A Late Summer Classic!

Special Event

Saturday, September 5, 2009 3:00 PM
(Rain Date: Sunday, Sept. 6, 3:00 PM)

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, Hartford
(at the corner of Columbus Avenue and State Street)

Admission: FREE

 Handicapped Accessible

"an annual invocation to the guitar's glory"
- The Hartford Courant

One of the year’s most anticipated events returns to Hartford. Now in its 17th year, Guitar Under the Stars has become an end of summer tradition that draws thousands of music lovers to the Hartford riverfront. Every year recordbreaking crowds enjoy an evening full of music and fun, with crowds literally dancing in the aisles, and this year promises to be even more exciting. The afternoon will begin with several acclaimed guitarists and groups playing a fascinating variety of styles and the evening will feature renowned guitarist Daniel Salazar, Jr. performing with the Hartford Festival Orchestra, conducted by Brian Sparks.

Guitar Under the Stars founder and internationally acclaimed guitarist Daniel Salazar, Jr. will perform selections from his exciting repertoire that fuses Spanish guitar with Latin and World rhythms. Joining him will be The Daniel Salazar Ensemble, a group of top international musicians featuring a number of special guests: guitarist Lorena Garay from Puerto Rico brings her vibrant rhythms, Flamenco virtuoso Val Ramos will add his fiery guitar playing, Jofre Romarion from Argentina will play his beautifully expressive Bandoneon and vocalist Jose Paulo from Brazil will enthrall the audience with his amazing voice. The Hartford Festival Orchestra conducted by Brian Sparks will accompany them all.

Also joining Daniel for this special event will be The Daniel Salazar Ensemble, featuring an outstanding group of internationally renowned musicians: drummer Gene Bozzi, who also performs as percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, bassist Genevieve Rose, one of the few female virtuosos on that instrument, Gonzalo Cortes from Chile who specializes in Andean flutes, Rene Gonzalez from Puerto Rico playing Latin Percussion, Roberto Clavijo from Chile playing charango (Latin American string instrument) , zampoña (panflute) and percussion, Jim Hunt on trumpet, keyboard players Andre Balazs and Abraham Sanchez from Venezuela, Flamenco fusion guitarist Daniel Salazar, III and virtuoso violinist Carin Wiesner.

This exhilarating program brings together Spanish flamenco–inspired melodies and invigorating Latin rhythms with brilliant orchestral arrangements, such as the fiery Ritual Fire Dance featuring Flamenco virtuoso Val Ramos. An exciting addition to the event will be the expressive and dramatic voice of Jose Paulo from Brazil, who will interpret the famous song Granada by Lara and exciting Brazilian Samba selections. The evening will also include stimulating arrangements of Latin American styles such as cumbia, joropo, and bolero from Venezuela, Colombia and Puerto Rico utilizing authentic instruments such as the Puerto Rican cuatro, the charango and zampoña from Chile, plus an array of Latin percussion. This year’s program will also feature Jofre Romarion from Argentina on the Bandoneon, an accordion-like instrument with a uniquely beautiful sound, performing the exciting Libertango by Piazzolla in addition to other selections.

Also on the program will be selections from Daniel’s highly popular original repertoire and music from his CD recordings, Mosaico and Malagueña. Other highlights will include masterpieces such as Malagueña by Lecuona, and the dramatic Leyenda by Albeniz, all especially arranged for guitar and orchestra.

For more information, call The Connecticut Guitar Society at (860) 249-7041 or Riverfront Recapture at (860) 713-3131. Riverfront Plaza is fully handicapped-accessible. Click for directions, map of Hartford, and handicap accessibility.

Guitar Under the Stars 2009
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Upper Stage:

4:00pm- Lorena Garay and Trio Surcari, Latin American Music : Trio Surcari is a performance group originally from Chile and Puerto Rico under the musical direction of guitarist Lorena Garay. The group performs a blend of traditional and original Latin American, Andean, Afro-Caribbean, Spanish and world music on a wide array of indigenous instruments. Surcari's extensive repertoire is drawn from the group's artistic influences (classical, folk, afro, Latin jazz, world, and flamenco). Surcari’s concerts and school performances are colorful, engaging, interactive, and participatory. An irresistible mix of instrumental and vocal music from different Spanish-speaking cultures!

5:00pm- Frank Vignola, Jazz virtuoso : Frank Vignola is considered to be among the top rank of guitarists on the music scene today. He has performed and/or recorded with such varied artists as Chet Atkins, Madonna, Jon Faddis, Woody Allen, Ringo Starr, Manhattan Transfer, Frank Wess, Elvin Jones, Lionel Hampton and countless legends from the golden age of jazz. He is the guitarist with the Mark O Conner Trio’s tribute to Stephane Grappelli and also performs every Monday night with the Les Paul Trio at the Iridium in New York City. Frank is also the new guitarist in John Lewis’ new group Evolution.

6:00pm- In Deep, the best of Classic Rock : In Deep is one of Southern New England's leading classic rock bands. No other band is more versatile in covering the wide range of musical artists, both past and present. Whether your taste in music is Hard Rock, Blues, Soft Rock or Pop, "IN DEEP" will keep you smiling, your feet moving, and your pulse racing. Members, Charles Costello, Rick Costello, Shaun Delaney, Allen Hamlin, Russell Sturgis, Hugo Vivero and Erin Vivero, have come from their own musical influences and successes making "IN DEEP" the band to see, experience and follow.

Lower Stage:

7:30pm- Daniel Salazar, Jr. and his Ensemble with The Hartford Festival Orchestra conducted by Brian Sparks. Internationally acclaimed guitarist performing a spectacular program of Spanish guitar fused with Latin and world rhythms.

The Daniel Salazar Ensemble:
With special guests Lorena Garay – guitar, Puerto Rican cuatro,
      and Carin McClure - violin
Rene Gonzalez - Latin Percussion,
André Balazs – keyboard,
Abraham Sanchez - keyboard,
Gene Bozzi - drums,
Roberto Clavijo - cajon, zampoña, misc. instruments,
Gonzalo Cortes - flute, quena,
Genevieve Rose - acoustic bass,
James Hunt - trumpet,
Daniel Salazar III - guitar

Daniel Salazar, Jr.
www.danielsalazar.com
Acclaimed guitarist Daniel Salazar started Guitar Under the Stars in 1991 with the goal of sharing his love for the guitar and its beautiful music within a setting that everyone in the community can enjoy. With his dynamic original music and arrangements of Spanish classics for guitar and orchestra, Daniel continues to expand the guitar’s repertoire while introducing new audiences to the magical sound of the guitar.

Daniel’s contemporary style fuses traditional Spanish guitar with Latin and World rhythms. Known to Connecticut audiences for his highly popular Guitar Under the Stars concerts, this renowned musician has appeared in many prestigious international venues throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe. His recordings sell as far away as Australia and Japan through the Internet. His latest CD titled Mosaico features an ensemble of guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion playing his dynamic original compositions and arrangements. Daniel has held the distinguished title of United States Artistic Ambassador, and currently serves as Artistic Director of the Connecticut Guitar Society. In July of 2007 Daniel Salazar was chosen as one of nine Hartford luminaries whose poster-sized photos will hang in Mayor Mike’s Hartford restaurant and gathering place for “having contributed greatly to the city".