Mike Dawes and Eguia Reserva Rioja

Mike Dawes is a 23 year-old English virtuoso guitar player known for composing, arranging and performing multiple parts simultaneously on one instrument. He began his musical adventure at the age of four, when his parents introduced him to The Blues Brothers. In his early childhood he experimented with keyboards before picking up his first electric guitar at age twelve. Mike switched to steel-stringed acoustic guitar in 2008.

His early influences were Michael Hedges, Pierre Bensusan, and John Gomm. From late 2008 to late 2011 Mike performed hundreds of instrumental concerts at venues and festivals throughout the United Kingdom both solo, and with concert harpist Amy Turk. He has performed alongside and shared the bill with a large selection of well-known musicians including Tommy Emmanuel.

He released a unique and technically virtuosic arrangement of “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye that went viral, gaining acclaim from the international music community. The likes of MSN News and Reddit all featured him on the front page of their websites. A headline on the US MSN Browser spawned a huge influx of American fans while Gotye (Walter de Backer) himself publicly praised the arrangement in numerous international publications.

For you guitar hounds, he plays guitars made by Nick Benjamin exclusively. I think you’re going to like him.

Boogie slam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuRBGpEHcnI

Titanium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAg6aphicBA

Somebody I used to know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1bzUaf_gvU

So long Michael: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUA6t9swkVo&feature=related

Boogie Shred: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-hJU-68pFQ&feature=related

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZSzmim4brk&feature=related

Celtic tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXLCq1b7-4s

The impossible: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYksCAhjthk

Scotch Pancake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5pYjVjBo7E

Lounge Bar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmkvJL38_Jw

The violet and the bee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSkKUlVwtfI

Superstition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAaGdOfTA6c

I suggest a 2007 Eguia Reserva Rioja ($10.00) while you listen to Mike. I often shop wines at Costco and this one caught my eye. Ten dollar Riojas are generally reliable wines, but this one was way more than reliable. The wine is dark purple with a nose of red fruit and spices. The pallet is full of red raspberries, black cherries, and dark plums accented by a bit of oak. The finish is clean and elegant with mild tannins. It certainly didn’t taste like a $10.00 Rioja, but it goes great with the guitar virtuosity of Mike Dawes.

Cheers!

Kaori Muraji and Vall Llach Ebriux

Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, Kaori Muraji received her first lessons on the guitar from her father Noboru Muraji at the age of three. At the age of ten, she continued her studies with the renowned guitarist Shinichi Fukuda. She won the top prize at the 1989 Junior Guitar Contest, and was the winner of the Student Guitar Competition in two consecutive years 1989 and 1991. She was the youngest ever student to win the Leo Brouwer International Guitar Concours and Tokyo International Guitar Concours in 1992.

In 1993, Ms. Muraji gave her debut recital at Tsuda Hall in Tokyo, which was soon followed by the release of her debut CD “Espressivo”. Her orchestra debut came in 1994 with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 1995 she was selected as soloist to tour with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI on its Japan tour. In May of that year, the same orchestra invited Ms. Muraji to join them in one of their subscription concerts in Turin. The concert, which was broadcasted on TV throughout Europe, marked Ms. Muraji’s European debut.

Ms. Muraji continued her musical education, and in 1997 went to study under Albert Ponce at Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. In 1999, she had the extraordinary opportunity to perform for the legendary Joaquin Rodrigo, playing two of his compositions, Tiento antigno and En los trigales.

With her graduation from Ecole Normale that year, she returned to Japan to pursue her solo career, yet her international reputation continued to flourish. In 2001, Ms. Muraji performed for the first time with the Orquesta de Camara Joaquin Rodrigo in Valencia, Spain. In May of the following year, she toured Japan with the same ensemble as part of the centennial celebration of Rodrigo’s birth. She again joined the Vogler Quartet on their Japan tour in February of 2003.

In the summer of 2004, Kaori Muraji toured in Japan with Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey. In December, she performed the Japan premiere of Lorenzo Palomo’s Nocturnos de Andalucia with Maestro Rafael Fruehbbeck de Burgos conducting the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra Tokyo.

She has a serene, yet evocative style of playing that seems full of emotion and passion. A great way to start the week.

Elegy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzv5F03dWSw

Spanish Dances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2z2VnuzYW4

Fantasia para un Gentilhombre:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTrNs9HOIwU

Notturno No. 2, Chopin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foul5rTtRpE

Here there and everywhere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5eHLAACzcs

Tears in heaven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry23Xm1WNH4

Recuerdos De La Alhambra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXRFm1AZIkA

Medley from - New Cinema Paradise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAaIiQeh9iU

Concerto De Aranjuez: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7_GzPsguzk

Etude No. 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js6YF25ISOo

Over the rainbow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mKn2M99sRY

The fool on the hill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y3T5wB0UAM

Tango en skai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJONmetWr8c

Because one of her favorite guitarist/composers is Joaquin Rodrigo, I suggest a Spanish wine. I uncorked just the ticket this weekend, namely a bottle of the 2007 Vall Llach Embriux (pronounced “Embroosh”; $24.00) from Spain’s Priorat region. This is my favorite Spanish wine, witnessed by the fact that I buy it by the case. This deep ruby red wine is primarily Garnacha accented by touches of  Cariñena grapes and opens with aromas of blueberries, black raspberries, and exotic spices. It’s taste is complex following aroma, but adding flavors of chocolate, plum, and boysenberries with soft tannins. It’s a wonderful wine to enjoy with the music of a stellar guitarist.

