A beautiful CD Review
Wow… I’m very flattered and excited. I just got a wonderful review of my second CD, “Imagen” on Minor7th.com.
Check it out here:
http://www.minor7th.com/shorttakes6_08.html
Here’s the review:
Steve Lin, “Imagen,” 2007 The music of Antonio Lauro and Augustin Barrios Mangore has been an inspiration to countless guitarists since the early decades of the 20th century. Both composers and players - equally powerful in composition and performance — brought the folk dances and melodies of their native lands (Venezuela and Paraguay) to the broader world, interpreted by such masters as John Williams and David Russell, among others. What Bach did for well-structured guitar music through the hands of Andres Segovia, Lauro and Mangore did for the romantic musical ideas of Latin America. Steve Lin, a young guitarist from the Boston areas, has attempted his own versions of some of their works on “Imagen,” picking up part of the title of one of Barrios’ compostions, “Tua Imagen”. With Lauro, Lin brings out the sensitivity of “La Gatica”, the rollicking power of “El Marabino”, and the tempered conflict inherent in “Angostura”. With Barrios, the lovely “Julia Florida” — perhaps Barrios’ best-known work — is given the room it needs in tempo to lull and soothe as a timeless melody. The waltzing ‘tua imagen” dances delicately with great clarity and focus. While Lin may remain a student (working toward his PhD at the New England Conservatory of Music), he does justice to these lovely works. Lin shows equal skill on the closing track of the CD, “Una Limosna por el Amor de Dios”, revealing a fine tremolo while varying dynamics enough to take the listener through Barrios’ own spiritual journey. This is a fine addition to the works of Lauro and Barrios now on the market, from a developing artist. © Kirk Albrecht