[bquote author=”Robert Bush” source=”San Diego Reader, Dec 2011″ link=”http://www.sandiegoreader.com/albums/other-words/”]Acquavella is really something else. He is proving once and for all that the mandolin is the equal of any member of the string-instrument family.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Amy Burcham” source=”Mandolin Moments Magazine, 2011″]Classical teaching artist, Chris Acquavella, was an outstanding new addition this year (2011 Mandolin Symposium). He has a diverse background, great skill and musicality, and a unique ability to connect to students in the classroom situation.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Reidar Falch” source=”Mandolin Moments, Oct 2011″]Chris Acquavella’s technique is breathtaking…..It sounds like he has unconditional love for the material. He is lifting this repertoire to an exciting level….This masterpiece is great listening.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Robert Bush” source=”San Diego Reader, Nov 2011″ link=”http://www.sandiegoreader.com/albums/praeludium/”]I don’t know much about classical music, however, I do know a virtuoso when I hear one, and Mr. Acquavella is a virtuoso of the highest order.”[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Diane at RadioIndy.com” source=”Nov 2011″]The artistic musician, Chris Acquavella, releases a brilliant solo Classical CD, “Praeludium,” featuring his marvelous talents on the mandolin.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”David Grisman” source=”Composer and Mandolinist, Oct 2011″]Chris Acquavella delivers powerfully emotive solo performances that pay homage to their historical origins through his own uniquely personal mandolin voice.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Victor Kioulaphides” source=”Composer, Oct 2011″ link=”http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?78325-Praeludium”]This recording has SO many things to like that I must cherry-pick a couple of them…. My heart was warmed by the performance from Bach’s Partita BWV 1004. Chris’ playing is uniformly excellent and, somewhere “backstage”, I could hear Ali humming along…In this, and in ALL works performed on this CD, there is artistry of the highest caliber, and mandolin-playing of the highest order.[/bquote]
Solo classical mandolin music from baroque to contemporary.
[bquote author=”David Grisman”]Chris Acquavella delivers powerfully emotive solo performances that pay homage to their historical origins through his own uniquely personal mandolin voice.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Victor Kioulaphides”]This recording has SO many things to like that I must cherry-pick a couple of them….My heart was warmed by the performance from Bach’s Partita BWV 1004. Chris’ playing is uniformly excellent and, somewhere “backstage”, I could hear Ali humming along…In this, and in ALL works performed on this CD, there is artistry of the highest caliber, and mandolin-playing of the highest order.[/bquote]
[bquote author=”Frank Kocher” source=”San Diego Troubadour, Jan 2011″]Imardin is Acquavella’s tour de force and starts like a clock, ticking away before giving way to complex arpeggios and scales that build, climb, and dissolve only to tick away again. The solo mandolin tune showcases Acquavella’s classical side, and sounds like several musicians playing together well.[/bquote]
Similar to Duo LaRè’s concerts, “In Other Words” is a good variation on musical styles. The album features original compositions as well as selections from Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Amilson Godoy, Hermeto Pasqual, Paul Mitchell-Davidson, Denise Mangiardi and Zura Dzagnidze. “In Other Words” is an incarnation of Chris & Nate’s compositions where the traditions of contemporary classical, modern jazz and Eastern European folk music meet the solid rhythmical traditions of contemporary music styles.