Cheers!

Julian Lage & Celler Malondro "Xabec" Montsant

Twenty-six year old Julian Lage was a child prodigy who began performing publically at the age of six. He was the subject of a 1997 documentary, “Jules at Eight” that was nominated for an Academy Award and at the age of thirteen, he performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards. He was originally classically trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, but later graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2008. He’s been a faculty member at Stanford University’s Jazz Workshop since he was fifteen.

While he has his own group, he also plays with Gary Burton’s New Quartet. His resume of renown musicians with whom he’s played is extensive as are the number of jazz festivals where he’s performed. His first album, “Sounding Point” was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of “Best Contemporary Jazz Album.”

He has a laid back style and his guitar work is fluid and soothing. Like Pat Metheny, he plays a guitar built by Canadian Linda Manzer. If his career turns out to be anything like Metheny’s, he’s going to be a musical dynamo. Hope you enjoy him.

Autumn Leaves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHMOyKiuB08

Bag’s Groove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmKrkiMLpTw

Goin Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UbXDpNTf3o

Ode to Elvin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icQ7qMrXazE

Iowa Taken: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHplUF9bEKU

Guitar Etude #1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdedBrenPsk

Freight Train: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5uaUb8KnvE

Country Waltz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qdFW7pM5-E

Alone Together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEJ2s1kitXk

Prairie Dawn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsZZ8M1cZjU

The Best Thing for You: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG5dPRiDZCg

Greylighting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQkQQSp_xvM

Welcoming Committee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMgmuiV7PXE

Blues for Pat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFl5dkoqJYc

Tonight’s wine is an elegant one from the Montsant region of Spain. The 2008 Celler Malondro "Xabec" Montsant ($13.00) is a blend of Carinena and Garnacha. Opening the bottle you’re hit in the nose with the fragrance cherries jubilee that follows on the palate accented by a touch of vanilla and plums. It’s good for a relaxing evening under the stars listening to an up-and-coming jazz guitarist like Julian Lage and that’s exactly what I plan to do tonight.

Cheers!

Chicago Blues CHapter 2 & Bodegas Vina Magana Dignus

Tonight is the second installment of my Chicago Blues series and the featured artists are Magic Slim, Mike Morgan & The Crawl, James Harman, Fenton Robinson, Maria Muldaur, John Katke, John Studebaker & The Nighthawks, and Lonnie Brooks. Brings back fond memories. So give a listen to some blues, Chicago style.

Chicago Blues volume 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZ4pPnGgdQ

If you finished the three-liter box of Octavin Pinot Grigio I suggested on Monday, you probably don’t need any more wine this week. But in case you took it easy, here’s a great Spanish wine to sip while you listen to tonight’s installment of Chicago blues. The 2007 Bodegas Vina Magana Dignus ($19.00) is a blend of 50% Tempranillo, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently their Merlot vines are taken from cuttings shared by Chateau Petrus, whose wine, if you’re an oenophile, you’ll know goes for about $2000/bottle. The wine is deep purple with aromas of blackberries, coffee, and chocolate. The flavors are dominated by blackberry and black cherry, a very full mouth feel.  It’s a very nice choice for sipping along with the blues.

Cheers!

Buddy Whittington & E-1

Get ready to rock because tonight I’m featuring a monster guitarist, none other than Buddy Whittington. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he began playing the guitar at the age of eight. His early influences were other Texas bluesmen like Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, and Freddie King. But the blues really hit him between the eyes when he heard an album featuring a fiery Les-Paul-wielding Eric Clapton playing with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers.

While playing local gigs around Texas, he was spotted by none other than Mayall himself who got his contact information, but didn’t follow up until two years later when Coco Montoya left the Bluesbreakers. He was invited to join the band in 1983 and continued with Mayall until 2008, making him the Bluesbreaker’s longest serving guitarist.

As you’ll see and hear in the videos, the man can cook. From the slow blues, one of the most difficult styles to play, to rockin funk, he’s a guitarist’s guitarist. So, this Hump Day special should keep you rollin until the weekend. Enjoy!

Shakey Ground: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtnnORty7XQ

Crosscut Saw: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9kW6Up9P1g

Just got back from Baby’s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSy9T5XDw-M

Slow train rollin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMmyw1bxzaM

That ain’t right: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0fR8orspNE

Help me through the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj_a-eGVRgE

Romance classified: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZBf17P4z1M

Big legged woman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSKChc2LN5U

Minor blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlIDoYyBnYY

Baby how blue can you get: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y0fqMz9Ipc

I love you more and more every day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Xasj_peJU

Pay the band: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amd14RrWB7w

Same old blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLAhG6w1p7c

Greenwood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsYaSU1TQ0M

Grits ain’t groceries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rpKf-yTQfE

In my last post, I reviewed F-1 from Dave Phinney and the Orin Swift Winery. Tonight, I suggest E-1 (for Espania or Spain) from his “Locations” series. E-1, is a blend of Garnacha from Priorat, Tempranillo and Garnacha from Rioja and Carignan from Ribero del Duero. The wine is deep purple-black with fragrant aromas of blackberry and boysenberry that follow on the palate. It combines the characteristics I like best about Spanish wines into one excellent bottle and again, at $17.00 a bottle, I went back for two more. This one was a bit more difficult to find in stores, but it’s worth the search. And of course, E-1 is an excellent accompaniment to the powerful guitar of Buddy Whittington.

Cheers!