Each track is a "paisaje", or "panoramic view" of the folkloric guitar traditions from each South American country. All arrangements by Maestro Alfonso Chacon, and performed by Los Guitarristas: Alfonso Chacon, Rob Clearfield, Neil Dixon Smith and Daniel Gomez
Recorded/Grabado & mixed/mezclado por John Abbey al New Soup Recording, Chicago IL
Mastered/Masterizado por Mike Hagler al Kingsize Studios, Chicago, IL
Photography/Fotografía, design/diseño, & package production/producción de embalaje por Letterform.net
Printing/Imprimiendo por AtoZprint.com
The Quartet “Los Guitarristas” was founded in 2003 by Alfonso Chacón who wished to bring the tradition of South American guitar ensembles to a new generation of musicians and music fans in his recently adopted home of Chicago, IL. As a teacher as well as a performer, composer, and arranger, Maestro Chacón is a respected pioneer in the diffusion of Latin American folkloric music in acoustic guitars in North America.
Rob Clearfield has studied and performed with Alfonso since 2001, and is also an accomplished pianist/keyboardist in the Chicago jazz community and a composer of original music that defies categorization.
Neil Dixon Smith has studied and performed with Alfonso since 2002, and can also be heard as a soloist (performing many Chacón arrangements) in the corners of rooms across Chicagoland, as well as an electric rhythm guitarist in dance clubs later in the evenings.
Daniel Gomez joined Los Guitarristas in 2006 upon moving up to Chicago from his hometown, Lima, Perú, to study classical guitar at Northeastern University.
Los Guitarristas offers “Paisajes de Sudamérica” as a documentation of the wide range of expressions of the guitar in South America. It is also a demonstration of the power of music to cross generations and borders to inspire folks to achieve great things. We hope you enjoy!
Los Guitarristas is also more than a concert or studio group - it is an organization dedicated to teaching these styles and all interested guitarists are welcome to study with Alfonso.
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