Media | Marcus Gerakos

Main Feature

Girl

The duo setting and the creative solos make “Girl” sound fresh and new.

“Marcus Gerakos has been a very busy guitarist during the past few decades, working with major players (including John Klemmer, Justo Almario, and Alex Acuna among many others) and leading his own jazz groups. In recent times Gerakos has been releasing a series of singles as part of his “In Good Company” series. During each performance he teams up with a different guest artist. Among his collaborations so far are musical meetings with Otmaro Ruiz, Rique Pantoja, Luis Villegas, Robert Kyle, and Eddie Resto.

The most recent single in this series is a transformation of the Lennon/McCartney composition “Girl” into a rumba. Teamed up with the guitarist is pianist Francisco Loyo, a brilliant jazz player who is best known for being the keyboardist, arranger, and musical director for the famous pop singer Luis Miguel since 1993.

The eight-minute performance begins with Gerakos on acoustic guitar making an unaccompanied statement that hints in places of Django Reinhardt. Loyo creates his own opening cadenza and then the two play together with the guitarist stating the famous Beatles melody. Gerakos with his clear tone and fluent lines stretches the song a bit while Loyo supplies relaxed accompaniment. The pianist continues the infectious mood during his solo, keeping an attractive rhythmic flow throughout. After the closing melody, Gerakos and Loyo engage in some colorful tradeoffs and close interplay over a rhythmic vamp before the song fades out.

The duo setting and the creative solos make “Girl” sound fresh and new. Marcus Gerakos and Francisco Loyo have created a stirring performance that makes for a memorable listening experience. “Girl” is available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music and the main music platforms.”

Video Review

Caravan

One of the freshest and most atmospheric versions of “Caravan” recorded in recent times.

“Marcus Gerakos is a very skilled and versatile guitarist. During the past 30 years he has performed in many settings including with John Klemmer, Justo Almario, and Alex Acuna, has been a busy session player, and has led a number of his own jazz-oriented groups.

As part of his “In Good Company” series, Gerakos is releasing a series of singles, each one featuring a different guest artist. For his version of “Caravan,” he and Luis Villegas are featured on nylon-string guitars with support from bassist Jonathan Pintoff and percussionist Pete Korpela. Gerakos contributed the arrangement which recasts the Juan Tizol classic in a setting that has Afro-Cuban rhythms and the feel of rumba flamenco.

Marcus Gerakos begins “Caravan” by playing an intro over the opening vamp before Luis Villegas (a virtuoso who blends together flamenco music with jazz) states the melody and takes a dazzling solo. The performance is taken slightly slower than its usual pace which gives the piece a sensual atmosphere. It also includes a catchy rhythm that is heard at the end of each eight-bar section. When Villegas concludes his solo, Gerakos takes over, building on his mood and ideas while taking the music in a slightly different direction with a hint of gypsy jazz before he finishes the piece with its theme.

The result is one of the freshest and most atmospheric versions of “Caravan” recorded in recent times.”