It’s been said that playing the guitar is a lot like how one lives their life. You can strum along gently and thoughtfully or play your tune furiously and with a burning passion. Perhaps it’s that intersection of music and life that explains why, when a truly great guitarist picks up their instrument, the sounds they produce aren’t just heard, they’re felt in one’s very soul. “There’s a magic in the instrument,” said Itamar Erez. “When I play the music is very emotional. It’s a melting pot of my life and my experiences, and it all comes from the heart.” Erez is one of the artists who will be appearing in Victoria as part of International Guitar Night. The concert is organized by guitar poet Brian Gore and will feature four additional guitarists whose dazzling virtuosity, diverse musical traditions, and intimate storytelling will be certain to delight their audience. “The lineup of this show is truly amazing,” said Gore. “All of them are Canadian and, on this tour, we are only doing shows in Canada.” In the past, Gore’s shows have travelled across the border to the U.S.A., but he explained that current political conditions have forced him to reconsider that approach. “We’ll be doing a different show in the (United) States in the future, as well as a European tour. But we’ll also be doing a more extensive Canadian cross-country tour,” he said. The artists coming to Victoria are truly some of the best guitarists in the world. Erez is an internationally acclaimed guitarist and composer whose music fuses Middle Eastern delicacy, jazz improvisation, and other world music influences. He’s the recipient of both the 2014 ACUM Prize for Special Achievement in Jazz and the Landau Prize, and he’s shared the stage with artists such as Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Tomatito, and Avishai Cohen – performing at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Barbican, and the Sydney Opera House. “My music is a melting pot, a personal style that comes from the many places I’ve travelled and the many musicians I’ve played with,” said Erez. “The music is emotional and I’ve actually had people come to me after the shows with tears welling up in their eyes. When you see that, you know that you’ve connected with the audience.” The second artist to be featured in the show is Juno Award-winning guitarist and vocalist Jocelyn Gould. A passionate bandleader, her live shows showcase both virtuosic guitar and heartfelt vocals, making her one of today’s most compelling jazz artists. Her four solo albums include Elegant Traveler (2021 Juno winner), Sonic Bouquet (2024 Juno nominee), and Portrait of Right Now (2024), which features original compositions and stunning vocal interpretations of jazz classics. The third artist to take the stage will be Jamie Dupuis, a Canadian guitarist and composer celebrated for his masterful fingerstyle technique and his distinctive voice on the harp guitar. A graduate of both Cambrian College and Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Dupuis performs globally and has released numerous recordings and YouTube videos that showcase his versatility across classical, jazz, blues, and pop styles. Inspired by artists like Tommy Emmanuel and Django Reinhardt, his dynamic artistry continues to push boundaries on both acoustic and harp guitars. Finally, the audience will have the opportunity to hear one of the world’s few prominent female flamenco guitarists and a pioneering voice in contemporary flamenco composition, Caroline Planté. Her latest work, The Roses of Lorca, premiered in 2024 and draws inspiration from Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. With over three decades of experience, she remains a bold and expressive voice in the flamenco world. “The different styles and interpretations presented by these artists are stunning,” said Gore. “There is such a diversity of styles that it leaves me amazed at what people can do with the same instrument. Each of these musicians has their own voice and the music they present is unique.” International Guitar Night will hit the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre in Duncan on Jan. 29, Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Jan. 30, and the University of Victoria’s Farquhar Auditorium on Jan. 31. For more information visit https://internationalguitarnight.com/canada-tour/. Tickets for the Victoria show are available at https://livevictoria.com/show/860568/view.
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