The lyrical and energetic Rumba Nostalgica reflects the sound of the Gypsies, the passion of flamenco, and the irresistible beats of Cuba. The rumba dance style consists of elements from the Romany tradition in southern France & Catalonia, flamenco from the south of Spain, & rhythms imported from the Caribbean.
Presented here as an arrangement for four guitars, Gareth expands Juan Martin’s Rumba Nostalgica into a subtly orchestrated work. The result is brimming with percussion, counter melodies & pulsating rhythm, whilst retaining an uncompromisingly flamenco spirit.
Recorded with Australia’s leading guitarists Slava Grigoryan, Karin Schaupp and Leonard Grigoryan, collectively known as Saffire – The Australian Guitar Quartet, their ensemble won an ARIA in 2003 for ‘Best Classical Album’.
Gareth Koch is an ARIA Award winning multi-instrumentalist, recording artist, guitar soloist, composer & songwriter. He has recorded an extensive catalogue across multiple genres for classical guitar, flamenco, original compositions, arrangements, medieval projects, ambient music, rock & song writing. He has appeared at major festivals within Australia, Europe, Asia and North America.
Gareth was born in Milan Italy into an artistic family. His father is the Australian novelist Christopher Koch, and his Lithuanian-born mother Irene is a piano graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His early musical education began with piano and clarinet before entering the gifted youth music programme at the Mozarteum in Salzburg Austria. When his family moved to Spain Gareth fell under the spell of the guitar.
After graduation from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Gareth won scholarships to the Royal Conservatorium of Madrid and the Academy of Music in Vienna under Professor Konrad Ragossnig. From this point his career developed to include music teaching, recording, publishing and performing. His recent classical album ‘The Guitar Player’ received a coveted 5 Star review from the Sydney Morning Herald.
Gareth’s current projects have a world music and contemporary bias with classical overtones. His writing is increasingly focussed on the ethereal nature of music. Recent collaborations include ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Kilbey (The Church) with whom he has released three albums.
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