I
spent the afternoon watching the NCAA basketball tournament while searching
online for groundhog recipes. Punxsutawney
Phil was indicted this week in Ohio for purposely, and with prior calculation
and design, giving a false forecast for the arrival of spring, causing the
people to believe that it would come early. Personally, I say skip the trial,
let’s just cook the little furball. By the way, it’s snowing quite heavily here
as I write.
So, tonight I
though I’d transport my blog to where spring is actually happening, namely
Italy. Giovanni Pelosi is a brilliant Italian
acoustic fingerstyle guitarist born in Rome in 1952. A meeting and friendship
with Giovanni Unterberger, a well known Italian guitarist, and Stefan Grossman
in 1981 influenced him to follow in their footsteps as an acoustic fingerstyle
virtuoso. His first works concentrated on arranging the songs of the Beatles
for solo guitar and I’ve included several of his arrangements below. But his
music evolved broadening to include pop, classical, and folk pieces along with
solo guitar renditions of jazz classics. My favorite is his arrangement of
Weather Report’s Birdland. His music is doing a nice job of helping me forget
the fact that it’s snowing and the groundhog must die.
Let it be: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vso6ODDcGY4
Parole, Parole, Parole: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdGzB1rDso4
While my guitar gently weeps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpSEG9I3l_E
Evening glow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcIAcBDFCa4
Big bad Bill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjQ9-0n6Rfs
Lovin that woman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRsGygHibjo
Just the way you are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBm1p4FqoL0
Il nostro concerto: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-YfLnrt4v8
Baby boom baby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLeTSY9yMNw
Something in the way she moves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg8hub4qAhM
I wish I could shimmy like my sister: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hbunq_WitI
Jiffy jam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfGeBEFZj9A
Ebony and ivory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjsDDrp6gZ8
I feel fine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s94nxZST3G0
True colors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo5V3mFxvMw
An Italian wine is a must for
Pelosi’s music so how about one that’s not only great in the mouth, but a
mouthful to say. The 2010 IGT Toscana Trittico Azienda
Agricola Poggio al Sole ($20.00) is a “baby Super Tuscan” according to its
winemaker. It’s 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet Suavignon, and 15% Merlot which
gives it a dark ruby color. Aromas of blueberries, cherries, and cassis
predominate followed by rich blackberry and cherry flavors. The tannins are
mild and the wine finishes long and elegantly. It’s got a little heft to it,
which is quite fortifying when you’re watching the snow fall. Did I mention I
want to cook the groundhog? Grab a chair, watch some B-ball and if your team
was Georgetown, kill the tube and listen to a great Italian guitarist and
remember there’s always next year.
Cheers!
