Category Archives: People

New CD – Andrea Corongiu

Posted on by

This story starts in 2014 when I travelled to Madrid to study and document a guitar by Santos Hernández which is conserved at the “Biblioteca Musical de Madrid”. The first result was an article and blueprints published in Roseta magazine in Spanish. The guitar in question was owned by Andrés Segovia and as is so often the case with Santos it is a fantastic instrument. Soon after examining it I began to consider making a copy. In the intervening years I have made a goodly number and they have all been very successful. However, this is the first time I have heard one on a proper recording.

Andrea Corongiu is a young italian guitarist who is already doing great things. Numerous first prizes at competitions and many great concerts. He is a very expressive player and a has excellent technique which allows him to do anything he wants on the guitar. Last year Andrea came to Granada and bought a Santos copy made by myself and has played it since as well as recording this CD with it. I just received a copy of the CD and I find it wonderfully played and the pieces very well chosen. I highly reccommend it, objectively of course. Buy here!

You can also find it digitally on Amazon, Itunes and other similar sites.

José Ángel Chacón

Posted on by

I dropped in on José Ángel Chacón Tenllado yesterday in Málaga. He was my first teacher in this fascinating world of instrument-making. He is also responsible for the beginnings of artisans such as Susana Martín, Victor Quintanilla and his son José Ángel “Chico” Chacón Escobar. I caught Chico at the family workshop where he teaches lutherie and saw some old friends too. Always a pleasure to remember my roots.

Miguel Ochando

Posted on by

An excellent flamenco concert last night in honour of guitar-maker Rafael Moreno. I was particularily impressed by the playing of Miguel Ochando. He is often touted as the best player in Granada and after seeing him for the first time I am inclined to agree. His playing last night contained much more harmony than I am used to hearing in flamenco guitar. Apparently the solo guitar music we heard was from the old greats: Niño RIcardo, Sabicas and the like.

Javier Riba in Granada

Posted on by

Javier Riba has been playing my guitars since 2005 when he came to visit my workshop attracted by the copy I made of Torres’ SE 153. Last night he gave a beautiful recital at the Casa Manuel de Falla for the opening night of the International Guitar Festival of Granada. The music was beautifully played and evoked the Spain of the early 20th century. Riba always gives the audience a bit of background for each of the pieces he plays and last night was no exception. His talent as a teacher shines through in those moments. As for the programme, the Evocaciones by Antón García Abril were particularily wonderful and Falla too was excellent. For myself it was a great pleasure to have one of my guitars played on stage for the Granada festival.