Customer Reviews

Latin American Guitar Festival [Gerald Garcia,Guitar]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD contains some exquisite pieces that aren't often found on recordings. I bought this CD specifically to have a recording of Cardoso's Milonga and Dyens' Tango en Skai. Gerald Garcia has received much praise, but I simply dislike the way he plays on this CD. The performance of the Milonga lacks rhythmic drive, and the sweeping phrases of the Tango en Skai are unclear at best. There are many better recordings of the famous Lauro pieces, and some of Cinco Piezas are given too soft a touch where more gusto is clearly called for (notably Acentuado). Despite my objections to the performer's interpretations, the brilliance of the compositions usually still shine through and alternative recordings are scarce. If you want a recorded version of these pieces for some reason (I like to play the Milonga), then buy this inexpensive CD. Otherwise, you might as well get a different one.

Although I didn't enjoy this disc quite as much as Garcia's "Brazilian Festival", I thought it was a fine recording that opened up to me new areas of repertoire at a price that I couldn't resist. I'm not a guitarist and cannot really comment on Garcia's achievement as a musician, but the whole came across to me as a layman as perfectly convincing. Listen especially to Piazolla's Cinco Piezas, and there to "Acentuado"! But the Lauro, the Brouwer and the rest are definitely not to be despised either. The recording quality (made at Tonstudio van Geest in Heidelberg, Germany, 1989) is excellent, with none of the "early Naxos" problems sometimes encountered. If you are out for some relaxing, interesting guitar music, this could be for you.

Excellent interpretation of some famous pieces by A.Lauro.
I also warmly recommend the marvelous early composition by Brouwer, the suite No. 2 in D.

Gerald Garcia is amzing , but he could even use lessons from Jerry Garcia When it comes to rythmn.