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Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com WEDNESDAY. JULY 17. 2 0 0 2 · P a g e C "> ARTSCEM Musician has Latin culture flowing in his woik By Lindsey Craig OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF ombining his musical talent with a love for the Latin cul ture, Johannes Linstead has climbed the Billboard charts and received a highly-distinguished award. The Oakville resident's third and most recent album, Guitarra Del Fuego, was recently named "Best Contemporary World Album" by New Age Voice magazine and has reached the No. 6 position on Billboard's New Age Chart. Describing his music as "festive and up-lifting, but with moments of moodiness," the composer, guitarist, pianist and performer said he wasn't even aware that he had been nom inated for the award until his record company called to congratulate him. "I just fell in love "I just said, `Really? Oh my God.' I with the culture of couldn't believe it," he said. · Linstead's album edged out other Latin America." artists whose musical styles included · Johannes Linstead, Latin, New Age, World Music, Native musician American, and more. With two previous albums, Sol Luna Tierra (1999) and Kiss the Earth (2000), Linstead said Guitarra Del Fuego is different from his previous work in that it contains new ele ments to his nouveau flamenco sound. It's based primarily on tradi tional Cuban rhythms, such as rumba, guaguanco, cha cha cha, guajira, and son. But despite being distinct from the others, the three albums share a common trait in that each have reached Billboard's New Age Chart. They were also all released world-wide by California-based Real Music, a record label that honours "music which awakens the spirit and comforts the heart". Perhaps describing his sound the most eloquently, however, are his critics. New Age Voice said, "Johannes' music fits comfortably in the nouveau flamenco category, but one listen will tell you that it is so much more... music that fully realizes the romance, energy and vibrancy of the cultures which inspired it." Backroads Music also wrote, "At once a classical virtuoso, ambient visionary and pop musician of great warmth and feeling, he enchants with composi tions flowing effortlessly from his nylon strings." Linstead was bom and raised in Oakville. The former T. A. Blakelock High School student began playing the guitar at age eight, when his sister gave him the instrument as a gift. "And then it just kind of took me over," he said, adding that he took lessons at Oakville's High-Note Music Academy until age 13, before furthering his talents independently. "I consider myself a composer first before anything else," he said. Operating from his Speers Road studio, Linstead said he current ly works between 20-80 hours a week. He's now working on his fourth album, which will be released at the end of this year. Inspired by his own life experiences, nature, and "the good acts of C Jamie Smith · Oakville Beaver Musician and former T.A. Blakelock student Johannes Linstead recently won an award for his third New Age album. other people," Linstead began to encompass Latin and Caribbean sounds after numerous travelling excursions to countries like Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. "I just fell in love with the culture of Latin America," he said. "The people don't make a lot of money, but they're still festive and happy. "In Cuba, they have incredible music," he continued. "Their instru ments are all old and weathered, but they make them sound amazing." Other influences include classical composers Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, among many, along with Spanish classical guitar composers. As for record sales, Linstead said that with an American record company, his albums have been more successful in the States. This summer, when he's not composing, Linstead will be per forming at Toronto's Taste of the Danforth festival along with vari ous shows throughout the New York State. While on stage, he per forms with a band and is joined by Liliana La Zarzamora, a dancer from Columbia. Music enthusiasts can purchase Guitarra Del Fuego at downtown Oakville's Grigorian L'Atelier. HMV, and most music retailers. n1 [(y l\A W V 1 GARDEN CENTRE Serving M ississauaa.and O akville-For Over40`YMT r British olumbia* Direct From i im/ n il 1 U /o Off super 40 rubber pond liners & Six Other Varieties of a c c e s s o r ie s in c lu d in g p u m p s All FlowerM JBF fjfljje ii Available | ^purseiiy Items on Sale Bronte Road & Lower Base Line " O D C ForJill of Your Landscaping Supplies With 2 Locations To Serve You! 758 Southdown Road (905) 257-4580 QEW ROYAL WINDSOR LAK ESH O R E d o m Lower Baseline i Hwy 5 A 1 Southdown Rd. 758 (905) 842-5053 *While supplies last QEW N