Classical Guitar Insider

Ekachai Jearakul won the GFA last year and is currently on a world tour. Before his Carnegie Hall debut, he stopped by for an interview. He is from Thailand; a land of gilded temples, white beaches and sweet, exotic drinks. I am from Stockton and am applying for an inside sales position at a jewelry store in midtown. Fingers crossed.

Direct download: Ekachai_Jearakul_Edit_1.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 11:34am EDT

Damien Kelly comes from Ireland: a country of pleasant green hills, crisp afternoons, warm traditions, and old, proud houses.  I come from Stockton: a county of sweaty green dew rags, crips after school, warm crack pipes, and old folks homes.

Direct download: Damien_Kelly_Final_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:15am EDT

The guitar professors from Mannes College of Music and Princeton University come to Brooklyn on a rainy day, drink old milk with watered down coffee, and give an interview to a broke 38 year old with gout. Let’s go Mets though.

Direct download: Newman_Oldman_Duo_Edit_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:50pm EDT

A Classical Guitar Insider EXCLUSIVE: It’s the first time Michael shares his side of the story about that thing in 1986. That thing where he became “the guy Segovia kicked out of the masterclass at USC.” He also won the first GFA, has a robust guitar program at the University of New Mexico, and just recently cut his hair. He’s an all around great guy and I wouldn’t kick him out of anything.

Direct download: Micheal_Chapdealiane_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:34am EDT

Hunter College guitar professor Mariano Aguirre sits down and talks about how much he loves teaching, playing in ensembles and running the Mannes Guitar Festival. I talk about quitting a teaching job because they had a staff only copy machine (no faculty allowed). That was the last straw. Later dude.

Direct download: Mariano_Aguire_Edit_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Pablo Sainz Villegas is probably the best performer on the circuit these days. He captures the audience with broad and expressive phrasing, a vulnerable character, Mediterranean good looks, and the perfectly tailored Italian suit. I look like a free range chicken egg with a gambling problem. And I’m not in a good mood. 

Direct download: Pablo_Sainz_Vilagas_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:30pm EDT

University of Wisconsin guitar professor, Elina Chekan, moved to the U.S. from Belarus, learned english, went to Yale, and is completing her Doctorate. I moved to Brooklyn last week and am struggling with a wall fixture from IKEA. 

Direct download: Elina_CHekan_Edit_1.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 10:30pm EDT

Grammy nominated recording engineer David Bowles takes time out from a three day lecture at NYU about spherical recording techniques and explains in scientific terms what I’ve been telling you hipsters for years: Records are not better than CD’s. Sorry Mustache Kid, you’ll have to find something else to spend your money on. Maybe hats? 

Direct download: DAvid_Bowles_Final_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

USC Professor and founding member of the Grammy winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Scott Tennant, talks about how William Kanengiser makes the the cutest little pancakes, how Andrew York is taking time off from the ensemble to invent an ethical dolphin saddle, and how John Dearman is changing his name to John Dearperson. 

Direct download: Scott_Tennant_Edit_1.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

July 16, 2015: Ryan’s Daughter 350 E. 85 St. New York, NY 10128 $15 comes with free drink. Party afterwards in the venue. 

Direct download: Concert_Promo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT

Gizem Gokoglu (not pronounced Gizem Gokoglu), a brilliant young composer from Turkey, explains how she had to choose between engineering and composition. I had to choose between working in mens’ suits at JC Penny and catering at birthday parties in Yonkers. 

Direct download: Gizem_Gokoglu_Final_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:13pm EDT

Juilliard Guitar Professor Tali Roth thinks I’m from Texas. I’m not from Texas everyone. I just struggle with my weight. I’m from California. 

Direct download: Tali_Roth_Final_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

With the instrumentation of an early European jazz ensemble, this group of fusion players reference Andalusia, Americana and Django Reinhardt. It's Django Unchained!  

Direct download: Amerinouche_Master_Edit_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I hate Apple's recording software, but I love the head of University of Washington's guitar department, Michael Partington. Just pretend it's an NPR phone interview from 1993 and you should be fine. 

Direct download: Michael_Partington_Edit_2.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:19pm EDT

Bay Area guitarist Giacomo Fiore argues that new music is not too new and I ask Chris Roberts from the San Fransisco Examiner if it’s ethical for Fanfare to charge musicians for positive reviews. Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Direct download: Giocomo_Fiore_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:05pm EDT

EMI recording artist Xuefei Yang explains to me that China is a country that is not in Africa and that Africa is not a country either. USC Professor William Kanengiser comes on to talk about the new Los Angeles Guitar Quartet release, and I buy a chair for the park. 

