When I’m working or writing, there’s one guitarist above all
other whom I love to listen to. Michael Chapdelaine has a style that bridges so
many different genres that I can listen to him forever, and I often do. He is the only guitarist ever to win First
Prize in the world's top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle
genres; the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar
Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley
Bluegrass Festival in Winfield , Kansas. At Winfield he beat out over
thirty-eight steel string guitarists playing a nylon string guitar. His
performances, played on both steel string and classical guitars, include
musical styles ranging from blues to Bach to country to rhythm n' blues.
As a classical
guitarist in the 80s and 90s he proved himself one of the greatest classical
guitarists after twice winning the coveted National Endowment for the Arts Solo
Recitalist Grant, and taking First Prize in both the Guitar Foundation of
America's and the Music Teachers National Association's Guitar Competitions. He
also won the Silver Medal in Venezuela's VIII Concurso International de
Guitarra "Alirio Diaz".
His 1992
recording the “Sonata Romantica CD,” now re-released as "Mexico" on
his website, is acclaimed by many critics and connoisseurs of classical guitar as
one of the definitive recordings for the instrument. In fact, Acoustic Guitar
magazine wrote "... if I were marooned on a desert island with a limited
selection of recordings, this one would be among my choices...I have seldom
heard a more beautiful album. Other young guitarists have excellent technique,
but few have such style and musicality, and Chapdelaine's beautiful tone is the
nearest to Segovia's that I can recall." Their comment isn’t surprising
since one of Michael’s teachers was Andres Segovia, universally acclaimed as
the greatest classical guitarist of all time.
In 1994
Michael turned his attention to pop music, in arranging, producing and
recording Time-Life Music's beautiful Guitar by Moonlight collection, which
sold 250,000 copies in it's first two years in the stores. In 1998, he once
again, expanded his musical range and gained instant notoriety and credibility
in the "acoustic music" world as a "fingerstyle" guitarist
and composer, by winning the 1998 National Fingerpicking Championships at
Winfield.
He holds
a Master of Music degree from Florida State University and is Professor of Music and head of
guitar studies at the University of New Mexico. Previously he’s been on the
faculties of the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State
University. His original
compositions, which he has only recently introduced to the public, bring
together a broad variety of musical styles from classical to country to blues.
His
renditions of pop songs like “Somebody I Used To Know,” “She’s Leaving Home,” “California
Dreamin,” and “Safe and Sound” are beautiful, yet songs like “Wipeout” and
“Walk don’t Run show a playful side.” But don’t miss his classical compositions
or his originals, especially “Rain Dance.” They truly demonstrate his
virtuosity. He’s one of my favs and I’m sure he’ll be one of yours. Enjoy!
Mad World: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGVV8eo4aNs
Somebody I used to know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeqrD2RcACM
Come together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqFKhgZto5I
California Dreamin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu78nxzY3uk
She’s leaving home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT48TVWfy0g
Heard it through the grapevine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuT8UfwBd0s
Walk don’t run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eyHKrd-hMA
Capricho Arabe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_IyslZBfQg
Rose in Spanish Harlem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeconFupOxw
Hit the road Jack: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6qO-wAh4Pg
Mallorca by Albeniz:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbMm4rdvu9c
Villa Lobos Prelude
3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgijMZMrgw
Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwtbZ0pT5Dw
Amazing Grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wuDelXAJ7M
Blue Chile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkFo5Z2j2uk
Gavotte en Rondeau: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_GNwWrPWO8
Mysterious Barricades: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO__iHHQyC0
Rain Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stbXx0rColk
Safe and Sound: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1x1txmfuV8
I like lighter wines in summer time,
so I generally gravitate toward whites like French Sancerres, New
Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, or Pinot Blancs, but my main summer reds are Pinot
Noirs and tonight’s 2011 Chad Pinot Noir Carneros Reserve ($19.00) is a
fantastic one. I’ve been a fan of Chad wines for years through many cases of
his Cabernet Sauvignons, but this Pinot is fantastic. It has a deep ruby-red color saturated to the edge.
Flavors of strawberries, black
cherries, rhubarb, a hint of cloves, and a touch of allspice and cardamom
move in and out of the background. It’s juicy for a Pinot with a suggestion of cocoa in the background on the nose. The wine is bright
with fresh acidity and a long finish. If
it appears that I love this wine, it’s true. I do, and it accompanies the music
of Michael Chapdelaine perfectly. Pick up a case for the summer. Enjoy!
Cheers!
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