Roots Monday: John Gillait – “Smoke”

John Gilliat is a Canadian-born musician who has been playing the guitar since he was nine years old. By the time he had graduated from High School, he was ready for his first tour across Canada and the US. After his first tour, he took the time to formally study his art.

He studied with jazz masters at Capilano College. It is there where he fell in love and was inspired by the Flamenco guitar. Taking his cue from Flamenco masters like Paco deLucia, Vicente Amigo and Nino Josele, he spent the next six years studying Flamenco and practicing 8 to 10 hours a day.

 In 1995 John won Best Acoustic Guitar Performance in the Music West Star Frets Competition and Vancouver’s Unplugged Competition in 1996. He won the Grand Prize at the Boss Loop Station 2009 championship National Finals.

Gilliat continues to offer new direction and contemporary expression to Flamenco, Nouveau Flamenco and Flamenco Rumba, touring festivals and headlining concerts with his quartet (bass, 2 guitars, and percussion). He even finds time to perform regularly with Vancouver’s hot gypsy jazz club quartet, “Gypsalero”. Today’s Tune is called “Smoke”, and it highlights the zesty Flamenco Nouvou Style that has become Galliat’s signature style.

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