. . . and then check out these vids.
I’ve been listening to the Assad Brothers quite a bit lately. Many of their pieces sound unfamiliar to me but their technique and interplay is just jaw-dropping. This past weekend on our trip down to DC I brought along a few of their CDs to check out and heard a piece that I immediately recognized: Baiao Malandro by Egberto Gismonti. WBB readers will know that a few years ago I went through a massive Gismonti period. He is not only an amazing composer but also plays guitar unlike anyone else. However, I’ve only ever heard his Baiao Malandro performed by him in a small trio setting. Hearing the Assad Brothers perform the piece it seems to almost be written intentionally for two guitars.
So but anyway, here are a couple of youtube performances of the piece by the brothers. The first is the better of the two performances: it is less rushed and feels more like Gismonti’s version of the piece. The latter is a much better video recording of the piece and makes (at least for this guitarist) the clip more interesting to watch.
