The unique compositional style of guitar wizard Peppino D’Agostino is coming to Port Townsend.

The event is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at The Palindrome at Eaglemount Cidery. 

Peppino D’Agostino emerged on the acoustic guitar scene in the early 1980s as a leading member of the second wave of the great fingerstylists who helped redefine the instrument in the ‘90s. His remarkable technique, penchant for open tunings, and percussive effects are the basis of his unique compositional style, which has been inspiring musicians and audiences alike for decades. Add to that his natural warmth, playfulness, and broad musical tastes to form a recipe for what he calls “minestrone music.”

D’Agostino’s virtuosity and emotional charge have also had a significant influence on the younger generation of fingerstyle guitarists. He continues to evolve and grow in ways that would have been hard to predict when he first showcased his melodic, yet emotionally intense, style on the recordings “Acoustic Spirit,” “Close to the Heart,” and “Every Step of the Way,” which was named one of the top three acoustic guitar albums of all time by Acoustic Guitar magazine readers.

D’Agostino has performed in more than 30 countries at prestigious international festivals and in some of the world’s most important theaters. He’s shared the stage with Tommy Emmanuel, Leo Kottke, Laurindo Almeida, Sergio Assad, Larry Carlton, and Eric Johnson to name a few. His solo recordings include high-quality labels such as Favored Nations, Mesa/Bluemoon, and Acoustic Music Records. An active member of the Pacific Guitar Ensemble, Peppino has collaborated and recorded with the classical guitarist David Tanenbaum (chair of the classical guitar at the Conservatory of San Francisco), Jeff Campitelli (considered one of the 100 greatest drummers of all time by Rolling Stone), and the legendary Paraguayan harpist and violinist Carlos Reyes. D’Agostino’s composition, “Stammi Vicino,” written with electric guitarist Stef Burns and Italian rockstar Vasco Rossi, reached No. 1 in the iTunes rock charts in Italy.

His simultaneous immersion in the classical guitar and rock worlds has culminated in his most recent solo recording, “Penumbra,” a mix of sophisticated yet melodic compositions that are technically complex. Released by Mesa/Bluemoon, “Penumbra” includes two compositions written for D’Agostino by Latin Grammy Award winner and classical guitar legend Sergio Assad, as well as original compositions by three great contemporary classical guitarists: Roland Dyens, Maurizio Colonna, and Gyan Riley. 

Recently, Peppino had his very first sold-out tour in China and a soundtrack composed for the world renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium in California.

Peppino likes to compare his musical approach to the culinary art of his native Italy: If you want to prepare a good, succulent dish you have to know how to mix the various ingredients and, most importantly, have knowledge of the right amounts. Similarly, in musical composition one must be able to properly combine melody, harmony, rhythm and percussive effects with discretion and elegance.

The concert is sponsored by Strait Floors and KPTZ Radio. Get tickets at  https://www.ticketstorm.com/e/27659/t/.