Guitar Artistry of Ari Eisinger - DVD

Contrary to the rumors, blues and ragtime guitarist Ari Eisinger hasonly 10 fingers. It just sounds as if he has more. His mission is topreserve the classic blues and ragtime tunes from the 1920s and 1930s. -The Plain DealerHe's a fingerpicking guitar player parexcellence who specializes in country blues and ragtime from the 1920sand 1930s... His playing is astoundingly complex and precise, obviouslyreverential yet filled with personal touches... A brilliant musician...he sounds like four people playing at once. - The Philadelphia InquirerAriEisinger is one of the most dazzling country blues and ragtimeguitarists playing today. Listen to his astonishing performances of themusic of Blind Blake and you will hear things no guitar player hasmanaged to pull off since Blake himself disappeared in the early 1930s.The sportin' right hand, the piano rhythms, the notes everybody elseleaves out - they're all there. "One of the finest fingerpickers I'veheard anywhere," "One of the top guitarists in the country," "One of thefinest interpreters of traditional blues and ragtime"" - these are justa few of the reactions from critics and fellow musicians to Ari'sremarkable way with the blues of the 1920s and '30s. Able to shifteffortlessly from complex East Coast ragtime to the propulsive rhythm ofthe guitar evangelists to down-home Texas country blues, Ari is one ofthe most authentic musicians you are ever likely to encounter.Hisinterpretations of the songs of masters like Blind Lemon Jefferson,Memphis Minnie and Reverend Gary Davis have been called "downrightspooky" for the way the styles of these pioneering guitar heroes arebrought vibrantly back to life. Whether he is taking on the crystal toneand virtuosity of Lonnie Johnson or the liquid bends of Josh Whiteplayed on a low-tuned Stella guitar, Ari deftly recalls the great musicof the past while bring-ing his own brilliant musical personality tobear on some of the neglected classics of the blues.Based inPhiladelphia, Ari has toured across the US and performed in the UK andJapan, sharing the bill along the way with artists like Doc Watson, JohnJackson, Dave Van Ronk, Paul Geremia and Taj Mahal. He has led guitarclasses both in the US and the UK, and he is a featured instructor forStefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop. Opportunities to see him in concertdon't happen nearly as often as fans would like, so this collection ofAri performing some of his favorite material, filmed in 2001 and 2009,will be a welcome treat.