I walked into a local restaurant three years ago and heard a sound coming from the stage of a meticulous tune being played with Spanish flair. It was my first introduction to Tony Putaggio.
Born in Castres, France, Tony has performed in France, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Spain and Mexico. He now lives in a rural town in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where he performs in the Tamarindo, Flamingo, Brasilito and Potrero area.
I visited Tony recently at his home. The first thing he started to say, with his heavy French accent, was, “I am a little nervous …this is my first interview to do in English.”
I assured him it would be fine. So the interview portion may be hard to understand, but the music he plays will be totally comprehensible as purely melodic.
The one audience Tony wants to hear him play is his musical role model, Rodrigo y Gabriela (Rodrigo and Gabriela). The music of this Mexican acoustic guitar duo is influenced by a number of genres, including nuevo flamenco, rock, and heavy metal. The duo’s recordings consist largely of instrumental duets on the flamenco guitar.
After a few minutes of listening to Tony perform in this casual setting, you’ll experience the dynamics of a style that is captivating. You will also sense the passion of Tony’s intent and skill.
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