| 2004 Special Guests |
Luthiers from the Michoacan guitar-making town of Paracho displayed their guitars at select venues throughout the week |
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 Back to Guitarfest history and past festivals
Jenny Kerr & Phil "Philbillie" Milner
 San
Francisco's gifted singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jenny
Kerr continues her upward rise out of the American roots music scene
and into international prominence as a true craftswoman of deep conviction,
a wry sense of humor and dedication to the form. First, her self-produced
debut release Itch (JennyCo Records JCO-1061) sold out at her festival
performances in the U.S. and during her debut club and open-air tour
of Europe in March 2002. Then critics started comparing her to Delbert
McClinton and Janis Joplin, tossing praise like, "powerful soulfulness
in her special, blues-drenched, mesmerizing voice." (Martha Moore,
Country Music Plus magazine, Ireland) and "flat-out great Americana,
absolutely in the same league of such great tunesmiths as Tom Russell
and Nanci Griffith" (Ed Ivey, Blues Revue Magazine, USA).
This summer, Jenny has completed her fourth festival tour of Western
Europe. She has headlined festivals in Norway, Denmark, Holland, Germany,
Belgium, Switzerland, France and Spain and is seeing high radio chart
placement in those markets and back at home. Tour highlights included
a headline slot at Mirande, Europe's largest country music festival,
with a record attendance of 120,000 this year. She has shared top billing
w18-Jun-2007ark, Jack
Ingram, Lee Roy Parnell, and many others. National Dutch television
NPS will feature the band on their award-winning program "Het Klokhuis"
scheduled to air this spring.
Next up for this talented artist, another spring and summer European
tour as well as pre-production on a new release.
The San Francisco native's musical roots were laid down during the heyday
of that city's sound explosion, and she got hooked on music through
Muddy Waters, Dock Boggs and Bob Dylan. Derived from delta blues and
country sources, her songs show a deep love of these early masters while
moving into the realm of contemporary roots-rock pioneers like Taj Mahal
and Ry Cooder. Always driven hard by her muse, Jenny has honed her skills
on finger-style guitar, claw-hammer banjo, harmonica, piano and Dobro
to a sharp edge. The result - a trademark mix of country, blues, folk
and rock centered around one of the most powerful new voices in the
burgeoning roots-rock movement.
Phil "Philbillie" Milner
 A
fiery, soulful guitarist and singer, Phil is a dynamic showman whose
style was forged in the beer Halls, roadhouses and nightclubs of California
& Hawaii.
Originally born in Long Beach, CA where he first picked up a guitar
some thirty-two years ago, Phil grew up all over the country as a "Radio
Brat" moving with his disk jockey dad up and down the dial. All
the while soaking up musical influences from Jimi Hendrix and Merle
Travis to The Beatles.
Settling for a while on Maui, he cut his chops playing the club circuit
and lending his talents to many recordings in the burgeoning studio
scene there as well as hosting a regular FM rock radio show.
Phil then found his way to San Francisco and has been a sought- after
player, producer and guitar tech there for over thirteen years.
During a two-year stint as roadie for Bob Weir & Ratdog, he traded
licks with the likes of Hot Tuna, Los Lobos, Bruce Hornsby's band and
The Black Crows and has worked for Tracy Chapman, Bonnie Raitt, and
Graham Nash, to name a few. Now Jenny's long-time guitarist, he also
engineers and produces hers and others records, including guitar virtuoso
Eric McFadden of George Clinton's P-Funk All-Stars and whose all-acoustic
"Devil Moon" album is a number one pick on CDBaby.com.
While known as a deft and muscular electric guitar-slinger, Philbillie's
softer side will be on display as one half of the acoustic duo that
Jenny and he have presented in addition to "The Jenny Kerr Band".
His acoustic influences like, Ry Cooder, Leo Kottke, Stephen Stills
and Chet Atkins are readily heard in his style.
Meanwhile, please check out Jenny Kerr online www.jennykerr.com and
get in on some of the best new Americana songwriting available on any
continent.
Mgmt:
JennyCo Int'l
628 Baker, San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: (415) 567-4403 Fax: (415) 776-7830
Email: ash@jennykerr.com
Alexander Dunn & Warren McDonald
Guitar Music of Ludwig van Beethoven performed by the Victoria Guitar
Duo.
