Gareth Pearson @ Six Bars Jail plays with his nose ...
Gareth Pearson in concerto al Folk Club Six Bars Jail di Firenze - Italia Oct. 2009 - Incredibile performance di Gareth!
Andrea Castelfranato - I Remember You - Live at Six bars Jail
Italian guitarist Andrea Castelfranato plays his composition I Remember You, dedicated to Michael Hedges.
Live at Six Bars Jail Folk Club, Serpiolle (Florence,Italy), 22nd January 2010.
For info about Andrea Castelfranato, go to andreacastelfranato.com
Follow us at sixbarsjail.it
Tom Russell 16 07 10 @ San Salvi Firenze.flv
A classic Tom Russell song, Tom sings lead and plays acoustic guitar, Livio Guardi sings vocal harmony and plays mandolin, performed live in Florence, Italy, 7/16/ 2010.
Simone Agostini - The Village Of Gnomes - Live at Six Bars Jail
Young Italian guitarist Simone Agostini plays his composition The Village Of Gnomes during a concert at Six Bars Jail Folk Club in Florence (10th April 2010).
sixbarsjail.it simoneagostini.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Mr. Bojangles
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Mississippi Blues
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Jon Gomm - Passionflower Live in Florence - Italy
Jon Gomm in concerto al Folk Club Six Bars Jail di Firenze - Italia 4 Nov. 2011 - Bellissimo concerto di Jon!
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Blue Bayou (Roy Orbison)
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - The Mooche (Duke Ellingtone)
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Jon Gomm - Ain't Nobody
Jon Gomm in concerto al Folk Club Six Bars Jail di Firenze - Italia 4 Nov. 2011 - Bellissimo concerto di Jon!
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Oriental Blues (Eubie Blake)
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Ken Nicol - The Song of Two Bridges - Live @ Six Bars Jail, May 15th, 2015
English guitarist and songwriter Ken Nicol plays the longing The Song of Two Bridges, dedicated to Westminster Birdge in London and Ponte Vecchio in Florence, during his concert at Six Bars Jail Folk Club on may 15th 2015.
This tune appears in the CD My Land Is Your Land, an international collaboration among Italian and English artists.
The concert was organized in collaboration with the association Il Popolo del Blues ( ).
A great evening of music, Ken is such a funny guy, a witty entertainer and a wonderful musician. Check him out at .
Come and visit us at sixbarsjail.it !
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Victory Rag
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Peppino D'Agostino - Why Not (Perché No)? - Live at Six Bars Jail
Italian guitar master Peppino d'Agostino, declared world best acoustic guitarist in 2007, plays Why Not, a song he had composed as an exercize for his left hand. One of his students once suggested holding a 'maraca' in his right hand, as an accompaniment of the melody, and Peppino said Why not?.
Florence, Six Bars Jail Folk Club, Serpiolle (Florence), 23rd May 2010.
peppinodagostino.com
sixbarsjail.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Wayfaring Stranger
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Chris Proctor - Medley (7 songs) - Live At Six Bars Jail (20/11/2011)
American guitarist (and former U.S.National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion) Chris Proctor playing a medley during his last concert at Six Bars Jail Folk Club (our website: sixbarsjail.it ), in Florence, Italy, on the 20th November 2011.
The songs in the order are:
Revolution (The Beatles)
Good Day Sunshine (The Beatles)
Mellow Yellow (Donovan)
With A Litte Help From My Friends (The Beatles)
Lovely Rita (The Beatles)
You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon)
Ob La Dì, Ob La Dà (The Beatles)
You Can Call Me Al (Paul Simon) - Reprise
Chris plays a Taylor signature model, called CPSM (Chris Proctor Signature Model).
CPSM is also the name of track n° 1 on Chris Proctors' Ladybug Stomp Cd (2007).
More info about Chris Proctor at chrisproctor.com .
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - Blackbird
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - I'll fly away
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Tim SPARKS in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 6.4.12 - The Dearest In Bukovina
A remarkable concert given by Tim Sparks at the Six Bars Jail club, the fingerstyle guitarists' corner, tucked away in the hills surrounding Florence.
The fifty-eight-year-old guitarist from North Carolina gave a display of his encyclopaedic repertoire, his interpretative skills, but also his frank humanity, playing two sets lasting over an hour and a half, with an air of relaxed assurance and without ever stamping heavily on the pedal of virtuosity.
The concert shifted continuously through every genre, style and tradition: from American to Armenian folk music, from blues to pop, from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (which Sparks transposed in its entirety for guitar some time ago) to the Beatles' Blackbird, Joni Mitchell's Clouds, to the Jewish-rooted music of John Zorn (with whom the guitarist has often collaborated), from Roy Orbison's Blue Bayou to some original tunes by Sparks himself. Always with extraordinary ability and lightness in the phrasing and unbelievable variety in harmony and timbre. And always sprinkling the pauses in his playing with spicy comments, appetizing anecdotes and delightful witticisms.
Sparks' style came across as simple and direct as his persona: elegant phrasing and harmonic work, the themes expressed with lucidity, great agility on the instrument, precise sounds. Almost a total absence of technical artifices, as if these were a mere frill that might obstruct the communication of the pure musical message to the audience. A guitarist who is extraordinarily modern in what is, all things considered, traditional playing.
A way of playing which is, moreover, fully in empathy with the Six Bars Jail club, which for the last six years has developed with generous social zeal, and without economic aid, a series of shows featuring prestigious names of the acoustic guitar. An empathy that materialized in Sparks' pleasure at taking part in the rites of signing the club guitar and the final photo with the most doughty enthusiasts who had remained behind to get to know the guitarist and thank him in person.
In periods of disenchantment and dwindling audiences, a reality to envy and
imitate.
Written by Neri Pollastri for AllAboutJazz ( and translated by Alex Gillan (Six Bars Jail)
timsparks.com
sixbarsjail.it
Jon GOMM in concerto al SIX BARS JAIL - 4.11.11 - Afterglow
Video tratto dal concerto del bravissimo chitarrista inglese Jon Gom al Six Bars Jail lo scorso 4 novembre 2011.
sixbarsjail.it
jongomm.com