Spotlight

Guitar series more than classical music

Jason Vieaux may be headlining tonight's Classical Guitar Series at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. But he's playing more than classical music.

The first half of the program includes a three-movement composition by J.S. Bach, plus Francisco Tarrega's "Capriccio Arabe,", which the Cleveland-based guitarist describes as "one of the real chestnuts" of the Spanish guitar repertoire.

The concert's first act concludes with a three-movement work by Cuban guitarist, composer and conductor Leo Brouwer.

And the second act? That's reserved for a suite of baroque dances Vieaux has arranged, based on tunes by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. (That explains the title of Vieaux's latest CD: "Images of Metheny.")

Vieaux, 34, grew up listening to his father's jazz records, along with his mother's soul and Beatles albums.

His mother bought him a guitar when he was 5 years old. At 7, he heard the Buffalo Guitar Quartet perform at an elementary school recital and "that was it," Vieaux recalls.

Eventually, Vieaux attended the Cleveland Institute of Music (where he now chairs the guitar department), venturing beyond his classical training to explore improvisation.

Vieaux performs at 8 p.m. today in the Doc Rando Recital Hall of the Lee & Thomas Beam Music Center at UNLV, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $35 at 895-2787 or online at http://pac.unlv.edu.