|
||
 |
In the summer of 1998, thanks to the Nelson Sánchez Chapellín Foundation, Rodolfo had the opportunity to record his solo guitar playing. The recording was made in Caracas after a great week of guitar playing at the International Guitar Festival. It features most of the repertoire from Rodolfo's recital, including his transcriptions of music by Renaissance lutenist John Dowland (some of these transcriptions are available in scores for free download). Other selections in this recording include pieces by Eduardo Sainz de la Maza, Villa-Lobos and Lauro. Rodolfo performed in a Deerhead Guitar built by Larry Breslin in Colorado Springs.
From time to time, Rodolfo visits the recording studio in order to do some takes on new music for the guitar. One of such pieces is Evergreenn (2004), a short piece he composed for the wedding of his friends Jen and Brett, after a sketch by the bride. The latest solo guitar recording is Bagatelle for a Stranger (1995/2008), an homage to Leo, a 12-year-old who committed suicide in order to punish his parents.
Other recordings of Rodolfo with a band or his larger projects can be found at his MySpace page: www.myspace.com/rodolfobetancourt.
|
||
Of working with singer/songwriter Carlos Jaeger in Venezuela between 1993 and 1994, two things come to mind: The full-house concert at the National Theatre in Caracas and recording Claroscuro. Claroscuro is a compilation of Carlos' original songs arranged by keyboardist Luiser (who also produced the recording) and Rodolfo, with lots of great ideas from the rest of the band, Solamente Todos. Not unlike many musicians in Venezuela, Carlos felt at home composing in many different styles, frequently mixing them in ways not heard by many beyond the country's borders. He then avoided what record companies love: pigeonholing the artist in a style box (otherwise called "World Music"). When working with Carlos' songs, Solamente Todos pushed the envelope and took his ideas to the next level.