Two guitar virtuosos-Laurence Juber and Martin Taylor-under the title "Masters of the Guitar" will entertainment an audience Feb. 1 on the Chalberg Theatre stage at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
The Central Lakes Community Performing Arts Center is hosting the 7:30 p.m. show.
"They will absolutely astound you," Performing Arts Center director Patrick Spradlin stated in a news release of the two musicians. "We presented them about four years ago, and all I heard from the audience members was, 'How did you ever get these two to come to Brainerd?' It will be a great night of entertainment."
Juber is a two-time Grammy Award-winning musician who was first internationally recognized as lead guitarist in Beatle Paul McCartney's band Wings. Juber has since established himself as world-renowned guitar virtuoso, composer, arranger and concert performer. Known to his fans as LJ, Juber has released 22 solo albums. "LJ Plays The Beatle" is one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine's all-time Top Ten albums. Juber's solo arrangement of "The Pink Panther Theme" earned him a second Grammy.
As a studio musician, he can be heard on recordings from artists as diverse as Dan Hicks & the
ADVERTISEMENT
Hot Licks, Seal and Barry Manilow, plus he is featured on the soundtracks to hundreds of TV shows such as "Home Improvement" and movies including the Academy Award-winning "Dirty
Dancing," "Good Will Hunting" and "Pocahontas."
Critical acclaim for Juber is vast.
"Juber is a master of acoustic fingerstyle ... weaving in and out of musical thoughts faster than a Formula One racer," the San Diego Reader stated.
"The notes spin out of the songs with such finesse and musical agility, it's hard to believe he has only 10 fingers and six strings," the San Francisco Chronicle stated.
Taylor is a multi-award-winning guitarist and Acoustic Guitar magazine calls him "The Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation." He dazzles audiences with his solo shows, which combine virtuosity, emotion, humor and a strong stage presence while his inimitable style has seen him
recognized as the world's foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing, the news release stated.
Taylor has invented and developed a way of playing the guitar that is admired, and often
ADVERTISEMENT
imitated, by guitarists all over the world. As well as his solo concerts and recordings, he has also
collaborated with musicians from many different musical genres including Jeff Beck, Tommy
Emmanuel, Bill Wyman, Chet Atkins, Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, George Harrison,
Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur and Gary Burton.
American jazz guitarist Pat Matheny stated, "Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable."
The late Chet Atkins, an American musician, stated, "Martin Taylor is one of the greatest and most impressive guitar players in the world."
Taylor has received a record 14 British Jazz Awards as a guitarist, and as a composer he was nominated for best contemporary song in the BBC Folk Awards in 2009. In April 2010, the Martin Taylor Guitar Academy online was launched. At the end of 2010, Taylor performed at a special private dinner at Windsor Castle for Prince William on the eve of his engagement to Kate Middleton. With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics in 2011, the BBC made a performance of the suite by Martin Taylor and the Britten "Symphonia" part of their 2011 Proms concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall.
Tickets for Masters of the Guitar are available from the CLC Theatre box office at 218-855-8199 or online at www.clcperformingarts.com
ADVERTISEMENT
The show is made possible in part by a touring artists grant from Arts Midwest, and is sponsored by Prairie Bay Grill and Catering. The season is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board operating grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
