MUSIC

Dosey Doe Coffee House presents Joel Guzman& Rhett Butler .

Joel Guzman has been called brilliant, extraordinary, a genius. He began dazzling audiences and fellow musicians with his unique accordion artistry as a child prodigy, causing established and respected accordion players to christen him, at an early age, “El Pequeno Gigante”. The Little Giant. Today, he is not only a superbly accomplished instrumentalist, singer, and performer, he is also a successful as an innovator, arranger and producer. He and his band “Aztex” formed the nucleus and inspiration for RCA’s release of Los Super Seven, featuring Joe Ely, Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Ruben Ramos, Rick Trevino and David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas both of Los Lobos.

The countless other artists with whom Guzman has collaborated reads like a Who’s Who of Texas Music. In spite of his award-winning success, Guzman is restless. With his roots firmly planted in the full range of traditional Mexican music, he has incorporated and experimented with jazz, tejano, country, salsa, R&B and rock. His passionate drive to create new musical directions and imaginative combinations of all these genres, continues to place him in a category all his own. He has said, “I may play a box but don’t want to be put in one”.

The formation of The Mexican Roots Trio is his latest move to push the envelope, to venture out into new and exciting areas of expression. The Mexican Roots experience comes with the phenomenal vocal power of soul mate and partner Sarah Fox along with longtime friend and world class bajista, Max Baca Jr.. Together, this family reflects the inclination to create fresh, daring musical blends and to perform them with playful strut and bravado.

For much of his career, Guzman has generously contributed to the musical efforts of his countless fellow-musicians and colleagues. Now he feels it’s time to fully develop his own personal eclectic perceptions and ideas, step to the front of the stage, and present audiences with something far beyond tired formulas and safe homogenous sounds. He believes music should be created and performed with energy, sensitivity, honesty and above all, fearlessness. A growing number of people of all ages, from different cultures and backgrounds, are forming an audience ready to discover where this journey will take them and what new gifts the melding of Guzmans’ musical styles will offer.

Rhett Butler (pictured above) began his musical journey with a unique conception of what the guitar could be. Rhett was mystified by the solo playing of Eddie Van Halen. He knew at an early age that his career would be defined by how far he could push the limits of the guitar. Rhett went on to study in the prestigious jazz program at the University of North Texas all the time bucking the idea that the guitar is an accompaniment instrument. For Rhett Butler, the guitar is the entire performance.

Graduating in 1997, Rhett set off to make his mark on the guitar world one coffee shop at a time. In the spring of 2000, Rhett released his first solo guitar album. “Solitaire” is now Barnes and Noble’s highest selling independent release in the history of the bookstore chain. Rhett is a fixture on college campuses, concert series’ and clubs throughout Texas and the southern United States.

“Rhett Butler’s playing style has captured local and national attention. He puts heart, soul and both hands into his art.” The Dallas Morning News