 Canadian
classical guitarist Alexander Dunn has performed to enthusiastic acclaim
in Canada, the USA, Cuba, New Zealand, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and Europe.
In solo recital, concerto, and chamber music he is consistently praised
for his musicality, effortless technique and rich sound. Recent chamber
music and recital performances include work with principal players from
the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik,,
in duo with guitarists Pepe Romero, David Tanenbaum, and with numerous
other musicians.
Feature recitals at major music festivals include the Aspen Music Festival,
Darmstadt's Ferienkurs für Neue Musik (in the premiere of Spin-Curve
Foci. dedicated to him), Salzburg's Sommerakademie der Hochschule Mozarteum,
Vancouver New Music (in the premiere of Noche de Ronda, a Canada Council
commission for him), International Guitar and Lute Institute, Stetson
International Guitar Workshop, Guitar Foundation of America International
Conference, Northwest Guitar Festival, the Paracho Festival de Guitarra,
the Vancouver Festival, Early Music Society of the Islands, CBC Festival
de Printemps, and many others. A specialist on nineteenth century guitars,
Mr. Dunn will publish the first modern edition of the collected duo-guitar
repertoire of Beethoven in period arrangements. He has collaborated
with numerous musicians on nineteenth-century instruments and vocalists
and continues to be one of the finest performers on period guitars.
Performances over recent two seasons include concerts with the Winnipeg
Symphony, a featured performer at the Guitar Foundation of America International
Festival, the Boston Guitar Festival, Northeastern Guitar Festival,
and the Northwest Guitar Festival. Additionally, he has toured with
the Victoria Symphony and the University of Victoria Chamber Singers
throughout Southeast Asia, Yucatan, Belize, Cuba, Brazil and South Africa.
Last year he premiered Ligeti's Guitar Sonata, the Canadian premiere
of Reich's Nagoya Guitars with guitarist David Tanenbaum, and recorded
Beethoven's Op. 8 and 25 Serenades with members of the Lafayette Quartet.
Next season he will perform works of George Crumb, Beethoven duos with
Romero and Tanenbaum, and tour Hungary and Turkey with the UVic Chamber
Singers. "Exceptional grace and musicality… so elegant and
polished" Soundboard Magazine "Brilliant virtuosity…
spontaneous applause from the capacity audience" The Rosette "Stunning
interpretation played to great appreciation" Lute Society of America
"Sheer virtuosity" Monday Magazine "… sought after
teacher and performer needs only a few words of description: genius
and wizard will do" Victoria Times-Colonist
"Conservatory Concert Approaches Perfection" (Review heading)
Victoria Times-Colonist
Guitarist Warren McDonald took first prize in the Greater Victoria
Music Festival and has performed numerous solo and ensemble works throughout
southern BC. He is earning a Master's degree in performance at the University
of Victoria, and is a faculty member at the Victoria Conservatory of
Music. A founding member of the Victoria Guitar Quartet, he performs
regularly with Alexander Dunn and other musicians.
Guitarists Alexander Dunn and Warren McDonald present a program of
music by Beethoven in little-known arrangements for two guitars, done
during Beethoven's day. Beethoven's guitar duos represent the finest
guitar music from the Classical period - aside from two normal guitars,
some are scored for normal and terz guitar, a smaller and higher pitched
instrument of the 19th century. Works from piano, string quartet, and
mixed ensembles will be heard in these delightful arrangements - don't
miss this unique and beautiful all-Beethoven program.
 Jimi
Mamou
Mamou is a legendary blues artist, a singer/guitarist who has been playing
the blues, R&B, Soul, Reggae, Zydeco & Mamou for 40 years. He
has played with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thortin and Chuck
Berry among others and has just returned from recording a live CD in
Paris, France to rave reviews.
Le Grande Mamou "He's a living god...He's a preacher, a prosecutor
and a player; but most of all he's the black reincarnation of Captain
Beefheart & Bob Dylan. - Liberation Guide!, March 23, 2001
http://www.nitromediastars.com/mamou/
Nick Vigarino
Nick Vigarino is an award winning singer/songwriter/guitarist. "Most
people put me in the blues genre but Iprefer slop jar delta funk."
His music is fast, hard and fun and gets people up dancing.
