The Alexander String Quartet and guitarist William Kanengiser form a dynamic collaboration that explores the music of Sting, Led Zeppelin, John Dowland and The Beatles by way of contemporary composers Ian Krouse, Dušan Bogdanovic and Leo Brouwer. In this project, William Kanengiser and the Alexander String Quartet pay tribute to a group of English musicians who conquered the musical world with their revolutionary explorations. From the Elizabethan lutenist John Dowland to the pop/rock icons Sting, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin, these artists made a lasting impact far from the shores of their small island. Their music served as inspiration for a set of compositions for guitar and string quartet by the talented composers Ian Krouse, Dušan Bogdanovic and Léo Brouwer. It is especially appropriate that the guitar sits squarely at the center of these works, as the plucked string was the primary musical voice of these British innovators.

The members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet may surprise you. Sure, they're four classically-trained guitarists who have known each other since college. And yes, they do play music from the standard guitar repertoire. However, what is extraordinary about them is that they are also composers, arrangers, and innovators. This is apparent as soon as the first notes of the opening track are heard. How refreshing it is to have a disc that is so engaging, diverse, educational, and just plain fun.
For the African-inspired "mbira," the guitar-guys put staples on strings to imitate the sound of the African thumb piano. "A furiosa" has them tapping their guitars and rubbing their fingers up and down the strings to create percussive effects associated with the Brazilian rhythms of the piece.
Some other departures from the norm: a suite of three Klezmer dances, featuring a guest stint by a Russian-born Klezmer scholar playing wild clarinet solos, and a phenomenal arrangement of Chick Correa's "Spain." This disc makes it easy for the listener to completely enjoy and appreciate; it is also easy to hear the joy the LAGQ most certainly feel when they are playing together.

Classical Music

Classical Music