UPDATE, 7-19: SOLD OUT, Thank you very much! Friday, July 28, 7:30 PM (7 door): Don Latarski and Brooks Robertson, Two Solo Performances, and Duet Encore
(Tickets $20 Now On Sale; drop by the store or call 541-345-8986 to reserve; or click this link to order from Tsunami’s secure shop
Guitarist and composer Don Latarski is an American institution. His seasoned bandmates declare that nobody plays like him and with a reputation in finger style guitar circles cemented in the image of his guitar picks glued onto his fingernails—they are on to something.
Born in 1953, Latarski grew up in a rural area about 31 miles north of Detroit, MI, close enough to that Motown vibe to trade Little League games for guitar lessons at age 10. He relocated to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, where he earned a music degree. He studied jazz and classical guitar in college, which proved to be a natural introduction to finger picking. After graduation the U of O quickly hired him to head their guitar studies program and his life since has revolved around music and teaching.
Latarski’s contribution to guitar playing cannot be understated—he has written more than 20 books on guitar instruction, and owns Crescent Studios in Eugene, where he is the audio engineer and producer. In addition to his dedication in teaching, Don has released 15 studio albums, and composed and recorded music for video games, short films, and radio programs. His quirky personality is best captured in his numerous video tutorials posted on YouTube and his Facebook page, including a recent outing, titled Mt. Hopkins Road Wind Guitar—complete with disclaimer not to try this at home. https://youtu.be/uKJQ0iz7drM
Brooks Robertson just doesn't need much more than two thumbs, eight fingers and six strings on a wooden box to carry his listeners away.
The young fingerstyle guitarist embodies the creative vision of a postmodern world: It's the music that counts. Brooks utilizes his superb technical abilities to play bass, rhythm and melody simultaneously and surpass the borders of conventional genres. He merges hauntingly beautiful compositions, country rhythms and jazzy harmonies with funky licks into his very own art form – sometimes delivered with a punch, sometimes with a smile.
Brooks was born in Eugene, Oregon in 1989. Seeing Buster B. Jones perform at a festival near his home town became a life-changing experience for the kid from the sticks. Just eleven years old, he was immediately inclined to pick up the guitar. Soon, the world renowned fingerstyle virtuoso and instructor Buster B. Jones dedicated his spare time to introducing Brooks to the secrets of the his unique style of playing, and after six months of lessons the natural talent performed his first show with his mentor.
By the time he was a teenager he had become the youngest endorsee of Godin Guitars and traveled to several states and foreign countries to perform. Brooks went on to play on Garrison Keillor's National Public Radio classic "A Prairie Home Companion" in 2004, where he won first place in a talent competition for 12 to 20 year old participants.
In 2014 Robertson was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 2018 he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Professional Music — focusing on Contemporary Writing & Production, Music Business, and Theory of Jazz and Popular Music.
Although he is deeply rooted in the powerful tradition of the genre, founded by the likes of Merle Travis, Jerry Reed, Thom Bresh and Buster B. Jones, Brooks also draws inspiration from the elegant mastery of the legendary Chet Atkins and other phenomenal players. His own compositions and arrangements have even been compared to fingerstyle jazz champions Lenny Breau and Earl Klugh.
In addition to worldwide recognition as a performer, Brooks is regarded as an educated, experienced, knowledgeable teacher of Fingerstyle guitar lineage, instructing students from the traditional to the contemporary, keeping the legacy of Fingerstyle alive and well. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Guitar Department at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
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"The Future of American Fingerstyle Guitar". Buster B. Jones
“I've always loved playing with Brooks, he's a joy to be around.” Tommy Emmanuel CGP
"I was completely knocked out with the acoustic guitar virtuosity of Brooks Robertson! Brooks has a very original touch and sound plus monster chops. He's always making great music with his guitar. I'm sure Brooks will be sharing his music with the entire world and have an incredible career." Lee Ritenour (Jazz Guitar Virtuoso & Grammy Winner)
"He is slicker than a cat on a greased pole."
Nokie Edwards (The Ventures, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
"Brooks Robertson is well-equipped to carry on the legacy of Buster B Jones' powerful and funky guitar style. Any player would be very proud to have such an accomplished guitarist as a protégé. Brooks' personal playing and composing style is equally compelling, as audiences around the world are finding out. The solo guitar's future is in good hands with players like Brooks out there!"
John Jorgenson (Elton John, Desert Rose Band, Hellecasters)
"All guitar players are like Frankensteins. Their music is made out of bits and pieces of other players. In Brooks' case, he's a son of a Frankenchops, the well known monster picker Buster B. Jones. Buster and Brooks are both so scary ... the legend continues."
Mason Williams ("Mr. Classical Gas")
https://www.brooksrobertson.com