Carlos Abanto

Guitarist, Singer

I played since 7, professionally since 11. Jazz, Flamenco, Bossa. Nylon-string guitar. I played electric and MIDI guitars, but I'm back to the basics. I can do a solo act, but when a client requests an ensemble, I use other musicians. I'm not a fan or rehearsals and when I call musicians to play with me, I expect them to know the basics and we can improvise or build up from there. For such kind of act, you may have surmised that I do lots of standards. I'm extremely easy going, but I'm a bitch for punctuality and good presentation. Thank God I found only good people/musicians in my way. I composed, but find easier (to sell) to play standards. I'm in iTunes and Amazon, check me out

Profile

• Guitarist
• Musician
• Booking Agent

Instruments

• Guitar
• Guitar
• Vocals
• Vocals
• Percussionist

Genres

• Jazz
• Flamenco Guitar
• Country
• Bossa Nova
• Pop
• R&b And Soul
• Classical

Influences

• Al Dimeola
• Paco De Lucia
• Earl Klugh
• George Benson
• Elliot Fisk
• Lee Ritenour

Equipment

• Tc Helicon Fx 150
• Mackie Free Play
• Godin Guitars
• Takamine Guitar

Languages

• English
• Spanish

What is music to you? What does it give you?

life, I make a living on my craft. I do wedding ceremonies and cocktails, corporate events, birthdays, funerals (yes, they hire you for this, too), baptisms, baby showers and whatever celebration.

What is your music dream?

listening my music in the radio, Sirius Watercolors or the Sinatra Station. That would lead of course to more sales on-line. In a nutshell, living of my recorded music.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

making musical instrument much more available than guns

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Rippingtons, Four Play, Peter White, Lee Ritenour, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Segovia, Paco de Lucia

What inspires you to make music?

Makes me happy, bringing some happiness to others

What is the message you want to send with your music?

To me, is just expressing beauty with the tools at hand, in my case, the guitar.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I feel the empathy with part of the audience, those who really savor what I do.

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

actually, the field has been leveled, but big money is still needed to make a big success. Some get lucky or have a rare talent. Others comprise a great team, a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

What do you think of Drooble?

It's letting musicians communicate, that's nice for a change

What frustrates you most as a musician?

other musicians asking ^&% for their work, lowering the standards and the salaries. Also, seeing how certain non-musical styles flourish while others barely survive

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

I cannot do much, making a living on this doesn't leave me much time (most gigs are on weekends and/or evenings)

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

a musician has also to be an audio and recording technician, also needs connections, a team (which is not free): actors (to make videos), video and editing people, knowledge of the media and social nets, too much

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

too many and I know them personally, some would get offended if I skip them

• wall
• videos
• photos
• songs