|
Edgar Cruz, whose repertoire consists of over 400 songs from The William Tell Overture to Bohemian Rhapsody, returns to UT Dallas with a trio of talented guitarists, Michael Kelsey,
Mark Anthony Cruz and Richard Smith. Mark Anthony Cruz has twice been a featured artist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Ballet Oklahoma
and was the guitarist for the Baylor University film project “A Significant Journey.” Chet Akins proclaimed Smith “the most amazing guy I know on the guitar.”
Dubbed Oklahoma’s Best Performing Artist/Acoustic Guitarist for five years according to the Oklahoma Gazette, Edgar Cruz gives over 200 live performances a year, mesmerizing audiences from coast to coast and internationally. Over ten years he’s been an honored headliner at the annual Chet Atkins Festival in Nashville. He’s also been featured frequently on ABC, NBC, CBS, cable stations and PBS-affiliate television. The latter aired a documentary about his life and career in 2004 on the series “Gallery.”
Mr. Cruz is the recipient of many industry awards. Cruz offers an incredible live repertoire of over 400 titles. Malagueña, Bohemian Rhapsody, In the Mood, Dueling Banjos, Hotel California and Medleys On the Fly are just a few examples. An accomplished solo artist, Mr. Cruz also engages in collaborations with other industry luminaries, orchestras and Flamenco dance troupes.
His fifteen recordings and 2 DVDs reflect the versatility and complexity with which his unique skill delivers an array of genres, from Latin to Classical, and Rock to Jazz. Edgar Cruz is a master technician whose abilities on one instrument have been compared to the sound delivered by an entire symphony orchestra.
Kelsey pounds, pings, stings, pops, and pulls music out of every part of his instrument or anything else an arm's length or foot kick away in a funky, rhythmic style he calls progressive/aggressive acoustic guitar. Guitar wizard/singer songwriter/performance artist/entertainer all in a one-man-band package, Kelsey performs music for the eyes and ears.
A native of Lafayette, Indiana, Michael Kelsey cut his musical teeth on electric lead and bass guitars in a variety of cover bands from progressive jazz to rock. He spent five years as a recording engineer and arranger in his own studio before closing it to pursue his solo career. After placing as a finalist in a Guitar Player Magazine's national competition, he switched from electric to acoustic guitar to take advantage of the broader variety of sounds, moods and nuances available from this instrument that could increase the dimensions of his music.
In 2004 the music store chain Guitar Center held its "Guitarmageddon" Guitar competition. After three months of searching through 3000 guitar players to find the nation's best unsigned guitarist, the judges selected Michael as the winner. Michael has toured nationally as the opening act for Blind Melon and Dishwalla. He has opened shows for such notables as Adrian Legg, Tim Reynolds, Cowboy Junkies, The Bodeans and John Wesley Harding. After performing an opening set for folk artist David Wilcox, David described Kelsey's show as 'Cirque Du Soleil' on acoustic guitar."
Mark Anthony Cruz, a native of Oklahoma, earned his bachelor of music degree in guitar performance at Oklahoma City University. Subsequently, he earned his master of music degree in guitar performance at Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University-San Marcos) where he is currently professor of guitar.
He is active as a performer and has twice been a feature artist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Ballet Oklahoma. He was a top prize recipient at the National Fingerpicking Championship at Winfield, Kansas in 1993 and 2001. He was the guitarist for the Baylor University film project A Significant Journey. In August 2005, he performed in Italy, Germany, Bosnia and Austria for the troops on leave from the war in Iraq. On special concerts he joins Edgar and Scott for an evening eclectic passion.
Mark performs regularly throughout the Midwest and the Eastcoast. He has produced numerous independent recordings in various styles. Most notable is his title Pequeñas Piezas para Mi Padre, a collection of all-original solo classical guitar works. This recording was twice featured on the internationally syndicated radio program Classical Guitar Alive hosted by Tony Morris.
Richard Smith - www.richardsmithmusic.com
Richard Smith was born in Beckenham, Kent, England in 1971 and began guitar at age of five. Within no time, the toddler outstripped his dad’s six-string prowess and it was clear to all who saw or heard him play that Richard was one of those rare phenomena -- a child prodigy. Concentrating initially on the music his father loved – the country picking of Chet Atkins and Merle Travis – young Richard digested everything he heard, learning even the most complicated of these tunes with ease, and confounded everyone with his dexterity. It seemed that, not only did the boy possess amazing physical skill, but a photographic musical memory as well. Often, a single hearing was all it took to get a piece under his fingers. Chet Atkins and Jerry refer to Richard Smith as their “Hero” to this day.
There seems to be no limit to Richard’s ability to quickly master whatever guitar style captures his fancy. The complex styles of many guitar greats including Django Reinhardt, Les Paul, and Lenny Breau have proved to be no impediment to his voracious musical appetite. Apart from his guitar virtuosity, he is also an accomplished banjo and violin player. His repertoire spans an incredible range of musical styles from country, bluegrass, mainstream jazz, modern pop and rock, to classical guitar. Richard also plays several of John Phillip Souza’s marches and, incredibly, comes close to sounding like an entire marching band – drums and all.
“The most amazing guy I know on the guitar. He can play anything I know, only better.” - Chet Atkins, CGP
---------------------------------------------------------------
Co-sponsored by SUAAB and the Multicultural Center.
The Multicultural Center is committed to providing a variety of quality cultural programs, educational resources, leadership opportunities and support services that enhance the ability of UTD students to achieve success in their personal and work lives to positively impact a rapidly changing and diverse world.
|
