Verde Valley News – Old Town Center for the Arts presents the Electric Harp Guitar Group in Concert, on Saturday, February 4, at 7:00 PM. The Electric Harp Guitar Group (EHGG) is visionary guitarists William Eaton, Anthony Mazzella, and Fitzhugh Jenkins who will perform on their unique hand-crafted electric harp guitars, 6 string guitars and double neck harp synthesizer guitar.
A local phenomenon with international experience ‘Ehgg’ combines individual virtuosity with ensemble sensibility to create instrumental compositions, drawn from transcendental world, jazz, rock and new age genres. Joining ‘Ehgg’ will be special guest percussionist Logan Turner on cajon, dumbeck and hand percussion.
For this concert the trio will explore new boundaries with an eclectic mix of instrumental and vocal songs. “We’re excited about presenting very diverse arrangements of well known and obscure songs,” Anthony Mazzella commented. “You’ll hear a very different “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel; the ‘laid back’ country vibe of “Hickory Wind” an Emmy Lou Harris hit; and a song from the rock super group ‘Blind Faith’ with their iconic “Can’t Find My Way Home,” composed by Steve Winwood. “Anthony also brought in ‘Driver’ by Leo Kottke,” William Eaton remarked, “which is one of the most powerfully emotional songs I’ve ever heard.”
The trio will also debut some new original ‘EHGG’ instrumental songs, including After Life and Thinking About Eternity, along with some songs from their self-titled Electric Harp Guitar Group album, which was honored as one of the ‘Top 25 ‘Essential CD’s by Echoes’ – an internationally syndicated radio program.
Fitzhugh Jenkins offered, “We also thought it would be cool to pay tribute to one of the first ‘instrumental’ guitarists groups with our version of ‘Pipeline’ by the Ventures, and the classic “Hang Em’ High” movie theme, from a hip ‘Booker T. & the MG’s’ arrangement. Both of these songs accentuate the low pitches of the long scale solid body electric harp guitars.
The EHGG trio initially formed when musician-luthier William Eaton designed his proto-type 18 string electric harp guitar. A long-time fan of Anthony Mazzella and Fitzhugh Jenkins, Eaton invited them to try out the new instrument and join together to create the Electric Harp Guitar Group. Two more instruments were built, and after several months of rehearsal the trio spent time at Wisdom Tree Studios in Sedona to record their self-titled “Electric Harp Guitar Group.”
“EHGG is finding its collective voice, and getting to a new level of musicianship,” Fitzhugh Jenkins remarked. Anthony Mazzella added; “the improvised nature of our approach allows us the freedom to explore new ideas. Both rehearsal and concert is an experience of finding the spark and magic of what is being created in the moment.”
Each musician brings diverse talent and creative technique to the ensemble. Anthony Mazzella is recognized as one of the most innovative and technically proficient guitar players in the world, and was voted as “one of the top ten guitarists in the U.S.” by Guitar One magazine. Fitzhugh Jenkins has travelled the world seeking the always illusive muse. He grew up playing professionally in Honolulu, has studied music in Cuba, at Berklee College of Music and in Paris. He has taken in the Tango rhythms in Buenos Aires and has performed in Mumbai and Delhi. His original music has been used on the Discovery Channel, the Oprah Network and the Green Channel. Fitzhugh has performed musical healing on elephants in Thailand.
William Eaton is acknowledged as one of the world’s great designers and builders of unique guitars and stringed instruments. He is a four-time GRAMMY nominee, NAMMY (Native American Music Awards) winner, and long time recording artist for Canyon Records. Eaton is also the current director of the longest running guitar making school in North America, Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, a school he co-founded in 1975.
Special guest Logan Turner is a classically trained percussionist from the Crane School of Music. He has performed with the Empire Statesmen Drum & Bugle Crops from Rochester, NY as well as the Official Drum line for the Buffalo Bills. Logan specializes in world percussion, guitar, and bass guitar.
The Electric Harp Guitar Group has sold out their past six shows at OTCA, so grab your tickets early and come enjoy a special evening of electric harp guitar music on Saturday, February 4, 7:00 pm at Old Town Center for the Arts.
Old Town Center for the Arts Is located at 5th Street & Main in Old Town Cottonwood. Tickets for Electric Harp Guitar Group are $20 in advance, $22 at the door, and $25 for priority seating in the first three rows. Tickets are available online at showtix4u.com. Tickets are also available in Cottonwood at: Mount Hope Foods, and in Sedona at The Mary D Fisher Theater. For upcoming events, visit www.oldtowncenter.org. For further information, contact Elena Bullard at 928-634-0940.
For artist information visit:
www.roberto-venn.com/faculty/william-eaton/
www.anthonymazzella.com
www.fitzhughjenkins.com