2005 GRAMMY Award Winner for Best Instrumental Soloist Performance
Precursors of the guitar can be traced to the ancient Middle East, but the instrument first flourished in Spain during the Renaissance, and it has since been associated indelibly with the Latin spirit. The Spanish colonies of South and Central America inevitably gave the instrument a new voice. Aire Latino, a collection of Latin American music for guitar performed by David Russell, brings together some of the most characteristic compositions of the twentieth-century written from Mexico to Argentina.

Aire Latino features music of such great composers as Jorge Morel, Augustin Barrios, Eduardo Falu, Carlos Payes and Manuel Ponce, among several others. This exploration of Latin American music takes the listener through Argentina, El Salvador, Brazil, Mexico and Paraguay.

“The music of South America has always had a special place in my heart. Some of the very first pieces I ever played were from Brazil and Argentina,” said David Russell. “I have been inspired by many Latin American guitarist-composers such as Jorge Morel, Falu, Cardoso and others. They write music with a depth of feeling and understanding of the instrument that transcends the borders of folk music and elevates it to universal music of high artistic value. I have wanted to record many of these pieces for years. In fact, most of the music on this disc has been part of my general repertoire for a long time.”

A gifted and brilliant musician since his childhood in Glasgow, Scotland, David Russell is recognized the world over for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent, the Royal Academy of Music in London named him a Fellow in 1997.

In addition to performing in virtually every corner of the globe, Russell participates in classical guitar festivals and teaches master classes. He is a favorite on college campuses because of his special interest in advancing young people’s interest in music, and specifically in providing opportunities for classical guitarists at all levels.