Pros: Many important ideas covered
Cons: None; just know that it doesn't cover everything
I believe Gonzalo's materials fill a niche in the learning material market. Specifically, if you're sick of transcribing lick and lick and having problems connecting them, this book will be a great way to see why things work in a song concept. Gonzalo breaks down licks in a way that will help you connect them when playing. This is great; personally I don't put enough ideas in a song concept.
However, all phrases are 8th notes. Anyone that listens to Django knows he could play two notes and make your heart race with them. Why? Because the guitar is a stringed instrument and vibrato, pull-offs, and other ornaments give it an expressive power that many instruments don't have (so maybe I am biased). And Django knew to use rests and not just play every second. Gonzalo's book does not cover such effects, or how to add that level of sophistication to your phrases. So don't expect to buy this and to sound like Django — or Gonzalo for that matter. This, again, just solves the problem that you know phrases but want to connect them, or play substitutions, build tensions, etc. I would recommend this book highly, but only in conjunction with (1) ear training and (2) Denis Chang's DVDs and (3) Buy the Loeffler videos from dc-musicschool and watch the one on interpretation.
Submitted by: Vince on 02/03/2012 11:55:03 AM