Straight From the Heart

by Patricia
(Michigan)

My three favorites, I'd say, would have to be John Williams, Julian Bream, and Jason Vieaux....although indeed it's hard to narrow it down to three.

For John Williams, it's his CD, "John Williams: The Guitarist" with the full recording of Domeniconi's "Koyunbaba" that did it for me. I've heard other guitarists play the piece, and they don't even come near his understanding of the music. The buildup of passion in this amazing recording will shake you out of your seat. It is unforgettable.

As far as Bream goes, he is simply a phenomenon. His recordings of Villa-Lobos and his playing when accompanied by orchestra still bring tears to my eyes. He is one with the intsrument. In his DVD about the Spanish guitar, he comes right out of his chair in the middle of playing "Sevilla" without missing a note. I feel that Bream took the instrument just about as far as it could ever go, as a performer.

Jason Vieaux, compared to the other two, is a much younger player. His "Guitar Recital" CD is phenomenal. The "Variations on a Moldavian Hora" is something that hypnotizes me. His technical skill is tremendous for such a young player (at the time of the recording, I think he was 19), but even more amazing is his passion and interpretation of the music.

I love all three of them for going past technical genius and playing music that comes straight from the heart. Three different types of players, all magnificent.