Crazy Nails!, Musical Comedy Duo

A musical journey comedy show featuring works by Vivaldi, Mozart, Nazareth, Ravel…
Stage direction and coaching: Henry Debay
Writing: Gaëlle Solal, Boris Gaquere & Henry Debay
Musical arrangements: Gaëlle Solal & Boris Gaquere

After establishing themselves in the world of classical music for years, two musicians decide to take their courage in both hands and to think outside the boxes. Their goal is to breath new life into music of the past and present and to rediscover the pleasure of making music. Beginning as a normal concert, Crazy Nails! will invite you step by step into a playful, zany show full of surprises and a fantastic travel through all genres of music and all kinds of emotions and craziness.

Some may wonder: is there maybe a little of Crazy Nails in all of us? and shouldn’t we all search for it?

Guitarist of extraordinary passion and virtuosity, Gaëlle Solal was born in Marseilles (France) and began the guitar at age 6 with René Bartoli. At 14, she won three gold medals at the Conservatoire de Marseilles and was awarded the Prix de la Ville de Marseille.
She studied then with Roland Dyens, Oscar Ghiglia, Alvaro Pierri among others great masters.

A winner of 1st Prize at Alessandria Competition, 1st Prize in Locquémeau, 1st Prize in Savona, 1st Prize in Sernancehle, Finalist at Concert Artists Guild NY and 2nd Prize at Guitar Foundation of America, Gaëlle has performed in more than 40 countries. She has performed in major festivals: Festival d’Ile de France, Avignon, Montpellier-Radio France as well as prestigious halls: Salle Cortot, Zellerbach Hall, Tsuda Hall, Nikkei Hall, Merkin Hall. She has presented concertos with the Berkeley Symphony, the Garde Républicaine and the Philharmonic Turin Orchestra.

Upcoming recitals include GFA’s convention as well as a tour in Canada and her debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

She recorded two CDs: Maestri della Chitarra and Chaconnes & Passacailles. Her new project “Crazy Nails!” is a different concert with Boris Gaquere bringing the audience across borders. Gaëlle plays with Savarez strings. (For more information please visit www.gaelle-solal.com)

Boris Gaquere has studied with Sérgio and Odair Assad. Boris followed master-classes with Leo Brouwer, Roland Dyens, David Russell, Roberto Aussel, Costas Cotsiolis and Paulo Bellinati in the course of his studies. Boris’ compositions are currently published by Les Productions d’Oz (Canada), GSP (California, USA) and Editions Lemoine (Paris, France). Columbia Music Entertainment, Ltd. Japan, commissioned Boris to compose Tabi, as recorded and performed by Shin-ichi Fukuda in 2003. Other Japanese guitarists have recorded Boris’ music: Yasuji Ohagi and Tomonori Arai.

Boris Gaquere pursues an international career with concerts in all major cities of Europe. He regularly performs both in North and South America as well as Taiwan and Japan. Boris regularly appears in numerous radio and television shows. Xeque-Mate Boris’ first solo album for VGo Recordings was recorded in San Francisco in 2003. Boris is privileged to duet with Odair Assad on the album’s title track; one of Boris’ compositions for this CD. Carpe Diem released with some pride in 2005, is Boris’ second album for VGo Recordings. The album focuses on music from the Baroque period.

Tempo Feliz, an album recorded with Brazilian master percussionist Renato Martins, is the fruit of his labor, which was released in the course of 2006 with Mogno Music. In 2011, he released an album with the quartet Caçamba, a project of what could be called Brazilian instrumental jazz music.
Two years later, Boris’ new quartet Comboio recorded a very original album, as the line-up includes an accordion, bandoneon, double bass, percussions, and guitar. The tracks of this CD were arranged by the members of the band ( Gismonti, Pascoal, Mays, Gubitsch, Guinga..).

In 2013, he was commissioned to compose a double concerto for accordion, guitar and string orchestra for the 20th anniversary of the Rencontres Guitare et Patrimoine en Ardenne (Sedan Guitar Festival, France).
www.borisgaquere.com

With the support of Savarez Strings, Guitares Jean-Luc Joie, Pianofabriek, BAMP, Pocopoc and Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.