Last week, we took a look into Mitch Chang’s history and discovered just how his heartstrings came to be stretched across the neck of the guitar. As procurer and promoter of numerous festivals held at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, including both the Slack Key and Flamenco Festivals, Chang’s love for the six-stringed instrument led him to establish the Los Angeles Guitar Festival. This Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25, marks the second annual event.
The two-day occasion is a celebration of the guitar which honors the talent and achievements of numerous nationally and internationally recognized and critically acclaimed acoustic and electric guitarists. And just as ice cream comes in anything from chocolate to bubble gum, the scheduled guitar music resounds in all flavors with a lineup that mixes together an unlikely swirl of styles.
Since Chang desires the event to offer a good representation of the different guitar genres, he’s challenged with orchestrating a sensible show. He’s not just hiring some big, attractive names to throw on the bill and then tossing them on stage. Like a DJ working with live bodies instead of discs, he crafts the event with deliberation to create a memorable, magical experience for the audience.
“Basically, I choose the people that I would want to see, and I choose artists based on flow,” explains Chang, on how he conceptualizes his artist selection. “When I’m making a list of possibilities, the first thing is who I like. Out of that list, I kind of group them together in terms of how I think it could flow – if I’m sitting in the audience, is it going to be a weird mishmash, or something that flows nicely?”
Chang’s taken real masters of the guitar, from different schools, styles, genres, and interpretations, and put them together on the same bill in broad representation of the instrument’s diversity. So, who’s all in this mix?
“The people that come to mind first are those who are legendary,” he says. “Ambassadors of their respective style. Their reputation goes far beyond their own styles. People who are not Country fans would still have the utmost respect for Albert Lee, still know who he is. Death Metal people still have the highest respect for John Jorgenson and Robben Ford. Each person is at such a high level that you don’t have to be just fans of that style that they play. They’re all guitarists that all other musicians, not just guitarists, admire and respect. And the guitarists are all very mutually respectful of each other. That’s important to me.”
They are…
Night One – Friday, Aug. 24: Eric Johnson, and Albert Lee
Best known for his electric guitar skills, Eric Johnson is also a highly respected and sought after acoustic, lap steel, resonator, and bass guitarist. His range of mastery encompasses rock, blues, jazz, fusion, soul, folk, New Age, classical, country, and western music. The American musician is a five-time nominated Grammy Award winner with a platinum album, who’s most recent record features guest appearance from Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan, Sonny Landreth, Malford Milligan, and Jonny Lang.
The legendary Albert Lee is an English guitarist revered for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. He’s a two-time Grammy Award winner who took Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2002 and 2009 for his work on the albums “Earl Scruggs and Friends” and “Clusterpluck” by Brad Paisley. Aside from working with a wide range of famous musicians within a broad range of genres, Lee has also maintained a healthy solo career and is a noted composer and musical director.
Lee, who relocated to Malibu in the early ‘70s, says that for the fifty some years he’s played professionally he’s rarely played the frontman. “I’ve always been most of the time a sideman; it’s nice to be recognized as a guitar player and as an artist. It’s nice to be able to do something like this.”
Night Two – Saturday, Aug. 25: Robben Ford & Michael Landau, John Jorgenson, Peppino D’Agostino, and Doug MacLeod
Together with one of rock’s finest rhythm sections laid down by bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak, guitar veterans Robben Ford and Michael Landau take stage as Renegade Creation.
Ford, an American blues, jazz, and rock player, began his recording career in the ‘70s. Throughout the years, both as busy sideman and solo artist, he has worked with George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, Gregg Allman, Phil Lesh, KISS, and The Yellowjackets, to name a few. He has been named one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of the 20th Century” by Musician magazine.
Landau is a prolific session man who played on many of the major label releases coming out of Los Angeles during the 80s into the 90s. In addition to fronting several bands over the years, his varied resume includes such notables as Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Seal, James Taylor.
The John Jorgenson Quintet features guitarist John Jorgenson – a founding member of the Desert Rose Band, the Hellecasters , and six-year member of Elton John’s band. While his guitar mastery has been sought after by such giants as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Raitt, The Byrds, Roy Orbison, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson, and Earl Scruggs, the American musician is also proficient in mandolin, mandocello, Dobro, pedal steel, and upright bass, as well as other instruments. He has won the Academy of Country Music’s “Guitarist of the Year” award three consecutive years.
Italian-born Peppino D’Agostino migrated to San Francisco in the early ‘80s to pursue the dream of being a professional composer and performer. The self-taught picker paid dues as a street musician before becoming a world renowned recording artist and performer who critics have hailed as “a poet among the best talents around (San Francisco Chronicle)” and “one of the most capable composers among fingerstyle guitarists (Acoustic Guitar magazine).” He’ll be accompanied by special guest Jeff Campitelli (from the Joe Satriani Band).
American blues man, and Lomita resident, Doug MacLeod is best known for soulful vocals applied to his original song writing and guitar wizardry, combined with candid performances surmounted by witty humor. Some would know him for his years as the radio host of “Nothin’ But The Blues” on CSULB’s KJAZZ (88.1FM), or as the long-time contributor to Blues Revue magazine with the column “Doug’s Back Porch.” A few others may know him from his portrait which is displayed in the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
He developed his skills as a blues bass player, honing them with subsequent forays into jazz and electric blues. He’s played as a sideman with such luminaries as Big Mama Thornton, Pee Wee Crayton, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Lowell Fulson, and Big Joe Turner. His original material, the only kind he’ll play, has been recorded by such notable artists as Albert King, Papa John Creach, Pee Wee Crayton, Albert Collins, Eva Cassidy, and Coco Montoya. Often, he’s just the man sittin’ on the stool while leanin’ over his acoustic guitar and tappin’ his foot to an unfolding of stories – creating an intimacy in which the audience becomes very much a part of the show.
Honored to be included in the Los Angeles Guitar Festival, MacLeod chuckles serenely while saying, “And it’s a little kick in the pants – to be considered for this. I’m flattered.” As for the heart of the event, he says, “I think that what’s special about it is in a couple of nights you can hear all different styles of guitar music; I think that’s what’s so great about it.”
Albert Lee would agree. He says, “I think all guitar festivals are important, really; especially if there’s a diverse selection of players there. I particularly like this one, you know, because they’re good players, but they’re all individual. They’re tasteful players, first, and they’re able to rock out as well. I prefer it that way, rather than just having a lot of shredders up there. This is good for the audience, and good for the players too.”
“You never see this,” says Chang, speaking of all of these masters from different walks together in one show. He shares that many have reacted to seeing the lineup for this event by expressing, “Oh my gosh, who’s not performing in this show?”
Not only will this year’s festival include an onstage performance during intermission by Gregory Adamson, but both days of the festival will be preceded by three hours of outdoor activities and even more music – all free to the public. There will be guitar booths, product demos and giveaways, food trucks (not free), and performances by John Huldt, Paul Johnson (surf guitar), and Slacktone.
Night one of the Los Angeles Guitar Festival, presented by Kala Koa Entertainment, takes place at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24 with performers Eric Johnson and Albert Lee. Night two begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, featuring the talents of Robben Ford & Michael Landau (as the Renegade Creation), The John Jorgenson Quintet, Peppino D’Agostino with special guest Jeff Campitelli, and Doug MacLeod. Ticket prices for each night range from $30 to $75, with VIP tickets at $125 (which include post show meet and greet with the artists). The Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center is located at 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd. at the intersection of Aviation Blvd. For more information, visit www.laguitarfestival.com or contact Kala Koa at 562-556-4824.