In 2002 Nick and his band, Nick Vigarino's Meantown Blues,
represented the Northwest in Memphis after winning the regional competition
for the International Blues Challenge and were inducted into the Hall
of Fame of the Washington Blues Society. Vigarino has won 12 Best of
the Blues awards in various categories, he has 2 CDs: Victims of Cool,
and Ghost of Time, and his 3rd is soon to be released.
Latest awards:from the 2004 "Best of the Blues"
awards (Washington Blues Society) : "Performer of the Year",
"Best Slide Guitar", "Best Songwriter", and "Best
Acoustic Guitar". Nick has performed in 9 countries on 7 different
European tours. Has appeared on many TV documentaries, 12 cd's of other
artists, 8 compilations and 1 film soundtrack. Television:"Travelers"-
The Discovery Channel-. TDC-NY,NY-(presently in rotation). "Live
On Tour" Channel 3 - Brugg, Switzerland (1hr.) "Nick Vigarino's
Meantown Blues"- PBS Channel 9 Seattle,Wa.(30min-presently in rotation)."Blues
for Christmas" - CBC- Commadore Ballroom - Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
- "Vigarino radiates an unpredictable fervor with his incendiary
slide guitar and powerful vocals. His band consistently captures and
then rivetslisteners with precise, passionate performances"-S.
Waterworth, Washington Blues Society. www.nickvigarino.com
- "That slide is naaasty!!" - Bo Diddley
- "Nick Vigarino is where country blues meets the year 2000"
- Long John Baldry
- "Nick is one of the great talents with a kind and loving heart"
- John Jackson
- "Nick plays from the heart with high energy, it is definitely
THE blues" - Lee Oscar
- Latest awards:from the 2004 "Best of the Blues" awards (Washington
Blues Society) : "Performer of the Year", "Best Slide
Guitar", "Best Songwriter", and "Best Acoustic Guitar".
Nick has performed in 9 countries on 7 different European tours.
- "You shouldn't miss this experience. It's cut and dried...this
guy kicks ass." - Musician Magazine - Aug.2002.
Steve Denyes
Steve Denyes is a singer, songwriter, playwright, actor, teacher, and
writer from San Diego, California.
He's performed everywhere from street-corners and neighborhood coffeehouses
to concert halls and
theaters. Along the way, he's released several independent albums and
produced two original musical
plays.
 Steve's
recordings include: Waiting On Arleen (SLR); Only Famous In Del Mar
(Permanent Records Del Mar);
Famous (Permanent Records Del Mar); San Diego's Magnificent Seven (San
Diego Folk Heritage); Folk Alliance Showcase (North American Folk Alliance);
There Goes the Neighborhood (Belly Up Records).
Steve is a North American Folk Alliance Showcase Artist, a six-time
NACA Showcase Artist, a two-time San Diego Music Awards "Best Acoustic"
nominee, and a San Diego Reader "Best Country" nominee.
Steve Denyes creates a subtle blend of American roots music. Imagine
one part Woody Guthrie, one part Steve
Earle, and one part Johnny Cash. Then shake, stir, and enjoy!
Steve Glotzer
 Steve
Glotzer has been performing for over twenty five years, sharing the
stage with a wide range of artists such as Delbert McClinton, Blues
Traveler, Dr. John, Larry Coryell, David Grisman, Son Seals, David Wilcox,
Sonia Dada, Roger McGuinn, John Cowen, Richard Elliott,and more...
Steve's first solo release "Life Imitates Art", referred
to as "surreal bebop, breezy sambas, conga driven wanderlust and
sophisticated urban blues" by Postman Roger Gillies, KGNU Radio,
won 2001 Jazz Album of the Year, and Jazz Song of the Year for "Los
Cabos Serenade" from Just Plain Folks.com, and also received international
radio play..."it is stunning!!" Srgiu Rusu, Romania "charming
and refined" Alexei Krupsky, Visionary Voyager, Minsk,Belarus "thanks
for sharing your music" Juergen Kramer, Radio ZuSa Germany
You can also hear Steve's distinctive guitar stylings featured in movies
(MGM movie A Guy Thing) and on TV (NBC's ED, The District, and Passions,
Fox's King of the Hill, Martha Stewart Living, The Weather Channel.
etc...)
Steve Latest release "Lately..." will be available in March...
