February's month’s track was Anthony Weller playing Luiz Bonfa’s “Manhã de Carnaval” (Morning of the Carnival), composed for the 1959 Cannes Grand Prize winning film “Black Orpheus”, an adaptation of the Greek legend of Orpheus and Euridice. Quite early in my career I showed three instruments to the Cuban virtuoso Rey de la Torre, who, to my surprise and delight, liked them enough to deem them concert guitars, recommending them to his students, Anthony being the first. I not only got a timely, engaging, and supportive early client, but a lifelong, nourishing friendship. Anthony plays both jazz and classical music, in solo and chamber settings, with authority and sensitivity. He’s also a fine writer, about whose work and music you can learn here: www.anthonyweller.com/writingbio and here: www.anthonyweller.com/musicbio On the track he plays the instrument I made for him in 1979, of which he speaks here: www.johnfmello.com/testimonials (scroll down for full quote). Anthony’s tender rendition captures the heart of Bonfa’s bittersweet prelude to the tragic events that follow.
