CONCERT ATTENDANCE REPORT

Concert Attendance Report



Concert Attendance Report

Introduction

I have always had a strong love and devotion for music. I consider myself a casual listener because I prefer having it playing all times, even when I am studying or sleeping. My passion for music has led me to learning guitar. Being an amateur guitarist, I realize the importance of watching and listening to the experts of the field. It is for this reason that I have attended numerous performances of various expert instrumentalists and guitarists over the last couple of years. These performances have not only been a source of great learning but also experiences of immense pleasure.

One of my favorite guitarists from the present day is Gyan Riley. I have had the privilege of watching Riley perform twice during the last year. One of these experiences came from a concert that was staged by KDFC-FM, named Gyan Riley 'A Dialogue with Bach'. The show was hosted at Yoshi's Jazz Club in San Francisco, with the highlight being the “Bach Suites for Solo Cello”.

Discussion

Background of the Artist

Gyan Riley is a highly popular guitarist and composer, who comes from Northern California. Most of Riley's work represents high-quality tunes and compositions in the classical genre, which have earned him great respect and admiration amongst both his listeners and peers. Riley has had the honor of being the first ever guitar student to get full-scholarship at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. During his time at the conservatory, Riley received a contract for the recording of his debut album that features his original works. The CD was released in 2002 under the title “Food for the Bearded” on New Albion Records. Since then, Riley has gone on to expand his career as both a classical composer and guitarist. He has received various commissions from different sources that include the New York Guitar Festival, the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center, the Paul Dresher Ensemble and the Carnegie Hall Corporation. Riley has had live shows, concerts and performances across various different European countries, as well as, the U.S., both as a solo artist and in group acts with different famous artists. These include Dawn Upshaw, Zakir Hussain, Michael Manring, the Falla Guitar Trio, the San Francisco Symphony and the World Guitar Ensemble. He has also performed with his own father, Terry Riley who is a renowned composer, pianist and vocalist on several different occasions. As a true music lover and enthusiast, Riley has also been a part of the teaching faculties at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Humboldt State University, California State University East Bay and the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. Riley's official website is www.gyanriley.com that contains a list of all his works, as well as, a record of his past and upcoming tours and performances.

Concert Report

The performance, Gyan Riley 'A Dialogue with Bach', was held on March 1st, 2010 in the Yoshi'z Jazz Club. The performance was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. in the evening, and I had reached the venue well before time to ...