Six String Records
1122 Union Ave Boulder CO 80304 877-560-6626 glotzer@attglobal.net http://steveglotzer.co
Emiliano Juarez & JL Stiles
 JL
Stiles is a ragtime and blues guitarist mainly and songwriter/singer
putting out his third CD currently. "The thumbroll stylings of
Blind Blake is one of his specialties and I dare say I never saw anyone
do it close to as good as Stiles." JL Stiles has shared the stage
with Etta James, Keb Mo, Corey Harris, David Lindley, Tommy Castro,
Joe Louis Walker, Paul Geremia, and Peter Mulvey. "His rubbery,
expressive baritone sounds closest to the sweet croon of the late bluesman
Ted Hawkins, and Stiles lays into his 12-string guitar with the vigor
and ambition of a streetwise punk who just discovered Leo Kottke. Add
in the winsome harmonica and the carefree, riding-the-rails folk song
structure which Stiles employs, and the 12 tracks on Solo Sessions achieve
an earthy authenticity... Simultaneously classic and original, JL Stiles
aids his cause by penning personal, personable lyrics taken from his
worldview and philosophy." -Performing Songwriter www.jlstiles.com
Xavier Brunelle
(Quebec, Canada - Jazz, 50's French Music)
A mix between Manu Chao, George Brassens and reggae. With influences
as diverse as Rap, Jazz and 50's French music, singer-guitarist Xavier
Brunelle wil be playing an acoustic set with songs in French and Spanish.
Xavier is from Quebec, Canada, and has played guitar in France, Mexico,
Canada, Italy, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and the United States, and
is now touring Mexico. With recordings from France, Quebec and Argentina.
 Jose
Luis Cobo
(Zihuatanejo, Gro. Mexico)
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist, Troba, Latin Folk
Zihuatanejo's own poet laureate and Zihuatanejo International Guitar
Festival ambassador. Local legend who has performed and recorded in
Europe and Mexico, but prefers to entertain his loyal following at his
lengendary Zihuatanejo bar, El Canto de la Sirena/The Song of the Mermaid,
named after one of his songs.
 Eric
Reid
(NY & Zihuatanejo, Gro. Mexico)
Classical, Flamenco, Jazz
Studied classical guitar with international competition prizewinner
David Burgess and Flamenco with Rene Herédia (Guitarist for Carmen
Amaya.) After touring with Brazilian ensemble Pau Brazil, Eric played
and arranged for Jazz violinist Michael White. He has recorded with
Joey DeFrancesco and others and takes pride in doing all original arrangements.
 Josie
Kuhn
(Nashville, TN & Zihuatanejo, Gro. Mexico)
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist, Americana
Her songs conjure up visions of mesa's, canyon's and the blue sage
of New Mexico. She writes from the heart, whether she is writing about
the joys or pain of love, Mexican cantina's or the plight of the Native
American's. Josie has recorded 3 cd's. "Paradise', "Walks
with Lions", {produced by Steve Forbert} and "La Luna Loca"
which features Albert Lee on several tracks.
She has toured Europe, South America and Mexico extensively sharing
bills with Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Eric Anderson, Rick Danko{of
THE BAND }, Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Young, Steve Forbert and gal pals
Lucinda Williams and Rosie Flores.
Josie has written with such luminaries as Steve Earle, Lee Clayton,
Rick Danko, Townes van Zandt, and Todd Snider and has sung on Cd's of
Steve Forbert, Tom Pacheco and others.
She is currently working on the songs for her next CD which she will
be
recording in the late summer of 2004. www.josiekuhn.com
Stella (Seattle, WA & Zihuatanejo, Gro. Mexico)
Singer/Guitarist
Stella found her love of singing in musical theatre as a teenager.
After graduating high school, she started taking private guitar lessons,
as well as studying music theory, piano, and language in community college.
She moved to the Puerto Vallarta area in 2002 for 9 months, playing
in various bars and hotels in both PV and Nayarit. Stella found Zihuatanejo,
or rather, Zihua found Stella, by what we must call fate ! Her musical
influences range from Janis Joplin to the Beatles to Joni Mitchell,
blended in with more contemporary artists, such as Fiona Apple and Radiohead.
When it comes to guitar, Stella's style is simple, but her own. Her
true love lies in singing, with a voice that can belt out to the rafters
if need be, then turn around and sweetly ask you to fall in love.
Also representing Zihuatanejo:
Israel Rodriguez
Miguel Vriarte
Juanito
Trio Los Carascos
Guitar Students of the EMZ
among other local performers.
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