Direct download: Fei_Yang_Fianl_for_Edit_volume.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

ders of my favorite ensemble in New York, violinist Colin Jacobsen from the Brooklyn Rider, The Knights and Yo Yo Ma’s Silk Road. But before I do that, I complain for 20 minutes about journalists that charge for positive reviews in magazines. Then I fantasize about going into real estate.  

Direct download: Colin_Jacobsen_Edit_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Manhattan School of Music Professor Mark Delpriora takes time out from stroking his beautiful beard and dressing well to talk to us about the 70’s, Staten Island, King Crimson and Class Piano.

Direct download: Mark_Delpriora_final_3.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 3:16pm EDT

TJ and I tell it like it is in this no-holds-barred attack on everything you believe in (if all you believe in is atonality, all-Bach-concerts, and spring mattresses. Other than that we're probably on the same page).  

Direct download: Thomas_TJ_Flipin_final_2.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 10:54pm EDT

If you don’t want to hear grown ups talk about drugs, leather pants, dropping out of college, or putting a classical guitar through a wood chipper on stage, you shouldn’t listen to me and multi media artist Dominic Frasca.  

Direct download: Dominic_Frasca_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:28pm EDT

My first interview with people outside of the guitar world! I try and keep up with WQXR’s New Works Presenters The Brothers Balliett as they dance circles around my musical knowledge. Also it’s my birthday so listen. 

Direct download: Brothers_Balliett_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The legendary nylon string jazz guitarist talks about being in Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Band, playing with Burt Bacharach, Paul Desmond and  every other huge name in jazz, and getting hip surgery.  

Direct download: Gene_Bertoncini_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 4:16pm EDT

Mak Grgic (pronounced Mahk Gergich) is the young up and comer who’s new album of transcriptions of film music is shining a new light on the classics (pronounced classics).  

Direct download: Mak_Final_1.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Composer Carlos Rafael River talks about studying with Randy Newman at USC, writing the music for the movie A Walk Among the Tombstones staring Liam Neeson and his upcoming score for the film The Ballad of Big Diaper Bret, a story about a rosy cheeked California boy who dreams of opening a stand up MRI station in Grand Central. 

Direct download: Carlos_Rafael_Rivera_Final_.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Adam Holzman, from the University of Texas, sits down with his old student (me) and reminisces about Segovia, Ghiglia, winning the GFA and getting a call from a student the night of his concert asking him where it was and how much it will cost. (also me age 19)  

Direct download: Adam_Holzman_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:46am EDT

San Fransisco has been to the Superbowl, the World Series and the NBA playoffs in the last year or so, but nothing more exciting has happened than the advent of Mobius Trio, a new and exciting group of young Bay Area guitarists out to beat new music into the minds of the many. Matthew Holmes Linder serves as their ambassador to Big Diaper Bret's winter estate. 

Direct download: Matthew_Holmes_Linder.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Soundboard Magazine calls him "masterful and stylish," The Boston Globe calls him "sensitive," David Sterobin calls him "Superb," and I call him "happy pie faced little oat oat," founder of Arc Duo, Bradley Colten joins me to talk about bacon (american composer Ernst Bacon).

Direct download: Bradly_Colton_Final_MP3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Wanna hear me talk to a heavy metal guitar god who gave up touring with Ozzie to become a fusion finger style guitarist at New School University? Then listen to me DESTROY this interview with Testament Guitarist Alex Skolnick. 

Direct download: Alex_Skolnick_Finla_1.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The up and coming Colin Davin talks about being the assistant to Sharon Isbin at Aspen, Juilliard, performing new music for new audiences and coffee. The next time you get a coffee at Joe, the Barista could be one of the best guitarists in the world. 

Direct download: Colin_Davin_Final_4_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Darth Vader comes on the show to talk candidly about performing classical music on electric guitars, teaching at Manhattan School of Music, and living with a mezzo soprano. Oh wait it's Oren Fader. Darth Vader doesn't play guitar. If he did he probably wouldn't record John Dowland's Melancholy Galliard.  

Direct download: Oren_Fader_Final_MP3_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I take a vacation into the dreadlocks of Brazil Guitar Duo's Joao Luiz. He talks  about his move to the U.S. and sudden rise to Classical Guitar fame (meaning about sixty highly educated musicians and four hundred old men can't get enough). 

