Search - Gerald Garcia :: Garcia: Etudes Esquisses; Celtic Airs

The greatest player you've never heard of

Tom Poore | South Euclid, OH | 08/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Holmquist seldom makes anyone's "best classical guitarist" list, but in his prime he was second to none. Unfortunately, his best recordings were for a now defunct label, and it's unlikely they'll ever resurface. But this Naxos recording will give you a taste. Holmquist's tone and sense of timing on this recording put most guitarists to shame. For example, try track 3: Cuan Ag Eirigh. (When I was a student, I played this track for my music theory teacher. After listening intently, he remarked that there where a lot of pianists who could learn from this performance.)



Holmquist has since gone on to a career outside of music. So we may have to be satisfied with this all-too-brief example of his playing. This is a recording that should be heard by every aspiring young classical guitarist--it's a necessary corrective to the many current players who are better marksmen than musicians."