Dos Américas
Alejandro Dávila Jim Bosse
Celebrating Five Years
And over 100 concerts/performances including:
Important Festivals
Guitarras del Mundo - San Juan, Argentina 2006
Encuentro de Guitarristas, Maestros de Dos Mundos - Hidalgo, Mexico 2006
New Music Symposium - Colorado College, Colorado 2004
Encuentro de Guitarras - Junin de Los Andes, Argentina 2004 & 2003
International Guitar Festival of LaPlata - Argentina 2005
Colleges / Universities
National University - San Juan, Argentina 2005 & 2001
Western State College - Gunnison, Colorado 2005, 2003
College of Santa Fe - New Mexico 2005
Front Range Community College - Fort Collins, Colorado 2006, 2005
National University - San Louis, Argentina 2005
University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, Colorado 2001
University of Southern Colorado - Pueblo, Colorado 2003
Guitar Societies
Colorado Springs Guitar Society - Colorado 2006, 2004
Cheyenne Guitar Society - Wyoming 2005
Denver Classical Guitar Society - Colorado 2001
Northern Colorado Guitar Society - Colorado 2003
Concert Series
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Concert Series - Pueblo, Colorado 2006, 2004
Camping Musical Concerts - Bariloche, Argentina 2003
Thursday Night Concerts - Colorado Springs School, Colorado 2005, 2003
Pergamino Concert Association Concert Series - Pergamino, Argentina 2005
Creed Arts Council Concert Series - Creede, Colorado 2004
Municipal de Rio Grande Concerts - Rio Grande, Argentina 2003
Lake City Arts Council Concert Series - Lake City, Colorado 2003
Live Television Programs
La Ventana - San Juan, Argentina 2005
Colorado Juke Box Live - Pueblo, Colorado 2005 & 2003
University and Society - San Juan, Argentina 2001
Good Morning Colorado - Colorado Springs, Colorado 2005
Live Radio Programs
Cuasar Radio - Junin de los Andes, Argentina 2004 & 2003
Performing New Music
Dos Américas has performed the world premiere performance of eleven pieces
and five arrangements of works for guitar duo.
Dos Américas has reawakened
the musical spirit that has been
dormant in me for a long time.
- José Paredes
Your Duo is so great, it was an
honor for me to perform with you.
- Claudio Maldonado
For me it was a very great pleasure
to play with you. And I was very
honored that a duo so great
played my music.
- Jorge Cardoso
Reviews of Dos Américas Concerts:
Tom Stringer, editor,
Colorado Springs Guitar Society Newsletter - March 2006
The Dos Américas duo, Alejandro Dávila and Jim Bosse were presented in concert by the CSGS on Friday, Feb. 10 at the First Congregational Church in the downtown area.
The concert opened with a guest appearance by the CSGS Ensemble, directed by Mike Zimmerman. The ensemble warmed up the audience with a short set of pieces ranging from the Renaissance period up to the 20th century.
The Dos Américas program began with Jorge Cardoso’s Portena Suite (Suite Popular #4), which consisted of four movements titled Cancion, Tango, Vals, and Milonga. This was followed by a virtuoso set of tangos by the great Argentinean composer Astor Piazzola. In these dazzling works, impeccably played by the duo, Piazzola’s work is clearly revealed as being of the highest level of a musical sophistication, with rhythmic and harmonic complexity on a par with the best European 20th century music by, for example, Prokofiev, Bartok, and Khachaturian.
Next on the program was a featured work, the US premier of José Paredesí stunning new composition, Vidala, composed expressly for the Dos Américas duo. Jim Bosse presented some background about José Paredes, who lives now as a resident of a spiritual commune in Argentina. Jim delivered some good news: After a number of years of inactivity as a composer, Paredes has recently began composing again, mainly stimulated by the performances of his works by Dos Américas.
The second half of the concert began with a suite of six pieces Jim recently composed for each of his grandchildren, titled “Suite Grandkids.” A very clever and poignant visual effect accompanied the music; Jim and Alejandro displayed a large photo of each of Jim’s grandchildren on an easel on the stage as each child’s piece was played. Some of the movements employed creatively unorthodox effects, such as using the guitars as percussive instruments. The entire suite was exciting and highly effective musically.
The planned portion of the concert concluded with four of Jim’s beautiful arrangements of Beatle songs: “Blackbird”, “In My Life”, “The Fool on the Hill”, and “Junk.” The duo then rewarded the audience with an encore, José Paredes, “Cancion de Cuna,” and the evening came to a close.
This was the first CSGS concert held at the First Congregational Church, and the acoustics proved to be most exquisite. It was a very enjoyable evening, and it was apparent that all of the concert attendees were enthralled by the musical sensitivity, creativity, and virtuosity of this duo. We look forward to their return next year.