Direct download: Joaoa_Luiz_Final_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:20pm EDT

Manhattan School, Curtis Institute Professor and Grammy Award winning guitarist/producer/composer/juggler/tennis champion and non-stop dancer David Starobin is on the show

Direct download: David_Sterobin_Final_1_1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The Devil came back from Georgia! Andrew Zohn returns to his home in the North East and discusses his rise to power from the lowly groveling of Graham St. in Austin to the high chair of full time professor at Columbus State University.

Direct download: Andrew_Zohn_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Guitarist Ana Maria Rosdao talks to me about Puerto Rico, Segovia, judgmental pedants, and Segovia.

Direct download: Ana_Maria_Rosado_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:39pm EDT

The best duo out of Italy since the Mario Brothers, Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli drop by the apartment. 

Direct download: Solo_Duo_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Head of the Yale University guitar department, Curator for the Art of the Guitar concert series at 92nd St. Y, and Vice President of the United States of America Ben Verdery gives us the dirt on John Williams, Chuck Berry and Keith Richards.

Direct download: Ben_Verdery_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Australia is missing an angel; Simon Powis drops by and we discuss why we like people that make mistakes, dancers, and how he is receiving his Doctorate of Music Arts from Yale this month. Let’s get him an ice cream cake!

Direct download: Simon_Powis_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Big Bad Jerry Willard takes time out from transcribing Bach and making Guitar-Doctors at SUNY Stony Brook to teach me about ancient instruments and how to control my anger. 

Direct download: jerry_willard_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I interview award winning guitarist and U.S. Artistic Ambassador to Africa, Dr. Lily Afshar. 

Direct download: lilly_afshar_Final_3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:43pm EDT

Adam Tully is currently conducting interviews and documenting the current state of the Tango in Argentina and the U.S for his upcoming podcast. He created his own guitar program at NYU, and has a beard. He has a sunny disposition and is available for Bat/Bar mitzvahs and corporate events. But so am I, so call me first. 

Direct download: Adam_Tully_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Columbia University Professor Marco Cappelli and his daughter come to my house where we talk about Harry Potter, Oscar Ghiglia, and the color blue. 

Direct download: Marco_Cappelli_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

 I interview someone else who's spent the last 20 years dealing with bad people. How are we going to process this anger? By taking it out on our family of course! My freind Christopher Gotzen-Berg comes on the show. 

Direct download: Christopher_Gotzen-berg_final_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:54pm EDT

Badi Assad drops by and slaps me in my face, grabs my chin and says "don't tell me what to do!” slaps me again and then tells us about her journey from classical guitarist to Brazilian pop princess. 

Direct download: Badi_Assad_final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The Cuban born guitarist escapes Castro, works his way from a factory floor to Yale and becomes one of the most powerful musicians in our industry. Also I complain about my birthday and Best Buy.

Direct download: Rene_Izquizero_Final_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:53am EDT

I sit down with the guy who has our old press kits, Presenter/Composer/Guitarist Frank Wallace. Oh and stop sending him your head shots from 12 years ago. You know who you are (I didn't know Doug James was 28!).

Direct download: frank_wallace_final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I talk to fellow struggling NYC guitarist Mike Gisinan about his new project combining Japanese and European Chamber instruments and making less money than a hotdog vendor. 

Direct download: mike_gilsinan_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I do like men my own age! New Music and old men on episode 22 (year olds suck). 

Direct download: Dan_Lippel_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:33pm EDT

I hate people that post about their half marathons, people that post pictures of their kids instead of themselves, and men my own age, except for University of Baltimore/Peabody at John's Hopkins guitar professor Zane Forshee. Him I like. Oh, and I hate 22 year olds.  

Direct download: Zane_Forshee_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

I sit down with the real most interesting man in the world, Guitar Foundation of America winner Kevin Gallagher. 

Direct download: Kevin_Galager_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The 27 year old manager of some of the biggest young names in our industry (Caballero, Goryachev, Villagas, Palmer) throws his superior intellect at me and makes me Karate chop the door after he leaves. Just kidding. He’s awesome.   

Direct download: Alvaro_Mendizabal_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Luthier Gary Lee explains why guitars cost so much when they are not made by machines and teams of imported slave laborers in the middle of Pensylvania.

