|
Michael Messer: If there is any justice in the world, Hal’s music will reach out from ....Croatia.... and touch people in every continent.
Tommy Emmanuel: Hal is wonderful musician and I admire his dedication to the guitar. I wish him success in his career and would like to see him take his music to the rest of the world.
Thomas Kleemaier: At the moment you think everything that can be said with an acoustic guitar has already been said, there will be a voice from somewhere in the world, and may it be Croatia, that suddenly tells you new stories. It happened to me when the guitar was in the hands of a guy named Hal, a classically trained player from ....Croatia..... Hal plays in the best American fingerstyle tradition, but there always is this little something, this little extra, that makes his playing unique. Hey people, listen to him, this guy is great!
Woody Mann: It is remarkable how Hal is able to play so many different styles of guitar music in such a brilliant manner. His technique and ideas show a musician with extraordinary talent. After hearing him play, it is clear that he is an important musician with much to offer the musical community in ....Croatia..... I think he has the potential to be a major figure in the world of guitar.
|
 |
NEWS - UPDATES – ANNOUNCEMENTS
After a very active 2009 concert series, in which Hal performed concerts in 6 countries across Europe, the guitarist will be spending the early part of 2010 in the recording studio completing two new projects.
The first will be his much-anticipated new album entitled, Bespuca. The initial single from the album bears the same title and will begin receiving airplay in the near future.
The second project is yet another anxiously-awaited solo guitar CD.
Both recordings will be published and released in the second half of 2010
|
 |
FENDER 2009 AWARD
Hal was recently presented with the Fender Guitar 2009 award by Fender Guitar’s Croatian distributor and partner, Mega Muzika. The award is in recognition of Hal’s accomplishments in the world of guitar music and its promotion within Croatia and abroad.
www.artcentar.hr
|
 |
KASTAV BLUES FESTIVAL 2010
This year marked the production of the 2nd successful blues festival in the romantic hill town named Kastav. Hal is preparing for the event’s 3rd annual edition to take place in the first half of August 2010. The official dates and musical acts will be announced as the details develop. The event is a regional favorite and is sponsored in cooperation with the City of Kastav and the Kastav Office of Tourism ( www.kastav-touristinfo.hr )
|
 |
NEW VIDEO CLIP
The new video clip, Bespuca, will soon be released to promote the new album’s first single. The video was directed by the renowned Croatian director, Igor Modric, and produced at the IRS Art Video & TV Production studio in Kastav, Croatia.
The video features various scenes and clips of some of Hal’s most unforgettable performances since the beginning of his solo career.
|
 |
TOMMY EMMANUEL'S WEB SITE
Since January, 2009, Hal’s music has been featured on the website of the acoustic guitar world’s # 1 musician, the legendary Tommy Emmanuel. (www.tommyemmanuel.com). Look for two of Hal’s most brilliant releases, “Trilogy” and “Infinity,” which are available for purchase in Tommy’s CD shop (www.certifiedguitarplayer.com).
|
.gif) |
ALL STAR GUITAR FESTIVAL 2010
After the 5th consecutive production of Hal’s All-Star Guitar Fest, the festival has become Croatia’s #1 guitar festival. Each and every year, the festival has received rave reviews from all of the regional media outlets. The event’s strength lies in Hal’s ability to provide the most elite guitarists in the world to the audience. This year’s festival promises to be equally as spectacular. The 2010 extravaganza is projected to take place in October. The official dates are to be confirmed soon. This year, additional venues are planned with star-studded shows taking place in Rijeka, Zagreb, and Split. The annual event is becoming famous throughout Europe and is promoted in cooperation with the city of Rijeka.
www.rijeka.hr
|
 |
DESIGN AWARDS
One note of recognition, expert graphic designer Dalibor Marinkovic, who has designed most of the artwork on all of Hal’s CDs and website, has received several international awards for graphic design. Last award being 1st Place winner on the 2009 PhotoWorkshop.com Digital Imaging Competition ( www.doubleexposure.com ). Some of his work could be seen at www.graphics.com gallery:
http://www.doubleexposure.com/PWS_ContestWinners.shtml
|
 |
NEW BOOK
Hal has many years of experience as a professional guitar teacher. Based on this experience, he has written a new book of guitar instruction that is nearing completion. The book will be a vital tool for all students learning to play the guitar. Publication is expected in September of 2010. The book is part of an innovative method of instruction that works in combination with audio and video aids. The materials will come as a set and are an essential part of Hal’s learning program.
|
 |
ALL STAR FEST - SUMMER EDITION
This summer’s edition of Hal’s All-Star Guitar Fest (initiated by croatian # 1 light designer, Deni Sesnic - www.sesnic.com ) will be held in Jurandvor on the island of Krk during July 2010. Guest musicians from several countries will be performing.
