10:30am | Grace First Presbyterian Church, located at the point where Studebaker and Los Coyotes Diagonal collide, has, under the guidance of Music Director Stan Dewitt, presented annual concert series‘ featuring truly stellar artists. This Friday, January 20th, at 8 PM, they’re presenting a performance by guitarist Peppino D’Agostino. The Italian born artist has, over the last 25 years, developed a level of technical mastery that few can even conceive of, but that ability was developed to create music that is emotionally evocative.
I asked Peppino how he came to the guitar.
“Music was my friend and savior,” D’Agostino said. “I had a difficult upbringing and playing the guitar with my friend was my way of finding peace and feeling good.
“I grew up in a volatile environment. I first got exposed to the guitar by watching my cousin playing the instrument. I was ten years old, and I fell in love with that sound.
“I’m self taught,” explained D’Agostino, “but through the years I met many musicians willing to share their knowledge with me. I’ve basically learned how to play guitar by listening to musicians that I liked and trying to reproduce what I was listening to.”
I asked Peppino about the value of sight reading and notation.
“One of the projects that I’m involved with,” D’Agostino said, “is the Pacific Guitar Ensemble, a group of 7 to 10 classical guitarists and me that I’ve created with David Tanenbaum, that chairman at the Conservatory of Music in SF. We play arrangement of Bach, Mozart, Riley, Assad, and my original music. To be able to play this stuff you need to able able to read notation and tabs. It’s extremely important if you want to communicate with your peers. It is challenging, and a bonding experience. You have to be able to concentrate on your part and be able to listen to the other players. Not easy…”
I asked if he’s able to transcend the technical challenges in performance.
“Most of the time,” said D’Agostino. “I’m not a trained classical guitarist, and I’m way slower than these other players, but these musicians like my compositional skills and the steel strings guitars that I play!”
I asked Peppino about what inspired his compositions.
“I’m inspired by people in my life,” D’Agostino explained, “and places that I’ve visited. That’s when I write music that is more emotional and passionate. I’m also intrigued by the cerebral aspect of composing which involves theoretical knowledge and the use of tools such as the Sibelius music [notation] software, my guitar synth, or the Boss loop station.
“I’ll be bringing my Godin Jazz acoustic/electric/synth and my new Roland GR-55 [A device that translates guitar playing into digital note information that then can then create any sound – Ed]. I’ll also be singing in Italian and English to give more to my audience in Long Beach.”
I asked Peppino what new artistic challenges he’s looking forward to.
“Artistically, I have different projects: Peppino and Jeff Campitelli, who is the drummer with Joe Satriani. I’m playing acoustic/synth guitar with Stef Burns, who is lead guitarist with Huey Lewis and the News. My work with The Pacific Guitar Ensemble continues, and I’m performing duets with Paraguayan Harpist Carlos Reyes.
“Also,” D’Agostino enthused, “I’ll be accompanying my daughter Aleza in her first professional performance in February. She writes her own songs, plays the guitar, and sings beautifully!! Playing with her is very emotional, and I will need to concentrate on the task and not to be distracted by my pride as a father. Sharing music with her has made us closer, if that was even possible. She’ll be performing at Silo’s in Napa on February 11th at 8pm.
“From a technical standpoint,” said D’Agostino, “the guitar always presents challenges that needs to be faced with patience and humility. It’s a constant struggle that needs to be made fun, somehow!
“I consider myself an accomplished guitarist and composer, but I can also see my limits as far as technique. I’ve been listening to great guitarists all my life and it’s important for me to keep things in prospective. It’s actually important for me to strive for perfection, even if I know that is an impossible task. When I listen to Sergio Assad or Rafael Rabello or John McLaughlin or Roland Dyens I know that I still have a lot to learn and it’s good for me..It keeps me challenged and happy!”
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Seating for the concert is limited. Tickets are $20, and should be purchased in advance.
To learn more about Peppino D’Agostino, visit PeppinoDAgostino.com.
To learn more about Grace First’s Concert Series, visit GraceFirstEvents.org.