Direct download: Gary_Lee_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

It's ZAIRA MUNDO ZAIRA MUNDO!!! Crazy fun conversation with who the New York Times calls "arresting and colorful" and who we call "The Tornado." Zaira Meneses opens up about Mexico, her blossoming career and being married to Eliot Fisk.

Direct download: Zaira_Menses_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Morton Gould ASCAP composer, and old college friend mine, Dr. Anthony Joseph Lanman talks about how awesome it is to spend nearly two decades composing award winning music that is performed by dozens of ensembles in as many countries and then be totally broke. 

Direct download: Episode_16_Anthony_Joseph_Lanman.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:33pm EDT

Carlos Barbosa-Lima talks football, baseball, Brazilian history and throws in a bit about being a founding father of the Bossa Nova Movement with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charlie Bird and others. We also drank allot of beer. 

Direct download: Episode_15_Carlos_Barbosa-Lima.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The Greek Goddess of guitar, Antigoni Goni, talks about her years as heads of the Columbia University Guitar Department, the Julliard Preparatory Division, and the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. Bret tells her that he spent five hours playing Grand Theft Auto Five yesterday and earned the "you ain't my daddy" achievement on x-box live.

Direct download: Episode_14_Antigoni_Goni.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Guitarist and producer of the Bay Area's Omni Guitar Series Richard Patterson talks about his role in the movie Five Year Engagement and takes Bret out to a late lunch at a nearby outdoor cafe where they sing Cucurrucucu to women coming home from work. The women were not amused. 

Direct download: Episode_13_Richard_Patterson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Two National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowships and a scholarship to the master classes of Andres Segovia in Spain, they have toured internationally as recitalists performing at the White House and the Kennedy Center and as concerto soloists with orchestras around the world, and have gone to the bathroom in Bret’s small New York apartment. 

Direct download: Andriaccio_Casaliani_Final.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Michael Karmon takes timne out form a vacation with his family to discuss the death of art in western civilization with art-death expert Bret Williams.  

Direct download: Episode_11_Michael_Karmon.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Manhattan School of Music Guitar Co Chair David Leisner and Bret talk about bad smells and the second avenue subway. And about guitar and their parents. 

Direct download: Leisner_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

The best thing to come out of Columbia since Regan Era cocaine, Francisco Roldan sits with fellow Mannes alum Bret Williams to share tips on dealing with back pain. YOU GOTTA HEAR THIS!

Direct download: Francisco_Roldan_Final.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

"Hey man! You play flamingo guitar right? Like the mexican stuff? Wanna play when I marry my sister this weekend? Wait, you don't like Obama right?" Stop being stupid, and learn about flamenco guitar from America's top Flamenco Expert/Performer Dennis Koster on this episode of Classical Guitar Insider with me, Burp Williams. 

Direct download: Episode_8_Dennis_Koster.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00am EDT

Hail to the Chief! New York Classical Guitar Society President John "How You Like Me Now" Olson joins Bret to talk science and guitar, because that's all Bret ever wants to talk about. Because he's so smart. 

Direct download: Episode_7_John_Olson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:58pm EDT

William Kanengiser complements Bret on his apartment and sits down for coffee with him. Then he remembers that he's a professor at USC, has a Grammy, and is a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Instead of walking out, he takes a deep breath, smiles, and continues to answer the questions the embittered, broken man-child that calls himself an artist (Bret). 

Direct download: Kannengeiser_Final_MP3_for_real.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:25pm EDT

Bret gets schooled by his teacher Fred Hand. 

Direct download: Episode_5_Fred_Hand_2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Amenian guitar demon Gohar Vardanyan shows Bret what it's like to know what you're talking about; an inspired hour with the recent Juilliard grad who just released her first album. 

Direct download: 04_Episode_4_Gohar_Vardanyan.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:54pm EDT

Bret hangs out with the best guitar duo in the world and messes up the audio just like he messes up everything and it isn't fair. 

Direct download: Episode_3_Nylon_Wound_Guitar_Duo.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am EDT

Rupert Boyd drops by and talks about how cool Australia is. Bret talks about how cool America is. They both compromise and decide that Spain is pretty cool. 

Direct download: Episode_2_Rupert_Boyd.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 12:23pm EDT

Episode 1 Julia Crowe

In the first episode of Classical Guitar Insider, Bret decides whether or not to quit guitar and sits down with music journalist Julia Crowe. 

Direct download: Episode_1_Julia_Crowe_34mb.mp3
Category:Music -- posted at: 3:52pm EDT