Doug Smith & Catena Zapata High Mountain Malbec

Doug Smith is a former winner (2006) of the Winfield International Fingerstyle Guitar contest and also a Grammy winner. “August Rush”. Doug's music has been heard on radio and T.V. stations throughout the country, including The Discovery Channel, Martha Stewart Living, CNN, TNN, ESPN, and Encore. He also played guitar on the soundtracks for the recent movies " Moll Flanders ," " Twister ," and “August Rush.”

His style combines folk, classical, and jazz into a style that reminds me of Leo Kottke and Chet Atkins. In fact, in the early years of his guitar career, he saw Chet play with the Boston Pops, after which he focused exclusively on fingerstyle guitar. Later in 1970, he heard John Renbourn’s album, “The Hermit,” which caused him to further focus on steel strings and introduce altered tunings into his repertoire, although he credits Alex de Grassi and Michael Hedges as major influences that also led him in the latter direction. In February of 2005, Doug and the several other fantastic guitarists from Solid Air Records, won a Grammy Award for "Best Acoustic Pop Album" for the album, " Henry Mancini - Pink Guitar.” For those of you guitar techie geeks, Doug plays James Goodall and Lance McCollum guitars.

His music is beautiful and a great means of relaxing from the work week. Enjoy!

Renewal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM5gK1PFDTQ&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Ritual Dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVquw6y9vto&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Magnificent Seven theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-HB1y8eJo0&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Sor Phalanges: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j796XI_H3NY&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Millenium Force: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Gav5uUx9w&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Two handed paradox: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2gejidFTV0&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Order of magnitude: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdYIkPlYjhY&list=PL941277E94714A46E

Embryonic Journey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQejhIFfZjA

Ave Maria/Can’t help falling in love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHI5npcL15I

Stars & Stripes Forever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NY3GiYAFc

Beyond the clouds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng_HWFE0HDw

On the boardwalk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRylisfC0bY

What a friend we have in Jesus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Q72BETg-Q&list=PL941277E94714A46E

I’m pairing Doug with a 2011 Catena Zapata High Mountain Malbec ($18.00). I’ve grown to really like Malbecs. Not as sweet as Merlot and not as heavy on oak and tannins as a Cabernet. This one is deep violet purple with aromas of red and dark fruits, and mocha overlaid with nuances of violets and vanilla. The taste is full of blackberries, blueberries, and a touch of coffee tinged with chocolate and cinnamon.

The tannin’s are mild and the wine has nice acidity and minerality that leads to a long finish. It’s the perfect compliment to the guitar artistry of Doug Smith.

Cheers! 

G3 Concerts & Bodegas NQN Malbec

Hump day and it’s down hill to the weekend. I need something to pump me up for th last two days so I’m featuring a couple of the G3 concerts. The G3 events were organized by Joe Satriani and began with a lineup of Joe, Steve Vai, and Eric Johnson. The members varied from year to year with Satriani and Vai the main staples while Johnson was replaced by Yngwe Malmsteen, John Petrucci, and others. They also included some of the greatest rock bassists including Stu Hamm and Billy Sheehan. The concerts were always brains-against-the-wall shredding, except when Eric Johnson took the stage. He is one of the most lyrical and complex guitarists ever to pick up the instrument. Playing along with him is a most tasteful bassist, Roscoe Beck. Contrast that style with the high caffeine insanity of Malmsteen. I can’t see Malmsteen and Johnson playing together on the same stage. At any rate, I’ve included two full concerts below. You can use the sliders to pan through the artists if it gets too intense. Hope you enjoy them.

Satriani, Vai, Johnson:

Full Concert:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDbGpgJMK_s&feature=related

Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen:

Full Concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U_Q-M8Bnvw

You need a dense wine with this musical line up so I suggest trying a 2009 Bodegas NQN, Malma Malbec from Argentina (~$22.00). With a bouquet of blackberries and spice followed by dark berries, curants, black pepper, and a hint of cinnamon, this wine stands up strong against the shredders. You might want to use a thicker glass when you pour it as the music can be a bit hard on the crystal. Enjoy!

Cheers!

Blues Rocker Gary Moore & Colome Estate Malbec

Tonight I’d like to introduce you to a not-so-well-known blues rock guitarist, namely Gary Moore. Moore grew up in east Belfast and started performing at a young age, having picked up an acoustic at the age of eight. Moore learned to play a right-handed instrument in the standard way despite being left-handed. His early musical influences were Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, all of whom shaped his own characteristic blues-rock style.

While somewhat less known in the US, Moore's work has had substantial success and acclaim in many other parts of the world, most notably Europe. Many well known guitarists have acknowledged his influence on their playing including Joe Bonamassa, Randy Rhoads, and Kirk Hammett. He’s collaborated with a wide range of artists that include George Harrison, Albert Collins, Trilok Gurtu, Jim Capaldi, the Beach Boys, Ozzy Osbourne, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce. He first came to my attention when I heard him play with Bruce. He’s got a varied style, but through it all he’s a rocking blues man. Hope you enjoy him!

Still got the blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuAVHHRlxLg&feature=fvst

Whiskey in the jar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgJnqAx5N9Y&feature=fvst

The boys are back in town: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97DM-xFBj48&feature=channel

Parisienne walkaway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrz00Rs7mbA&feature=channel 

Red House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXYjEMTQRm0

The Loner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3-TgDjcBL0

The Stumble: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0nKJFVVoYM&feature=related

Hurricane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJP4tdlImI&feature=related

Military man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_WpP6SQINE&feature=related

After the war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdZ2Iz1CuMc&feature=related

Ready for love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKILtIiTMW4&feature=related

Crying in the shadows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7duAoNQrCc&feature=related

The sky is crying: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls4XhI8zmsU&feature=related

And to accompany Gary, I recommend a 2008 Colome Estate Malbec from Argentina, number 66 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2010 ($20.00). This is a rich wine with a deep, dark magenta color, notes of blackberries, plum, and pepper on the nose followed by flavors of dark berries, cassis and spice. Subtle French oak and toast flavors compliment the fruit with a long round finish. Great for drinking on a cold winter night…or any night and beautifully augments the music of Gary Moore. Enjoy!

Cheers!