James Hunley Classical Guitarist,
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James Hunley Classical Guitarist,
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James Hunley/ Florida Review
By Eric Hansen, Daily Sun
THE VILLAGES - A musician Oscar Feliu characterized as “easily one of the best guitarists I’ve seen in the past 10 years” performed at Church on the Square Wednesday evening.
Classical guitarist James Russell Hunley demonstrated a combination of technical mastery and sense of humor rarely encountered in his field.
Dressed in Dockers slacks and a casual dress shirt, Hunley presented himself as a contradiction to Andres Segovia, a classical guitarist famous for asking those who coughed during he performances to leave.
At Wednesday’s show, the Los Angeles resident shared his love for the guitar with the audience – “It’s a blast to play,” he said after “Spanish Dance No. 5” by Granados – and told jokes: “Church is the only institution I know of where, if you’re late, you have to sit up front.”
Even making light of his own casual manner, Hunley recounted a scene from The Wedding Singer movie that ends with the line, “I don’t have to shut up – I’ve got the microphone.” The audience rested easy during the humorous interludes
“He has such a great personality, so fun,” said Jerry Rutledge, a Villages resident. “I’ve never heard such a classical guitarist before.”
Feliu commented, “Many musicians have an aura that they must be catered to. He doesn’t have any of that, which is nice to see in a musician of his caliber.”
Complementing Hunley’s knack for crowd interaction was his obvious devotion to musical technique.
His left hand ran up and down the guitar’s neck while the fingers of his right hand deftly picked at the strings. Hunley played songs off his most recent album, R.S.V.P., including “Lagrima” by Tarrega, “Sound of Bells” by Guimaraes, “Etude No. 8” by Villa Lobos and “Leyenda” by Albeniz.
“You sit here and are mesmerized because you can’t imagine how (his fingers) move so fast,” Corailie Daniels, a resident of The Villages, said. “I noticed that (Feliu) was very intently watching the guitarist, too.”
Himself a classical guitarist, Feliu said he grew up hearing the instrument in Chile. “I have a great appreciation for the difficulty that is offered by the classical guitar,” he said.
Hunley made guitar playing sound easy, saying, “When you play anything 500 or 600 times in a row, slowly, you’re mind will pick it up.”
He contradicted the belief that a great musician must start playing at 6 years old.
“The classical guitar is one of the few instruments that it’s harder to pick up at an early age than an older age,” he said, adding that fingertips are one of last parts of the human body to fully develop.
The guitar became Hunley’s passion when he was a boy, living on an Air Force base in Texas. A graduate of the San Francisco conservatory of Music, Hunley now has his own television show in California.
“This guy’s pretty sharp,” Anthony Marinaccio said Wednesday. “This audience is enjoying it. I could tell by their reaction.”
Hunley is expected to make a return appearance at the church as part of the Gift of Music series. The guitarist’s parents live in Eustis.
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Internationally acclaimed Classical Guitarist James Russell Hunley
is one of the United States leading
Musical personalities. James is a virtuoso performer with a sense of humor. He loves
life and belives that all is "a gift from the
ever flowing love' that is to him the presence of God.
He has toured throught The USA, Europe ,and in Mexico
and loves playing concerts in areas with natural beauty.
His recording"Lasting Impressions" has been heard through out the world and his music video is seen on PBS, A&E and "The Arts Channel his second CD, "RSVP", has also been heard through out the USA, Mexico and Europe.
James' next tour is in Arizona ,Scotland,New Mexico,Montana,Wyoming,Florida,Germany,Oregon,California(of course)Washington and idaho-Hawaii Etc.
A busy year on the tour Books.
The new tour is titled "An evening in the Gardens of Spain" and features images and sounds of Seville ,Granada, Cordoba and the country side of Southern Spain.
CONTACT his manager Sally Savalas(yes that Savalas) altanovaca@aol.
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James Hunley Classical Guitarist
James Hunley
Biography
“Guitar d’ amore” One of the phrases critic’s have used to describe the classical guitar of James Russell Hunley, the voice of love.
Romance is instantaneous when he applies his technical agility to the captivating passages of the masterworks he performs.
Such is the essence of the classical guitar, which may well be the most introspective of all musical instruments. It is what first attracted Mr. Hunley to the guitar, and what compels him today.
