Alex de Grassi is considered one of the world's top fingerstyle, steel-string, acoustic guitarists. Renowned for his techniques, innovation, and compelling compositions during his two-decade recording career, De Grassi will be the new Recording Artist-In-Residence for the spring 2001 semester at Mendocino College.

The Los Angeles Times has described de Grassi as "...an acoustic guitarist of virtuosic strength and ability..." During his career, de Grassi has played both solo and in ensembles, has explored a variety of world music influences, and has stretched his repertoire on occasion to include interpretations of jazz classics and original children's music. Since 1978 he has recorded eleven successful CDs.

The Mendocino College Recording Artist-in-Residence program brings in professional musicians who share their knowledge and skills through class presentations, workshops and performances. "This is a unique opportunity for students to hear and see first hand from recording artists' real-life knowledge, which can help them succeeded in music," states Gaither Loewenstein, Dean of Instruction and the originator of the program.

Alex de Grassi will give two classroom lecture/demonstrations per day February 26th through February 28th. Students enrolled in various spring 2001 semester music classes will have Alex de Grassi as a guest speaker. Those classes include Guitar - Beginning I (MUS 222), Guitar - Beginning II (MUS 223), Music Appreciation (MUS 207), Music Theory/Harmony I (MUS 201), Recording Studio Techniques 1 (MUS 110), and Performance Techniques for Studio Recording (MUS 55). Class registration for enrolled students begins December 7, 2000. Open class registration begins January 11, 2001. For more information please call 468-3101.

A free Alex de Grassi Workshop will be held February 28, 2001, in the Digital Recording Studio, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. The Alex de Grassi Concert is scheduled for March 1, 2001, 8:00 PM, in the Center Theatre, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah. Tickets are $15. For more information, please call 468-3016.

One of de Grassi's trademarks is his ability to create a highly orchestrated sound using his solo guitar. Without overdubs, his playing weaves together melody, counter-melody, bass, harmony, rhythm, and cross-rhythms is such a way as to give the feeling of carious instruments playing together. Using a broad palette of techniques and timbre, and driven by a unique sense of composition, his intricate guitar pieces begin to take the listener beyond the instrument into a complex tapestry of sound.

Born in Japan, de Grassi was exposed from his earliest years to a variety of musical influences. His Grandfather, who immigrated to California from Italy, led a string quartet and was a violinist and ConcertMaster with the San Francisco Symphony. His father was trained in classical piano, while his mother was a jazz fan. His first instrument was the trumpet, but at age 13 he switched to the guitar. He played in garage bands, and soaked up music of all genres at the legendary Winterland and Filmore Auditoriums in San Francisco during the 1960s and 1970s. Though largely self-taught, de Grassi briefly studied jazz guitar with noted teacher Bill Thrasher while attending University of California at Santa Barbara, and took music classes while pursuing a degree in Economic Geography at the University of California at Berkeley

Created: October 23, 2001 @ 12:00 AM
Last Modified: August 17, 2005 @ 06:36 PM