Chattanooga Times Free Press - ChattanoogaNow
Guitar virtuoso stops at Barking Legs Theatre
One of first shows after Gyan Riley’s latest album
Chattanoogans have two rare opportunities offered in one concert on Tuesday, April 3.
First, contemporary classical guitarist Gyan Riley of New York City will perform at Barking Legs Theater, presented by CoPAC and the Shaking Ray Levi Society; second, the audience will be among the first to hear new music from Riley’s solo album “Sprig,” which will be released March 30.
Riley has been called a “one-man American-music machine, amicably ranging across the fields of jazz, world music and post-minimalism” by The New Yorker. His technical prowess, dexterity and creativity as a composer has garnered international attention. He won his first guitar a raffle when he was in 12 years old. Shortly after learning all the songs in his cassette collection by ear, he became the first full-scholarship graduate guitar student at San Francisco Conservatory.
Riley’s work now focuses on his own compositions, improvisation and contemporary classical repertoire.
He has received commissions from the Kronos Quartet, New Music USA, Carnegie Hall Corp., the American Composers Forum and the New York Guitar Festival.
Among the numerous musicians with whom he has performed are Zakir Hussain, Lou Reed, John Zorn, the Kronos Quartet, Lee Ranaldo (of Sonic Youth), Iva Bittova, Julian Lage, the San Francisco Symphony, the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra and his father, composer/pianist/vocalist Terry Riley.
He has toured throughout Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia and the U.S., both as a soloist and in various ensembles. He and his father recently scored a new film by writer/director Francois Girard (“The Red Violin”) entitled “Hochelaga, Terre des Âmes,” which premiered at the 2017 Toronto Film Festival and was selected as Canada’s pick for best foreign language film category at the 2018 Oscars.
For more information: 423-624-5347.