Tommy Emmanuel is the most trend-setting guitarist of our time. With his charismatic personally, reminiscent of Frank Sinatra and Cary Grant, and his simply untouchable virtuosity, Tommy draws his listeners into a vortex of musical happiness from they are content never to escape. His unusual talent and life are common lore in Australia. Born into a musical family, Tommy and his older brother Phil were considered child prodigies. Tommy got his first guitar at age 4 and was taught...
Frank Vignola, one the most entertaining “Jazz” guitarists on the planet, conducted a workshop on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, and then performed two sold out concerts on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30, 2012. If you were at one of the concerts and/or workshop, tell us what you thought.
I thought it might be interesting to write a series of posts introducing Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Fans to some interesting (although not necessarily well known), guitar enthusiasts I have crossed paths with in my exploration of this great genre of guitar playing. For this post, I would like you to meet Bruce Keener. I have not actually met Bruce in person yet, but I sure know him through his many posts on a discussion board I frequent called “The...
From his opening number, Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” to his closing number, Lennon & McCartney’s “She’s Leaving Home”, Adam Rafferty completely captivated the sold out audience at Chalkers Pub on Thursday, September 15, 2011. Rafferty is not a “naval-gazer” guitarist – not only does he stand, he almost dances to his own funky grooves while playing – however, the depth of his musicianship was always front and center. For example, his first ballad of the evening was a stunningly intricate...
Richard Smith was born in Beckenham, Kent, England in 1971. One day, at the age of five, Richard was watching his father fingerpick “Down South Blues” (an Atkins-Travis recording) on his guitar. The boy begged his dad to show him how to play it, and finally he did. Despite the fact that Richard is left-handed and his dad’s right-handed guitar was not designed for tiny hands, by the end of that day, Richard learned and played both the chords...