Thinks happen: Edgar Cruz - Classical Guitar

Things ain't what they used to be. (In fact, they never was.)
The Profile (more than you really wanted to know) is here.

Arriving late at the theater, a seat about 6 rows back further than usual was as close as possible. The usual fourth row is about the best to get “live” shots of the performers. Well, the tenth row is really asking a lot of a zoom 18-70mm even at 1600ASA.

It is always desirable to avoid using a flash so that: A.) the performers and audience will not be disturbed and B.) the results will be the “natural” kind of frame that achieves the mood and appearance of what was actually seen during a performance. So out of the 80 or so frames of this performer only about 2 were usable. At around 1/5th of a second most were dramatically motion blurred because Edgar Cruz is an animated guitarist and a harsh overhead spot burned out many areas because the aperture was wide open.

But with all this music, who cared?

Cruz (he says that’s CRUZ as his sister Penelope not as his brother Tom) has a unique technique. He plays a six string classical guitar with both hands. Not so unusual you say? I mean he frets and plucks and strums with all ten fingers. He plays bass lines, chords and melody all at the same time. He often sounds like two maybe three guitars all at once.

With 16 CD albums behind him, he has a vast repertoire, 400 pieces his bio says. He played for us a flood of music from a broad base of sources. He played “Classical Gas” from Mason Williams and “Bohemian Rhapsody” from Queen, the Eagles’ “Hotel California” , aerosmith’s “Dream On” and then McCartney’s “Live and Let Die”. He played chestnuts like “Puttin’ on the Ritz” (complete with a tap dance), “Danny Boy” and “What a Wonderful World”. There were classical selections such as “Moonlight Sonata”, “Canon in D” and the finale from the “William Tell” Overture.

Amid all of this were Spanish/Mexican pieces including “Malaguena”, “La Bamba”, “Besame Mucho”, “Granada” and “Habanera”. And tidbits were added such as “Stairway to Heaven”, “Dueling Banjos”, “Fur Elise”, “Hey Jude” and “Paint It Black”.

This was a thoroughly satisfying evening of music from a personable and colorful performer. And he’s from Oklahoma.