BLOGCRITICS Premiere: CARLOS CALVO “A Dozen Years From Now”

April 11, 2018 by 1888media

Acclaimed singer-songwriter-producer Carlos Calvo has released “A Dozen Years From Now,” a poignant soul-baring rumination on the lasting emotional gravity of interpersonal relationships. Written with half a lifetime of perspective, the single features spacious soundscapes and deft instrumentation, a solid foundation for his impassioned vocals while the companion artwork is a mosaic-rendered photo his wife took while celebrating their 10th Anniversary along the El Camino Real in Spain, where he proposed to her a decade ago.

In concert with the release, Calvo partnered with Internationally renown gear company Behringer to film a music video at their sprawling Music Tribe studios in northwest LA.

Joining him were percussionist Hector Torres on cajón, and cellist Mai Bloomfield, known for her work with Raining Jane and Jason Mraz. Respected music portal Blogcritics premiered the video, tagging him a “guitar guru.”

With a storied two decades under his belt as Hollywood’s go-to guitar coach, Calvo continues to flip the traditional script by injecting something fresh into his brand of Alternative Folk that’s been absent from the genre at large: virtuoso guitar playing. With jazz guitar icon Al Di Meola as a childhood neighbor, Carlos grew up surrounded by world-famous guitarists.

At age 7, he began an 11-year curriculum at Carnegie Hall with classical and flamenco great Juan de la Mata, a close associate to flamenco guitar legend, Sabicas. Having mastered compositions by Segovia, Bach, and Barrios, he moved from New York City to Hollywood, enrolling at Musicians Institute under the tutelage of legendary Wrecking Crew session player Tommy Tedesco (Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Frank Sinatra).

While these visionary icons had a profound impact on his musical development, he also counts The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Philip Glass and the soulful music emanating from Muscle Shoals as influences and inspiration.

In addition to composing/producing original music, Carlos teaches guitar privately and counts Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, actress Marg Helgenberger (CSI, China Beach, Under The Dome), and actor Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure, Numb3rs, Billions) as students. He also regularly coaches actors to portray musicians; most notably David Duchovny for Californication, Ambyr Childers for Ray Donovan, Gethin Anthony (Aquarius, Game of Thrones) and David Oyelowo, who played the Muddy Waters character in the film, Who Do You Love.

His coaching expertise landed him on set for the acclaimed James Brown biopic Get On Up, which was produced by Mick Jagger and stars Viola Davis, Aloe Blacc, Jill Scott and Dan Ackroyd. He also played guitar on the score of King of the Hill for three seasons and has had songs placed in the hit Freeform/ABC Family show, The Fosters, as well as major motion pictures She’s All That and Finding Holden.

Before embarking on his solo career, Carlos fronted successful bands that toured with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Willie Porter. As a solo artist, he has toured with The Bacon Brothers and Colin Hay and numerous times in Europe as a headliner. Calvo frequently gigs in LA and NYC, both as a solo artist and as a sideman, including as a member of the Rob Morrow Band.

Dozen Years is the follow-up to his most recent album, Further Down The Line, a 12-song exposition on life and love which the Washington Times dubbed “a collection of road-tripping tunes and love songs that showcases the Angeleno’s sheer mastery of the pop music form.”