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Montreal Guitar Show moves to Palais des Congrès
Many
of our readers play guitar, coming from a generation that grew up with
the explosion of popular music with simple chord structures; that made
music accessible – even to those with modest talent. Started just
three years ago as part of the Jazz Festival, the Montreal Guitar Show
has grown so much that the organizers are moving the show this year to
the Palais des Congrès. The show runs from July 3 – 5; and
is expanding to include electric guitars, in addition to acoustic
instruments.
The show is an opportunity for
guitarists to meet the people who actually make the guitars – and a
chance to play some of the finest instruments in the world. “One of the
big advantages of the Montreal show is the large number of sound-proof
booths” notes Linda Manzer, who has made guitars for Paul Simon, Bruce
Cockburn, Carlos Santana and jazz virtuoso Pat Metheny. Quite
literally, her guitars are works of art; on display at Boston’s Museum
of Fine Art and The Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.
Linda has crafted 25 guitars for
Metheny, and is halfway through building a limited edition of 30
Metheny-Manzer instruments.
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Guitar maker Linda Manzer will be exhibiting
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“Pat designed the inlay arrangement of
symbols spilling down the fret-board. Paul Simon bought one.”
Underscoring the importance of the relationship between the builder and
musician, Linda notes; “Pat Metheny says that I’m one of
his most important collaborators.” Linda continues; “Being
the maker of a guitar for someone who will subsequently use it as an
instrument for their own creative purpose give me a unique entrance
into their world. I put so much of myself into what I do – and
then I hand it over to someone else to make more art with
it.”
It hasn’t been an easy career choice.
“For the first part of my career, I lived in poverty.” However, those
days are behind Linda. Her guitars command five and six figures. For
example, the limited edition Metheny-Manzer series sell for $32,000 US
each.
Linda considers the Montreal Guitar Show to be one of
the best in the world. “Jacques-André Dupont (the show’s founder and
President) told me he had a dream to build one of the world’s best
guitar shows – and I think he’s done that.” Craftsmen come from all
over the world to exhibit their instruments. In addition, there are
workshops where musicians can exchange ideas and techniques with
accomplished professionals.
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There are of course performances (ticketed
and free) going on during the Guitar Show and the broader festival.
For more information about the Montreal Guitar Show, the workshops and performances; please visit: www.montrealguitarshow.com
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