Greg Brown, Nanci Griffith, Lucy Kaplansky, Queen Ida, Terry Garthwaite, Laurie Lewis, and Mollie O’Brien to name a few. Nina has produced and arranged many recordings, as well as 3 of her own CD’s.”
10th Annual IGN Tour Live Recording in Victoria, BC
Looking back over the past decade of work with International Guitar Night, it’s hard not to feel nostalgic about the different tours and shows, especially with our 10th touring season coming up this fall. IGN players include giants like my friend Pierre Bensusan, the awesome Ralph Towner and Indian slide guitarist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
What’s cool, and I think exceptional, about the show is that we’ve also included artists who were completely new to the performance scene in North America, such as players like YouTube whizz-kid Antoine DuFour or flamenco player Gerardo Nunez. Players are accorded the same billing regardless of their “headliner” status in IGN shows.
From a promotional point of view, pulling off IGN has not been an easy feat. It’s been a process of slow, steady, at times anguishing, growth. And I am thankful for loyal friends like Herschel Freeman, our North American agent, Dr. John Barrow of Stoneyport Associates in the UK,Pacific Music’s Mike Peters, and Jane and April at Harbury Publicity for their loyalty and devotion to the cause.
Until now, we’ve never had a harp guitarist; there’s certainly none finer than the pre-eminent Stephen Bennett, who’s as respected by his contemporaries like Tommy Emmanuel as he is with younger players like Andy Mckee.
The Amazing Lulo Reinhardt
We’ve never had a gypsy-jazz player in the show before, and this time we’ve got a great one; Django’s great grand nephew, Lulo Reinhardt, who, to the great benefit of IGN has a penchant for rumba and flamenco as well.
Itamar Erez
Fans of the band Oregon and Vicente Amigo will welcome the composer and guitarist Itamar Erez, who is our first ever Israeli player. This guy is an uncompromisingly meticulous player with a sophisticated sense of harmony and an absolutely awesome tone and stage sound.
Oh Yeah, and, YOURS TRULY!
Anatomy of a Live Recording
Ater the IGN 2009 US tour was completed in Mid-February, I headed to Victoria BC to meet this new line up of players. Here’s a video diary of the first day, meeting Mike Peters and the other guys, then getting right to rehearsing…..
Milke Peters, the dude who makes it possible to record live albums in Victoria!
THANKS BRUHTUH F.O.A.M.
It’s a pretty intense thing, throwing together four people who don’t know each other, with distinct cultures and styles, then asking them to record a live album with a full program of all original collaborative material in 4 days! As you can see, things came together pretty quickly with the program; quite a risk, actually.
Thankfully, we all *really* enjoyed each other’s company. For me, it’s a bit easier than with the other guys. Mike Peters, the producer, and I are old friends. I’ve been working with the Cowichan Theatre, where we’ve been recording our live album, since 1999! A very good group of people there, who’ve been very devoted to IGN for many years. I can’t believe I’ve known the stage crew there so long. It’s like we’re growing old together….
BRIAN GORE has emerged in the past decade as a leading figure in the world of acoustic guitar. His emotive, expressive style combines influences from folk, jazz and classical music. Acoustic Guitar Magazine says, “Gore’s finely crafted poetic ‘songs without words’ take the listener on a spellbinding, emotional ride. He has great facility as a player, but it’s the depth and range of moods his pieces evoke that makes his music such a pleasure.” Brian is the founder of the globally touring International Guitar Night (IGN), a grouping of some of the most creative acoustic guitarists worldwide.
SUSAN Z is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor, who has been called “a knockout”, says Don McConnel of the Berkeley Voice. Robert Hurwitt of the SF Examiner calls her a “bewitching, full throated nightingale.” Her first CD, “Believe”, (’00) received a “four star” review from fans at cdbaby.com, and was the one of the top 20 listened to cds on radio MILO, (103.1 ), Belgium in 2000. She has performed at The Fillmore, Great American Music Hall, Slims, Bimbo’s, Freight and Salvage, Sweetwater Saloon, and numerous other Bay Area venues. See http://www.myspace.com/susanzmusic
The music of Italian guitarist Pino Forastiere comes from a solid classical, contemporary, and rock background that is hard to define. He employs a dazzling blend of slapping, tapping, strumming, altered tunings, and harmonics combined with classical phrasing and a focus on distinct and addictive melodies. His music is “something like a mix of Steve Reich’s interlocking rhythmic patterns meet Michael Hedges’s techniques, all while admiring Eddie van Halen” (John Schaefer, WNYC Radio).
A guitarist from a renowned family, with a profound musical knowledge, Alexandre Gismonti has developed his own language as both a performer and composer.
Guitar Poet Brian Gore 