One more concert par exellence - Famous gypsy jazz guitarist Stochelo Rosenberg is going to perform on the same stage during July 2010.
Details to be announced as they develop.
www.tz-baska.hr
www.baska.hr
|
 |
MORE VIDEOS
Look for more video clips to be uploaded on Hal’s website in February 2010. In addition to the aforementioned new release, Bespuca, other video’s, including Hals’ very first solo guitar video, Country Pie, and footage of previous concerts and guitar solos will soon be viewable.
|
 |
NEW MP3 SONGS & MYSPACE PROFILE
New MP3 songs have been uploaded. Feel free to listen to the new songs on the MP3 page and enjoy!
Several videos featuring my music, both new songs and older ones, have been posted on Myspace.com. To watch them, simply go to:
www.myspace.com/halmusicland
|
 |
NEW PHOTOS
New promotional photos (by Dalibor Marinkovic) are going to be uploaded soon on the PHOTO
page.
|
| |
GUITAR CAPO
Using his past, formal education in engineering, Hal has developed a new capo. Perfection of the device is projected to be only months away. Information on its availability for purchase will be announced soon.
|
 |
NEW ENDORSEMENT AGREEMENT
Deal with Stanford Guitars - Hal's new main steel strings guitar is Stanford OM5 Vintage equipped with Headway HE2 system. Stanford Hal signature model based on OM5 Vintage will be presented during Hal's All Star Guitar Festival 2010.
www.stanfordguitars.de
www.i-musicnetwork.de
www.headwayelectronics.com
|
 |
TRILOGY
Hal’s highly-touted album, TRILOGY, was released in July 2006. It was recorded in several different cities around the world and is one of Croatia’s most extensive projects to date. TRILOGY is an extraordinary album consisting of three individual discs, each defined by a different genre. The first CD resembles Hal's debut effort, the blues-pop GEMINI album. The second disc parallels the OCEAN album’s fingerstyle guitar effort, and the last is a jazz fusion compilation. Many renowned musicians contributed on TRILOGY, including several world-class Nashville names. John Jorgenson played guitar, J.D. Blair pitched in on drums, and Charlie Chadwick helped out on bass. Suzy Bogguss added her lovely singing voice and a bunch of other top professionals participated as well.
|
 |
MUSIC CITY
Look for the one hour documentary MUSIC CITY , USA that was filmed in Nashville, TN during the TRILOGY recording sessions. It's a story about the Nashville music scene and it has a lot of great interviews, important history, and interesting details. The film was created by Croatia’s IRS Art TV & Video Production and was directed and produced by Igor Modrić.
|
 |
HAL'S ALL STAR FESTIVAL 2009
Hrvatski kulturni dom, Rijeka 24 & 25. 10.2009.
Martin Taylor , UK......................http://martintaylor.com/.
Alison Burns , UK......................http://www.alison-burns.com/
Antonio Forcione , Italy.............http://www.antonioforcione.com/
Hal, Croatia..................................http://www.halmusicland.com/
|
 |
HAL'S ALL STAR FESTIVAL 2008
25. & 26. 10. 2008. Hrvatski kulturni dom, Rijeka
Dominic Miller, UK...........................www.dominicmiller.com.
John Standefer, USA......................www.johnstandefer.com
Sandor Szabo, Hungary..................www.sandorszabo.com
Walter Lupi, Italy................................www.walterlupi.net
Bernie Marsden, UK........................www.berniemarsden.co.uk
Michael Messer & Ed Genis, UK..www.michaelmesser.co.uk
Boris Dujmovic, France/Croatia....www.borisdujmovic.com
|
| |
HAL'S ALL STAR FESTIVAL 2007
Hal’s 2007 ALL-STAR GUITAR FESTIVAL was a resounding success. Several shows in different cities were organized and played throughout Croatia and Slovenia. This year's special guest musicians were delighted with the packed venues and favorable crowd reactions. It appears that Hal's All-Star Guitar Festival will continue to grow in scope each year. Look inside for April 2007's full musician line-up..................read more
|
 |
A MOMENT OF SILENCE
It is with great sorrow that I have some bad news to report. My good friend and blues legend ‘Philadelphia’ Jerry Ricks passed away in November 2007. He had been living in Croatia for the last eight months before being overcome by sudden illness. Jerry was a wealth of information and a fantastic bluesman. The music world will miss him dearly.
Another good friend and artist, Galliano Pahor, recently died. Galliano was a famous actor in Rijeka’s national theatre and also a talented musician. In the 1980’s, we played together in a great band called PUBLIC.........................................................................................................Hal
|
| |
|
| |
|
