Marco Cappelli and Mamady Kouyate

February 16, 2011 06:30 PM

Organized in conjunction with the exhibition Picasso: Guitars 1912–1914, this program highlights the work of artists as innovative and singular in their approach to the sound of their instrument as Pablo Picasso was to the shape of his radical cardboard and sheet-metal guitars.

Italian guitarist Marco Cappelli, a notable figure in the NYC avant-garde music scene and creator of Extreme Guitar Project, presents a set that bridges traditional contemporary repertoire with daring experimentation. Cappelli performs on several instruments including his classical guitar modified with the addition of 8 to 10 sympathetic strings.

Mamady Kouyate, West African guitarist and leader of Guinean dance band the Mandingo Ambassadors, appears in a rare solo performance. Born into one of Guinea’s most prominent musical families and a former member of the legendary group Bembeya Jazz, Kouyate reworks old riffs and melodies onto the electric guitar with original flair, warmth, and virtuosity.