João Luiz - From Spain to São Paulo (2022)

With its beguiling simplicity, the classical guitar is an instrument with almost universal appeal. The guitar has many timbres and tonalities, which may be arranged to conjure music pleasing to the heart and stimulating to the ear. However, ask anyone braving to play this instrument, and they'll tell you classical guitar is high craft. It takes relentless devotion to master the positions, fingerings, and overall bearing. Step forward, João Luiz. A master craftsman. And yet this doesn't seem a sufficient plaudit. Perhaps "musical wizard" is a more appropriate descriptor. In my many years of producing albums and writing liner notes, I've never been more transfixed by an instrumental guitar performance. From Spain to São Paulo is a thoughtful and triumphant opus, not only a geographic tour of traditions but a maiden voyage of musical discovery. I suppose I was mesmerized because of the familiarity of many of these tracks. On this album, Luiz indeed performs the canon of the form. Most classical guitarists have a period when they're studiously learning the works of Andres Segovia. Herein, Luiz presents his take on Segovia's repertoire with dexterity and aplomb. In fact, almost all the selections on this album were originally written for guitar. As you listen, you'll notice the registers and keys are perfect for a guitarist of Luiz's import. The album opens with "Largo non Tanto, op. 7" by Fernando Sor, a nineteenth century Spanish composer and guitarist who settled in France. In fact, he wrote this opus as a Fantasie, and this was the opening movement. "Minueto Op. 25" comes from Sor's second Grand Sonata Op. 25. Luiz performs these selections effortlessly and with total precision. That he moves mountains across the fretboard with hardly a squeak is proof positive of his mastery. Luiz breathes life into this vaunted repertoire with vivid playing and dream:like sequences. It has been a joy to help produce this album with and for Luiz. Kabi Sehgal, producer