Diario De Cuyo, Argentina October 20, 2006
In it’s 12th edition, the Festival Guitarras del Mundo took place in San Juan with a free concert in the auditorium Juan Victoria. The inaugural presentation was an excellent performance by Alejandro Dávila and the North American, Jim Bosse who form Dos Américas. To a full house they presented their program.
The Mountain Mail, Salida, Colorado July 14, 2004
Dos Américas wows Steam Plant crowd, “It’s amazing how well they play together!”
Discography
Dos Américas - Music of Argentina (2005)
1 Lo Que Vendrá
2 Triunfal
3 Milongo del Ayer - Abel Fleury
4 Cancion - Walter Heinze
5 Huella
6 Chamamenmi
7 Cancion de Cuna - José Paredes
8 Milonga
9 Tiempo de Gato
- Colecciún de Otoño
10 Campanas Lunares
11 Vals Antiguo
12 Ritual
Dos Américas - Rock ’N Roll Tendencies (2006)
1 Black Bird - Lennon / McCartney
2 In My Life
3 Fool on the Hill
4 Junk - Paul McCartney
5 Those Were the Days - Gene Raskin
6 Light My Fire - Morrison, Manzarek, Densmore, Kreiger
7 I Can’t Help Falling In Love - Weiss, Peretti, Creatore
8 Wedding Song for Krysty & Malcolm - Jim Bosse
9 Mildred’s Mazurka
10 Point Counterpoint - Steve Morse
11 April, Come She Will - Paul Simon
12 Angi - Davy Graham
First performing as a duo in Argentina in 2001, Dos Américas offer an eclectic musical selection and unique sound from the melding of two diverse cultures.
They have performed throughout Argentina including participation at “Encuentro de Guitarristas” guitar festival in Junin de Los Andes, and “Festival Internacional de Guitarra” in LaPlata.
In North America they have performed extensively in the Rocky Mountain Region, including participation in the prestigious New Music Symposium at Colorado College, and the “International Festival de Guitaristas, Maestros de Dos Mundos” in Hidalgo, Mexico.
Alejandro Dávila
Alejandro began studying classical guitar when he was seven years old. His very first teachers were Maestros Domingo Carbajal and Juan Fernandez Da Peña. He spent his undergraduate career guided by Maestro Omar Atreo and obtained his professor in classical guitar degree at the San Juan National University in Argentina. He perfected his instrumental technique through courses with Abel Carlevaro, Manuel Lopez Ramos, Irma Costanzo, Eduardo Fernandez and Hopkinson Smith.
As a guitarist he has obtained awards in many important contests, among those included are: National Guitar Contest, Santa Fe (1978); Pre-Cosquin Festival, Cordoba
(1978); National Musical Promotions Contest, Buenos Aires (1978) and Maria Luisa Anido National Guitar Contest, Buenos Aires (1979).
Alejandro has performed all over Argentina, in Chile, and since 1997 has given over 100 concerts in the United States.
He is also a professor of guitar at the Centro Polivante de Artes and at San Juan National University in Argentina.
“The Dos Américas program began with Jorge Cardoso’s ‘Portena Suite’… This was followed by a virtuoso set of tangos by the great Argentinean composer Astor Piazzola. In these dazzling works, impeccably played by the duo, Piazzola’s work is clearly revealed as being of the highest level of musical sophistication… it was apparent that all of the concert attendees were enthralled by the musical sensitivity, creativity, and virtuosity of this duo. We look forward to their return next year.”
- Review of Dos Américas concert by Colorado Springs Guitar Society.
“Dos Américas wows Steamplant crowd… It’s amazing how well they play together.”
- The Mountain Mail, Salida, Colorado
“…Dávila stretches the imagination and broadens what we think guitar can do… the audience was completely seduced…”
- Charles Ricillo, Pueblo Chieftain, Colorado
“He showed a vibrancy and musical sensibility and at the same time he virtuously displays interpretations rich in agility and clarity.”
- Tribuna, Buenos Aires
“The notes ring clearly and crisply, with deep expression in the phrasing… Dávila possesses many voices in his playing, but the voices of Argentina seem the strongest.”
- Alessandro Salimbeni, KCME, Colorado Springs
“If you can imagine the sound of souls laughing and crying. If you can imagine the soundtrack of culture and tradition. Imagine a father’s unspoken hope for his son. Or, a mother’s whispered prayer for her daughter. Then, you can imagine what happens when Alejandro Dávila plays the guitar.”
- Rosemary Harris, Gazette, Colorado Springs
by Jose Paredes.
For concert schedule and booking information, or any other site page, please click on the link below.