The Guitar Masters Concert Series produced by Backroom Productions is celebrating 20 years of consecutive concerts featuring guitar styles from rock to jazz, and classical to bluegrass. During the concerts, the masters play in a round-robin style sometimes trading guitar riffs or providing rhythm guitar for another master’s performance. The concerts are scheduled for 7:30pm on Friday Feb 24 and Saturday Feb 25 at the Journey Museum in Rapid City. In addition to the concert, a talk about guitar collections from some of the Black Hills most prolific collectors will begin at 7:00pm in the theatre.
Chris Jacombe, known throughout the United States and South America for his flamenco and Spanish style guitar. “Chris B. Jácombe is the artistic director and founder of the celebrated flamenco music and dance company “Jácombe Flamenco.” Jacombe’s music can be heard on popular TV shows such as “Touch”, “Kyle xy” and “Greek”, the feature films “Amreeka”, “9/Tenths” and the recently released feature film “Just the Vampire Hunter” which showcases his composing skills and guitar virtuosity in multiple genres. Jacombe has written and produced five critically-acclaimed CDs and won the Grand Prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest World Category two years in a row with his original songs from his original album, “Levanto”!” taken from Jacombe’s website.
Robert Kelo (Bob) Fahey is well known throughout the area as our finest slide blues guitar player. Mastery of the slide style is difficult to achieve, but like a true master, Fahey makes it look easy. He is the lead singer and guitarist in the blues-infused Suspects band. Fahey is most notably known now as a Blues/Americana solo artist. In addition, he is often found working with other players from a duo format to a nine piece band with horns. One of his favorite groups to perform with is Tres Guitarras. A trio that performs in the Phoenix,Arizona area fusing three guitars styles together, Flamenco (Chris Burton Jacome’), Jazz (Stan Sorenson) & Blues (Bob Fahey). Of course there is always the raucous Nice ‘N Nasty Band, featuring Fahey that creates some of the most foot stompin’ Blues Funk Jams around.
Paul Peterson is known as much for his visual arts achievements as for his guitar performances. Peterson is a guitarist and teacher who currently lives in Sturgis SD. He teaches out of his home and also maintains a teaching practice in Spearfish where he works out of his private studio and teaches part time at Black Hills State University. Over the years he has played a number of local and regional festivals in the area and at many local acoustic music venues concentrating on instrumental and melody driven pieces. As of late, Peterson can be found playing dinner music at Roma’s Ristorante in Spearfish. He also donates his musical talent and time at Our Saviors Lutheran in Spearfish, SD. Peterson is a well-respected local painter and much of his artwork is displayed by prominent museums and collections across the country.
Scott Bellew rounds out the line-up. Bellew has played in local bands since the 80s and more recently can be seen and heard on the solo circuit in lounges, clubs, restaurants and festivals. He has honed his musical skills from the upper Midwest to LA. Bellew studied guitar and graduated with a degree from the prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, CA. With a couple of music schools and many a gigs to his credit, Bellew’s songwriting, vocals and guitar playing reflect his love of music and passion for performance. His guitar specialty is in the rock/blues style, but is known to throw in some country rock as well.
As an added event to the Guitar Masters Concert, Don Lerdal and his guitar loving friends are creating a Guitar and Gear Show that will begin on Friday at 5:30pm and run through the completion of the Guitar Masters show on Saturday night. There will be an opportunity for purchasing some of the unique display guitars on Saturday.
Tickets for the series are $17 per ticket. Students are $10. The doors will open at 6:30 with the Guitar Collectors talk beginning at 7:00pm. Advance ticket purchases are recommended as the series usually sells out for both nights. Call the Journey Museum at 605-394-6923 or stop by during business hours to purchase tickets. For questions or further information about the concert, call Backroom Productions at 605-430-8506.
