Category Archives: People

Torres Museum

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I know, this is the picture that everyone takes at this museum but I thought why buck the trend. I should have visited this museum years ago but just never got around to it. At least now I know what they have and don’t have. Right now there is a very interesting temporary exhibit of guitars made by contemporary makers from Almeria. There are more than you might think. I would like to congratulate all those involved in finding the support to establish a museum dedicated to the world’s most important figure in guitar building. As always more money and support is needed in order to build up the collection.

I had an excellent day yesterday there including a guided visit to the museum followed by my own presentation about making true copies of Torres guitars and a great concert by José Carlos Gómez. The wonderful evening ended up in the house of María Louisa Jiménez Burkhardt with members of the Sociedad Guitaristica de Almería and José Carlos. He and Norberto Torres had much to teach me about the music of Paco de Lucia. So, surrounded by guitar lovers, good music, food and wine the Almeria day came to a perfect close.

Juan José Rodríguez

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This was streamed live so the concert doesn’t start until minute 16:45. Another great player I am thrilled to see playing one of my guitars. Juan will finish his studies this year.

All of the Granada guitar-makers in one photo

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I often get asked how many guitar-makers there are in Granada. Firstly I always clarify that guitar-making is a province-wide art, over the years some of the great makers have lived and/or worked in villages within the province of Granada so any head count should include those from all over the province. The other question is how many of them make good guitars. Well the answer to both questions (sort of) is in this photograph.  I am sure that any one of you will recognize a good number of makers and the outstanding reputations that are represented here. The occasion was a meal in recognition of the respect we hold for Antonio Marín and Manuel Bellido. Two framed scrolls which had been signed by most of the guitar-makers were presented to the masters after the meal. Aarón García Ruiz arrived just seconds after this shot was taken so count him in too. This particular shot was taken with my camera by Antonio Navarro.

José Ángel Chacón Tenllado

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maestroIt’s one thing to be honored by the town hall, the provincial government or the powers that be but another thing entirely to have your peers recogise you and your work while you are still able to do it. The Spanish association of Luthiers and Bow-makers (AELAP) pays hommage to José Ángel Chacón Tenllado today. Chacón, in addition to being a great luthier, created a school of lutherie in Málaga and started many young people on the road to a successful career in lutherie. I was one of those eager students many years ago.placa

Over the years José Ángel Chacón has received awards such as the Silver medal of the Fine Arts from the spanish government, the first Master Artisan title  to a luthier from the regional andalusian government and was the first luthier to serve in the Andalusian Artisan Committee. He has taught at the University of Granada, has written several books about lutherie, has served as president of AELAP and is now honorary president. However, the true testament to his human quality is the number of great instruments, restauraciones, students, friends and pure passion that we see around him to this day. Thank you maestro.

Juan Román Padilla

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juan romanGranada has lost another important figure in the guitar world: Juan Román Padilla. October 18th of this year was the last day in the life of the dean of the Granada guitar-makers. Among the most interesting episodes in his life are a series of visits to Marcelo Barbero who was a friend of his father’s, selling guitars to japanese and german dealers and ordering guitars from the struggling duo of Antonio Marín and Manuel Bellido. His father was a well-known flamenco guitarist whose stage name was Juanico de Chauchina and inspired him to begin making guitars. Like so many other makers of his generation he began his working life as a cabinet-maker or “ebanista” as the Spanish have it. His first guitar was made in 1949 during the dominance of Eduardo Ferrer and Manuel de la Chica in the Granada guitar. The Asociación de Guitarreros de Granada thanks him for his work in spreading the influence of Granada and preparing the groundwork for the thriving school we have here today.

John Ray

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Ray, John (ed.): La escuela granadina de guitarreros, Granada: Diputación Provincial de Granada, 2014.