Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

It has been twenty years since four young guitarists from the University of California decided to join hands and talents in order to form the instantly successful Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. It was due to their sparkling presence and refreshing musical look that the quartet’s international career rapidly took off. The press are unanimous in their praise for these artists: perfectly attuned, a musicality that is remarkably spontaneous and unbridled energy, which entices both public as well as specialists (Guitare). The four virtuosos also channel their creativity into transcriptions, with impressive results. All critics agree on the undisputed success of creating “an integral and masterly version” of Manuel de Falla’s L’amour sorcier with four guitars (Diapasion). Whether it is the Concertos Brandebourgeois (Bach), Carmen (Bizet), les Danses de Terpsichore (Praetorius), le Caprice Espagnol (Rimsky-Korsakov), la Soirée dans Grenade (Debussy) or Cassenoisettes (Tchaikowsky), The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (or LAGQ) are absolute masters in crafting an astonishing palette of tones and colours with their four guitars and manage to add that lovely twist of humour, which makes their ensemble so irresistible.

To fully do justice to the richness of the LAGQ’s repertoire, one must also mention the inclusion of original contemporary work into their concert programme, written by for example Cuban composer Leo Brouwer, Brazilian Sérgio Assad, the Americans Wayne Siegel and Ian Krouse and French Georges Delerue. Then, there are of course the compositions of Andrew York, who rejoined the group in 1990 that make the repertoire complete.

The LAGQ regularly plays every four corners of the world. From Chicago’s Orchestra Hall to New York’s Lincoln Center, the International Festivals of Istanbul and Hong Kong, Frankfurt, Tokyo, London, the Canary Islands – wherever they go, the quartet enjoys a great reputation. During one of their tours through the Limousin region in France, the local newspapers joined the international papers in cheering both the unusual character of the group’s musicality as well as their delicate and sensitive interpretations, which betray an aesthetic pattern of rare elegance.

An impressive discography shows the LAGQ’s interest in ever expanding their horizon. The quartet’s first two albums appeared with the label GHA Records, followed by Delos who took on four recordings of variations on Bach to a theme of Led Zeppelin developed by Ian Krouse…

In October 1998 Sony Classical released a new album, strongly flavoured with world music. Throughout the twelve pieces of music (arrangements and compositions by the members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet – William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant, John Dearman and Andrew York) the seductive sounds are evoked of places such as Africa, Indonesia, Europe and South America. The release of the CD coincided with a concert by the quartet in Paris, which prompted the following observations: “not only do they display the most remarkable ease and relaxation, they also create an exquisite clarity and sonoric warmth. The LAGQ is an absolute musical gem and a true example for all ensembles. (Les Cahiers de la Guitare)

On one of their last recordings, Air and Ground, also released by Sony Classical, the quartet continues on the path, chosen on their former album, and, amongst compositions by the LAGQ members, we find two pieces by Brazilians, Sérgio Assad and Paulo Bellinati.

Showing all 2 results