MUSIC DESCRIPTION: Jim Kuehnel, “Jimmy K Talent” : “....Norman Learo cannot be categorized, unless you want to create a new category and simply call it brilliant...” Music critics, renowned musicians and listeners alike have commented on Norman’s individual and diverse style of instrumental compositions:... 2006 ECMA Nominee for Best Intstrumental Recording...Performing/composing music in a wide variety of styles and eras over 3 decades has provided Norman with a wide sonic palette to draw from. Commissioned to compose for The Canadian Guitar Quartet... to the Canadian Vaudville Co....to 1999 East Coast Guitarist of The Year Finalist. For Bio, on-line reviews/articles and industry references please visit www.normanlearo.com
CBC Music Critic, ( review on latest CD "Spanish Spirit") "Delicacy & aggression, subtlety & intensity, soul & passion, all coming within seconds on each song. The next step in flamenco."
Biography
MUSIC DESCRIPTION: Jim Kuehnel, “Jimmy K Talent” : “....Norman Learo cannot be categorized, unless you want to create a new category and simply call it brilliant...” Music critics, renowned musicians and listeners alike have commented on Norman’s individual and diverse style of instrumental compositions.
EDUCATION: A graduate from Concordia (B,F.A.), and McGill Universities (M.A. Dip.Ed.) from Montreal, Canada, and 2 Scholarships to the Banff School of Fine Arts studying under eminent artists and composers. Also, attending master classes with renowned classical and jazz guitarists.
ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: 2006-ECMA (East Coast Music Awards) Nominee for Best Instrumental Recording, 2005-Music Columnist for Miramichi Leader ( weekly). In 1999-- selected among the top 5 finalists in the “East Coast Guitarist of the Year Competition”, ... 1986-- among the top 5 finalists representing Eastern Canada in the CBC Canadian National Jazz Competition,.. 2004-- chosen as Composer and Musical Director for the Canadian Vaudeville Co... 2004-- Voted #1 guitar teacher in Miramichi Leader’s reader choice poll... 2000-- Norman’s “New Brew” chosen for CBC’s “Mainstreet” radio theme.
PERFORMER: Covering a variety of events including TV, radio, clubs, festivals and concert appearances, spanning over 3 decades performing rock music at age 15 with the Donald K. Donald agency in Montreal... to guest soloist appearances with jazz pianist and Juno winner Oliver Jones... to solo classical guitar performances for visiting dignitaries including Premier Bernard Lord. etc...
COMPOSER: Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre (CMC). Commissioned by classical guitarists and quartets for TV, radio, recordings and concert appearances. His compositions have been performed and studied by classical guitarists at the University of Moncton since 1989, including featured concerts devoted exclusively to his guitar compositions. As the composer for the Canadian Vaudeville Co. Norman wrote extremely diverse and descriptive music for dance groups, magic acts, juggling acts, and acrobatic routines covering a wide range of musical periods and instrumentation dating from 1900 to 2004.
RADIO : Nornan’s theme music for CBC’s “Mainstreet” (Provincial daily program) is now in it’s 5th year representing thousands of theme broadcasts to date, including interviews and musical performances on national and regional programs for both CBC and Radio-Canada include “Jazzbeat”, “Saturday Spotlight”, “Prelude”, “MainStreet”, “Au Rhythmie D’Atlantique”, “Entre Les Deux Oreilles”, “Les Jeunes Artists”, 3 separate recordings (national broadcasts) for “Les Grandes Concerts”, etc...
TELEVISION: Norman’s video “New Brew” has aired on Bravo TV! and MTV-2. He has been featured on CBC’s “Variety”, ATV’s “New Faces”, CBC’s “Ce Soir Plus”, Vision TV’s “Steeple Chasing” etc...
PRODUCER: Operating his own project studio “Sonic Visions” for over a decade; devoted to “state-of-the-art” recording and production techniques while producing original music for different media and venues including this 4th and latest CD “Spanish Spirit”.
INSTRUMENTS PLAYED: Electric guitar, classical guitar, 10 string classical, acoustic steel string , electric bass & fretless, drums, percussion, keyboard synthesizer, midi-wind-instrument (performed as a wind instrument- can virtually imitate all wind instruments with surprising reality).
PHILIOSOPHY: Music keeps me fresh (sometimes worn out too!!), each day is a new musical adventure and challenge in which to learn, experiment and create perhaps something new in the Universe of Sound.
REVIEW: Bob Mersereau, CBC Music Critic, ( new release "Spanish Spirit") "Delicacy & aggression, subtlety & intensity, soul & passion, all coming within seconds on each song. The next step in flamenco."
For on-line Bio, reviews/articles and industry references please visit___www.normanlearo.com