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Me and George, Pt. II!
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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Me and George, Pt. II!
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I played a gig tonight, just a 2 hr in the Royal Palms lounge. Who walked in during the first hour but George Benson. He also had a guy with long hair, who looked like a musician, with him. When Mr. Benson walked by, he smiled and pointed at my new guitar--very perceptive of him to realize it was new. The last time he was there, I didn't know who he was until after I talked to him. I noticed him because he kept calling out things to me, mostly encouragement, after each song. The second set I had played very self-consciously. This time, I knew starting out! This is the guy who played on "Mundo"! And he has done other things, too. For some reason, I was not scared at all. What a change...three years ago, I suffered from extreme stage fright even playing a song for one of my wife's friends. Here I was playing in front of George Benson. For some reason, I got very brave...I decided to end my set with Panaderos Flamencos. Now, of course, I don't play it as fast as Grisha--I only play mine about 120 or maybe a bit more live. But it is still my scariest piece, most prone to disaster. Why I decided to do it I have no idea. I started to play it and took it a little too fast. That's okay... The first run came off fine..I started to feel good. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed George Benson and the other guy watching me! But still I played, and it was going fine! At the end, due to some perverse urge, I sped it up (which I often don't do), and finished with the big run! Mostly I nailed it! I finished up and went over to talk to them. They were interested in my guitar and I let George play it. As he had before, he started whipping out crazy jazz stuff, on it. Suffice it to say that he is an incredible master. His left hand is crazy good. If he had a pick, I'm sure he would have whipped up a maelstrom. As it was, I thought it sounded great. The other guy introduced himself as Eddie Benitez, he was also a musician. They were both very complimentary. George Benson said, "You're a very articulate player." Man...can I get that framed and use it like Esteban uses that Segovia crap!? Anyway, we talked a bit more about this and that, Tomatito, etc. You know. Eddie Benitez and I talked a bit more, he mentioned needing a guitarist for his upcoming tour and told me I was very talented. He asked me if I would be interested! (I know, grain of salt and all. Anyway, the pay would have to be pretty good for my wife to okay that one). It's always fun to meet George Benson! I told him about my steady gig at Barcelona and he said he'd stop by!
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 26 2006 2:16:14
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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RE: Me and George, Pt. II! (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Guys, I suck at Panaderos Flamencos. Maybe the best version ever recorded can be found here on this very website, by our resident virtuoso Grisha. The 2nd best version can be found on Entre Dos Aguas, among other places. If you want to hear one that is slow, with picado that except on a great day is clunky and with missed notes, then come to one of my gigs. I think it is a hard piece because it tests you in a couple ways. Of course the picado runs are hard and they are quite typical flamenco runs. They cover all six strings. What a great time for Grisha's add-one-note exercise. You also have to switch back from strumming and arpeggios and picado, which as Todd pointed out, is the next frontier once you master the seperate ones. Or you can just forgo mastery and learn it as one of your first flamenco pieces, like me, and spend the next few years struggling with it. As far as stage fright, it is really all about experience. Just do it. And start small. I think the best way is to get in a group, which alleviates at least 50% of the pressure. You just keep pushing the comfort level gradually. And play for your friends, your wife, your mom, their friends, and keep pushing that circle out, out out. I still don't exactly know where my comfort level is, because I have't really played for a big crowd in a quiet, solo situation. I might just freak if that happened.
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Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it. https://www.facebook.com/migueldemariaZ Arizona Wedding Music Guitar
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 26 2006 17:10:23
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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RE: Me and George, Pt. II! (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Mark, thanks for the advice. I'll take it into consideration if anything happens. Which I don't think it will, neccesarily. Look, talk is cheap. People have talked about albums and knowing record producers, blah blah for as long as I've been playing guitar. This is not a testament to my guitar playing, but to people's propensity to brag and drop names. Which is not say I wasn't a mile high walking out of there with nice words from Mr. Benson and Mr. Benitez. It's fun to get good feedback from other musicians, even if they are just being nice. Eddie Benitez is not to my knowledge related to Maria. I checked out his website (you can google it). Looks like he is more into the Afro-Cuban type of thing, salsa, etc. I was able to find a couple soundclips and he sounds like Santana.
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Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it. https://www.facebook.com/migueldemariaZ Arizona Wedding Music Guitar
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 27 2006 1:32:09
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