University alumni and famed American jazz guitarist Richard Smith @@http://www.richardsmithguitar.com/about.htm@@will be collaborating this Friday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m. at Beall Concert Hall with Italian classical guitarist Francesco Buzzurro for an event to remember@@http://music.uoregon.edu/events/index.htm@@. The show is part of a two-week tour celebrating Buzzurro and Smith’s new album titled “Un Mondo, Due Chitarre,” which is Italian for “One World, Two Guitars.”
“It’s a metaphor. We’re from two completely different sides of the planet, musically and culturally,” said Smith. “And we’ve been able to find what works.”
Smith was born in Detroit but was raised in Eugene. He graduated from the University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science in music. @@http://www.richardsmithguitar.com/about.htm@@
“The day after grades were in, I headed to Los Angeles,” Smith said. “I got one lucky break after another, and it landed me a variety of careers. One (was) a teaching career at a major university and as a recording artist. I was an apprentice to some of the biggest names in the industry, and I was blessed to have a few hits.”
Smith’s musical talent has landed him awards such as Best New Artist by Radio & Records magazine and Best Album of the Year by Tune Up Magazine. @@http://www.richardsmithguitar.com/store.htm@@Buzzurro, a native Italian, is considered to be among the best in classical and multicultural guitar in Europe.
Smith and Buzzurro were united six years ago when Smith decided he wanted to hunt down things that gave him a “gut reaction.”
“I wanted to chase that Italian DNA that I feel in my system,” Smith said. “I’m irrational and artistic and whatever else that Italian-ness@@your guess is as good as mine@@ is. I set up some concerts in L.A. for Buzzurro and I, and we set up a two-week tour in Sicily, Italy. We’d never played before the first soundcheck, and everything that’s happened since then has been magic. It’s a wonderful metaphor. It’s sort of a universal language in music. We let music drive the conversation.”
The “One World, Two Guitars” tour is the second time that Smith and Buzzurro have toured the West Coast together. The last time that they played at Beall Hall, it was before a sold-out audience. Those planning on coming to Friday’s show can expect the unexpected. Smith, who enjoys everything from dubstep to hip-hop to independent music, said that the combination of music is truly unique.
“You’re going to hear more notes than you’ve ever heard in one place,” Smith said. “We do everything from ancient Sicilian folk music, to polka, to jazz, to rock and roll. We play ‘Pinball Wizard’ from The Who in a tango version.”
Those attending can also expect to hear renditions of songs from Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder.
“There’s nothing like being on stage when it all comes together,” Smith said. “It’s the best thing in life.”