Instrumental guitarist Andrea Balestra will release his new album, Fine Arts Avenue, showcasing his ambitious mix of progressive rock and experimental/improvisational guitar tones October 4 on Spleen Records. The new CD includes special guest appearances by rock guitar hero George Lynch and blues all-star organist “Deacon” Jones. Andrea will celebrate the release of his new CD with a series of live shows at several venues in the Los Angeles area, to be announced shortly.
Andrea Balestra offers a distinctive and fresh voice as a guitarist and as a composer.
With a range of influences so wide that it spans from Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota to Jimi Hendrix and Roy Buchanan, he moves seamlessly through a variety of styles combining them together in a very unique voice. His writing varies from down-to-earth grooves to cinematic compositions, characterized by lyrical melodies, shifting moods and nuanced, toneful guitar playing that serves his vivid music.
Fine Arts Avenue is an all-instrumental solo album that features Andrea backed by an all-star band which includes Ron Battle (Solomon Burke, Lucky Peterson) on bass, “Deacon” Jones (Santana, John Lee Hooker) on organ, Koji Ono (Joe Henderson) on keyboards and a guest appearance by rock guitar legend and multi-platinum selling artist, George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob).
Andrea Balestra plays the guitar with an innate soulfulness as well as great musical maturity and sensitivity on Fine Arts Avenue. He combines Telecaster tradition-approved playing to progressive phrasing and texture, keeping the core of his composing accessible and melodic and still venturing into intricate harmonies and thoughtful arranging.
After moving to the United States from his native Sicily to pursue his dream of being a musician, Balestra toured across the country and performed and recorded in a variety of styles. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he had the honor to be chosen to perform at his college’s annual “Rock Guitar Night Showcase” in 2007. After relocating to Southern California, he played such celebrated local venues as The Baked Potato, Whiskey A Go Go and Babe’s and Ricky’s Inn. This last venue was the subject of a documentary by internationally-renowned director Ramin Niami, in which Andrea was featured alongside such artists as Grammy-award-winner Keb Mo, Peter Tork, “Deacon” Jones and many other blues and rock legends.
Fine Arts Avenue will be available for sale on CDBaby, iTunes and other outlets. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/andreabalestra; and also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-Balestra/1629283729.
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