Classical guitar has dominated Mr. Hunley’s life since he was thirteen years old. Born in Chandler, Arizona to a U.S. air force fighter-test pilot and a real-estate broker, he is the only professional musician in a family of five children. As a teen-ager he was obsessed with the guitar. He would begin practice at 4 a.m. and continue practicing after school into the evening. Much to the objections of his parents he even ate dinner at his music stand.
While his family was living in San Angelo Texas, the young Mr. Hunley performed in local restaurants.
Several patrons took note of his performance. One patron, the Hal Noelke family was so taken by his playing that they offered to sponsor his future studies. He chose to study at the San Francisco conservatory of music. At the conservatory he gained a solid foundation in music, and the technical skills with which he could continue to explore the historic techniques of the classical guitar masters. Over the years he has woven those techniques into an individual style and interpretation.
A strong affirmation of Mr. Hunleys muscianship came several years ago from California Luthier John Gilbert, whose guitars are among the most sought after in the world. The list of requests for purchasing A Gilbert guitar would take over 23 years to fill, but Mr. Hunley’s audition for John secured him the opportunity to purchase a guitar after only one year on the waiting list.
Presently living in Los Angeles California, Mr. Hunley divides his time between
Performing and television /recording production. He has hosted 32 episodes of
“The Acoustic Experience” the U.S. television shows that both instructs and communicates the internal dialogue of acoustic music. His C.D. “Lasting Impressions” has been heard throughout the North American Continent.
The Music video from lasting Impressions, La Catedral, (shot in Big Sur, CA),
has been broadcast on, PBS, A&E and The Arts Channel in the U.S..It has been seen internationally on, Arts, from satellite galaxy one. His new C.D.,” R.S.V.P.” is now in its second pressing.
In regard to his live performances, music critic Robert Masulla called his playing
“Beautifully phrased, amazingly subtle and incredibly sure.” However, James believes that the audience’s emotional response is the most important feedback
for him as an artist. -“There’s nothing greater in life than to touch someone’s soul through your music.”
An advocate for de mystifying classical music, James believes in using film and video to visually communicate the internal dialogue of music. He has served as executive producer on many classical music videos, including Pepe Romero’s
“Recuerdos de la Alhambra” for Phillips records.
Mr. Hunley’s interests and skills are eclectic. His leisure time is spent reading and
Studying, or at the opposite end of the energy spectrum, running, exercising and deep water snorkeling, (preferably in warm water).
I want to mention the wonderful people who have gone to the source of love before us.
My Grand Mother Nell Hunley, Nancy Truhaft
Connie my producer and Celedonio and Angelita
Romero . I thank God that you were in my
Life and that you brought so much Joy to so Many.
I also want to incourage all the young Guitarists in the world to Keep on working in love and respect of one and other.
If you ever need help with the repetoire e mail me and I will give you all the support I can and all the stolen secrets that I have.
(many from my friends the Romeros)
Bless all of you and lets all incourage the world of our beautiful insturments contribution by supporting each other!!
If anyone Has Questions on The Concierto Aranjuez fingerings IE: Cadenza,3rd movment alterations
or any questions on any pieces from my recordings:La Catedral or the Albeniz
I would be Happy to answer them.
My E Mail address on tour is altanovabh16@hotmail and I usually look at it no matter where I am in the world.
I am also happy to give career counciling to aspiring muscians and to concert venues that need help growing their audience.
It was my pleasure to be the Publicist for the last GFA in San Diego(the most attended one
to date I am told), and to be the producer of
"Poet of the Guitar" Celedonio Romeros last recording.
I also thank Patt Finn of KPBS in San Diego, for taking on my project
"Los Romeros the Royal Family of the Guitar"
and a special thank you to my camera friends
for the last footage of Celedonio the great David Menken,
James
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The wonders of touring
I love the warm waters of Hawaii and Tahiti
and I love smoking Cuban cigars in the South of France and the Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho.
I also love Yellowstone National park in May
when the Buffalo calfs are with their mothers.
I also recomend Hawaii that big island where my heart is,I miss you and your wonderful residents!!
I also am thankful to all the kind people around the world who have attended my concerts and
laughed and been moved by the glorious and passionate insturment I am so lucky to play.
Thank you, to all the people who pay to hear me play!!All the revues are nothing compared to your
encouragment and support.
I am ever dilligent for everyone of you
thanks .
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