Yup it was a thrill..years have passed since those night sitting listening,break time chats and tea...I have had the pleasure of meeting up close two of the great jazz guitarist..Johnny Smith in Denver..Joe Pass at The Lighthouse,Hermosa Beach,Cal..both have passed gettin' down in heavenly splendor...Missed Jose Feliciano's gig at a club in East Los Angeles..his guitar playing is a superlative of musical magic...Charo does a fantastic rendition of Malaguena...
True--- I saw him play in Acton Massachusetts, sometime around 1971(ish). The venue was the high school basketball court. Also saw John Williams at U Mass, Amherst, same time general time frame. (BTW, I have no idea why Montoya was playing a high school in Acton MA)
My dad and I saw Montoya way back in '76 at Smith Colleges Green Hall. We were in the third row, right in front of him. I purchased the tickets as a surprise birthday gift for my dad. It was one of the finest things I've ever done in my life to then. The concert was simply fantastic, and my dad, who was a guitarist for most of his life, was very moved with emotion, bringing tears to his eyes. We saw Montoya in the summer of '76, ... the following year, in May, my dad passed at the age of 59, after suffering a major cerebral hemorrhage. I'll never forget the joy Carlos Montoya brought to the both of us that summer evening. Both are gone, ... neither of them will never be replaced in my eyes. This IS Flamenco guitar at it's finest!
Amongst the great old masters. He performed without amplification to a pin drop silence. He created unique sounds in his own style. I heard him in Toronto in old " Massy Hall' - No mikes.
Montaya my be one of the fastest dual finger players I have ever seen. Paco when he was young, about he same time as Montaya was already in his 60's was as fast. I can imagine how much faster Carlos was when he was younger. The Mastery is amazing, better than Segovia ever was for Flaminco that is.
In a small lounge in Waikiki Hawaii, front row seat..Carlos Montoya looked at me and asked if I was Puerto Rican ,when I requested Malaguena..replying with a head shake he began to play and play he did,for nearly 15 minutes his music moved the room to absolute silence..much to my surprise, pleasant surprise on his break Carlos Montoya asked in Spanish if he could set..my reaction momentously shocking..I stood,replied "Si,por favor'Si''.Well he remained sitting drinking tea,asking if I lived in Hawaii..Said to him that I was a Marine stationed in Hawaii..He asked how long I'd been in Hawaii? About 8 months..on a two year assignment..He found that fascinating. Inquired where I was from,told him Denver,Colorado..Hawaii at this time had not entered the union as the 50th. state.Not to make this a short story..the next five nights I was a regular at the Kaneohe Lounge..The guitar master of Flamenco made those times memorable.
