Our newly added monthly segment, the ARTIST SPOTLIGHT interview, features candid, behind-the-scenes interviews with our artists. Take a moment to learn more about their dedication and what drives them artistically…..and also some everyday stuff that's fun to know! If you have a favorite SUGO artist that you would like for us to feature in the ARTIST SPOTLIGHT or a specific question for them, please contact us and we will consider it. For updates on artists, new releases, tour dates and special promotions please sign our guestbook to the right. We do not share your information with anyone and you will hear from us about once a month or so.
Artist Spotlight/February 2010 Stevan Pasero
Stevan Pasero is known worldwide as one of the most influential and versatile musicians/producers of the past 3 decades. Mr. Pasero is featured on numerous recordings, has transcribed over 30 major symphonic works, produced more than 300 studio recordings & has composed well over 1000 pieces for solo and ensemble. After reading the interview, please take a moment to visit Stevan's ARTIST PAGE where you can learn more about his multifaceted career and listen to his musical works! We recently caught up with Stevan as he was preparing new performances, composing his new recording for 2010, and he was kind enough to make the time to answer a few of our questions!
What artist(s) have influenced you the most? "Well, that's a long story, yet I grew up listening to 60's rock n roll like Clapton, Hendrix & the Beatles. As time passed, I slipped more into jazz and classical with artists like Chick Corea, Segovia, Paco, John Williams, Baden Powell, Piazzolla, Vicente Amigo, Miles...". Tell us more about Sugo Music’s new Ballroom albums that you produced.
"Wow, what a fun project! The collection is 15 CDs (and more to come), so there was a lot of studio time involved. I still recall many of the LA sessions with all these monster cats from the hottest Latin bands from around the world. We were all stuffed into this Burbank studio for a week, tracking the most infectious Latin dance music imaginable. We recorded 60 songs! We were editing arrangements, re-scoring parts, dancing in the hallways, and encouraging the guys to stretch out on the tunes. Soon after, more tracks from other sessions were added to top off this one-of-a-kind collection..."
We understand that some of your guitar recordings are featured on these albums as well? “Yes, the label wanted to include some of my guitar and ensemble works. I’m flattered”. I think they even added 3 or 4 songs to the Rumba & Milonga album – which is one of my favorites, along with the Tango collection”. If you were not a musician, what type of career would you have pursued?
"Hmmm...a writer".
What is on your artistic horizon? “Too much; there are not enough hours in days. I want to perform & record more original works. I have a killer recording studio in my home and I’ll be spending more time along the way documenting new works. The last 5 years I’ve been ‘mashing’ acoustic guitar techniques (classical, flamenco, jazz, tango) into a performance style…now that’s a lot of fun and very rewarding, enriching. That said, I really enjoy exploring all of the new business opportunities that are becoming available relevant to distributing and promoting entertainment assets. It’s funny that most musicians feel that “music is dead”. I firmly believe that the art of delivering audio & visual assets has just begun - and being a ‘student of this game’ is vital for success”. What is your iPod mix? “Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Wes Montgomery. John Lennon, Marley, Juanjo Dominguez, Kenny Burrell, Robin Nolan. Koko Taylor, Wes Montgomery, Stevie Ray, Nitin Sawhney, Caetano Veloso, Trio Garufa, Nacho Sotomayor, Nina Simone, Kazuhito Yamashita, Pickpocket Ensemble, Ray Brown, Amerimambo, Frederic Rousseau, Jesus & Paco Leon, Bajofondo, Thievery, Berroguetto...”.
Artist Spotlight/December 2009 Michael Ludwig
Michael Ludwig has performed with the top orchestras on 4 continents & has collaborated with Sir Georg Solti, Joseph Silverstein, John Williams, & more. Michael is in high demand as a guest soloist, recording artist, and chamber musician. After reading the interview, please take a moment to visit Michael's ARTIST PAGE where you can learn more about his illustrious career, tour dates, and listen to his musical works! His artistry can be enjoyed on SUGO’s Noel Noel, Acoustic Christmas and Gardensong. We recently caught up with Michael during the Holidays as he was preparing for his up coming concert tour and he was kind enough to make the time to answer a few of our questions!
What artist(s) have influenced you the most? "I am influenced greatly by artists who have distinct individual voices, whether it be the singular voice and interpretative skills of Frank Sinatra, the unique violin sound of fiddle players such as Jascha Heifetz, Isaac Stern, or my father Irving Ludwig, or the literary style of a writer such as Ernest Hemingway. The creative expression of individuals such as these is a great source of inspiration for me".
Tell us more about your upcoming concerts when you are performing 4 concertos in 4 cities. Is this common? It seems like quite an undertaking? Does this require special preparation? "This series of concerts takes place between mid-January and mid-February and includes the Tchaikovsky Concerto, Vieuxtemps Concerto #5, the Corigliano "Red Violin" Concerto, and the Dohnanyi Concerto #1. It is a great deal of repertoire in a very short period of time, but a very gratifying challenge. The performances are in Nova Scotia, California, Florida, and Iowa. The Vieuxtemps and Tchaikovsy are old staples in my repertoire. I recorded the Dohnanyi Concerti last year with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and have a live recording of the Red Violin Concerto with the Buffalo Philharmonic set for release this coming spring".
Please describe your concert violin. "I perform on a violin made by Lorenzo Storioni. The violin was made in the late 1700's in Cremona, where the great Stradivari worked as well. I use a Dominique Peccatte bow, made in France".
If you were not a musician, what type of career would you have pursued? "I cannot imagine a life without music. I think we are all, deep inside, musicians to some degree".
What is on your artistic horizon? "I am very fortunate to have so many wonderful artistic opportunities these days. Concertizing and recording are front and center in my artistic life these days, but there is also time for teaching and conducting on occasion".
What are you currently listening to these days ? What is your iPod mix? "I never seem to find time to update my i-pod, but it has almost everything Sinatra recorded on it, so I'm never at a loss for beautiful music. These days I'm enjoying discovering many Ray Charles recordings I hadn't been familiar with, as well as those of Ella Fitzgerald".
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