The Chet Atkins Appreciation Society- My Teenage Son's Nashville Debut on Guitar

Orginally published in a slightly different form on my Squidoo lens about playing guitar (from kids to adults). An article about the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society and the my 15-year old son, on the main stage, in Quartet and Octet format as a member of St. Louis Bella Corda.  Extraordinary guitar player and teacher Kirk Hanser, Director of the St. Louis Academy for Guitar and the St. Louis Childbloom Program, is the conductor of St. Louis Bella Corda.  Austin, Texas has a terrific Bella Corda conducted by Maestro Kevin Taylor, originator of the outstanding Childbloom guitar instruction program.  We've gotten to know some of the Austin players over the past 4 or 5 years and you should hear them if you get a chance!

Chet Atkins Appreciation Society 2008, Nashville Tennessee, July 9-12

I just returned from spending Friday evening through late Saturday night at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society's (CAAS) 24th annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee. I had never before visited this iconic city, home to the Grand Ole Opry and so much country music, (regular, super, unleaded, and outlaw). I wish I had been able to attend the whole event, which started on Wednesday at noon. It was a great experience, nonetheless. Among the terrific guitarists and other musicians I was able to hear were the marvelous Guy Van Duser; the multi-talented Jim, Morning and John Nichols, equally at home on jazz and country music; the brilliant Muriel Anderson playing "Nola" with the Endless Road String Quartet (made up of members of the Lexington KY Philharmonic); Kirk Hanser and John McClellan (the Hanser-McClellan Duo, America's premier guitar duo); Celtic guitar master Tony McManus; and jazz virtuoso Frank Vignola with his great band. I also heard plenty of other terrific players on the main stage, on stage 2, in the vendor rooms, at open mike sessions, and jamming in the corridors and lobby of the hotel where the events took place. I saw Italian fingerstyle star Daniele Bazzani, whom I had heard perform Wednesday night at The Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis. I missed Daniele's Nashville performance, but was able to chat with him and pick up his two CDs. The Wednesday performance by Daniele, at one of America's great concert halls, also featured outstanding sets by the Hanser-McClellan Duo and St. Louis Bella Corda (see below).

In addition to the all-stars I've mentioned and many other top professionals, there were a number of up-and-coming, or already arrived, teenage players, including Bryan Browne (15) and Joe Robinson (17) of Australia (Joe just won "Australia's Got Talent," yes, the whole thing!, playing Tommy Emmanuel's arrangement of Classical Gas by Mason Williams), Ben Hall (19, 1st place National Thumbpicker, 2005) Ben Owens (19, whose first CD is Never Alone), and St. Louis Bella Corda, a classical guitar ensemble represented by six high-school guitarists, a Webster University student and their leader, Kirk Hanser. John McClellan was kind enough to step in for two pieces because one of the Bella Corda members couldn't make the trip the Nashville. Hearing the young performers was a joy for the crowd, who were thrilled by the pyrotechnics of the young Australians but were also moved to extremes by the beautiful playing of Bella Corda: one audience member was overheard saying she wanted to cry after Bella Corda's beautiful quartet rendition of Leo Brouwer's Cuban Landscape with Rain, for four guitars (Paisaje Cubano con Lluvia). For full disclosure, I have to say that my older son is a member of Bella Corda and played in the quartet. Finally, I could say "I'm with the band" and really mean it (and for a group that was good! I have been in a few less-celebrated bands).

Being with the band gave us, along with all the performers and their guests, reserved seats in the front few rows of the large hall for the closing Tribute to Chet Atkins. Many of the performers reappeared, some for one piece, some for several. It was a great evening that went from 8 pm until 11:30. Mark Pritcher, President of CAAS, and his staff are to be congratulated for great organization, great music, and a feeling of warm welcome that was extended to newcomers as well as old friends. I recommend this event to all who love fingerstyle guitar, Chet Atkins and great music.

Copyright © 2008 James K. Bashkin



Mel Bay Endless Road - Tommy Emmanuel