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BISBEE — A virtuoso visited the Repertory Theater over the weekend.
A world class acoustic guitarist, Robert Earl Longley’s lightning-fast hands produced extraordinary sounds from his flamenco instruments, Blanca and Negra.
“It looked like he had 10 fingers on one hand,” said Gerrie Herrington, on a Mother’s Day excursion from Indio, Calif.
Longley’s right hand at times resembled a large, whirring eggbeater as he strummed rich tones from the German spruce sound board. At other times, his right hand rested while the left played intricate melodies up and down the neck. Sometimes his right index finger would intervene to close a cadence on the fretboard.
 Robert Earl Longley warms up backstage in the Old Bisbee Repertory Theater on Saturday night. (Ted Morris•Herald/Review) |
Then at other times, both right and left exploded in simultaneous independent melodies — polyphony — as the artist’s hands produced a powerful synergy. A candle-lit stage set designed by Michael Page of concert sponsor Santiago’s completed the effect.
Gasps of astonishment could be heard in the auditorium.
Longley jammed by himself, improvising on his original compositions, pretty much the way Beethoven did in the salons of Europe in his younger days.
“I keep it kind of fresh, kind of new,” the 42-year-old musician said minutes before the Saturday performance. “Follow your heart. Follow your bliss. Let the creative process flow like water.”
Longley’s music is a hybrid of flamenco and jazzy polyrhythms that were influenced by his upbringing in the Deep South. He has produced nine CDs.
Longley grew up in New Orleans, where his teachers were experienced musicians, “and I learned on the streets.”
Two of Longley’s childhood mentors were Chet Atkins and Carlos Montoya. “Though they didn’t live in New Orleans, when they came, I was there,” Longley said.
“Completely different sides of the mountain,” Longley said. “A gypsy from Spain and a Tennessean.”
Longley’s father was once a student of Dixieland trumpeter Al Hirt. His mother’s ancestors came from Andalusia in Southern Spain, which is the birthplace of flamenco.
Longley, now living in Culver City, Calif., said flamenco is taken for granted in Spain. It’s gypsy music. People look down on it as Americans have looked down on the gritty street bluesmen.
Andalusian music was influenced by, among others, the Moors from Northern Africa and Sephardic Jews from the Diaspora. Longley played a song “Baraka” (blessing), making his guitar sound like a traditional Arabic lute, the ud, which has no frets, thus “very slippery,” he said as he described its “rubber band twang.”
The song’s intro featured his two hands beating out a rhythm on the sound board.
“I’m a frustrated drummer,” he said.
During his act, Longley frequently shared his wit and knowledge, including how a Spaniard named Antonio de Torres Jurado (1817-1892) developed the robust shape and design of the modern classical guitar.
Longley held up Blanca, displaying her hourglass figure to the audience. Legend has it that de Torres designed the guitar after his girlfriend.
“I approve 100 percent,” Longley said, smiling to his giggling audience.
His other flamenco guitar, Negra, is made from Indian rosewood on the back and sides, and also has a German spruce front. He’s still breaking in Negra, having bought the instrument a year ago for $7,300.
He uses gut strings, replacing them every four days. His fingernails have to be just the right length for picking. His daily practice regimen includes endless arpeggios with his right hand on muted strings as he strives for uniformity, listening for unwanted clicks.
“Keep that movement going as I’m watching CNN. The world crumbles ... music gives us hope.”
At the intermission, local coffee roaster Seth Appell was stunned.
“Oh my gosh,” he said of Longley’s virtuosity. “This is a mile-high performance, fitting for a mile-high village.”
COMING UP:
Old Bisbee Repertory Theater’s next production is “Phantom of the (Country) Opera,” on May 18, 19, 25, 26 and 27. Show time is 7:30. Tickets are $10 for Bisbee residents. For information, call 234-6723.
ON THE NET:
Robert Earl Longley:
robertearllongley.com
Hear a brief clip of Longley’s performance Saturday:
Visit svherald.com and click on the multimedia link.
Herald/Rreview City Editor Ted Morris can be reached at 515-4614 or at cityeditor@svherald.com.
rob gerdetz-NO,LA. from waaaaaaaaay back 714 342-4762 wrote on Jul 16, 2007 7:11 PM: