For Your GRAMMY® Consideration

BEST CHAMBER MUSIC ALBUM

Homage

LARRY
DEL CASALE

Latin Grammy Nominee

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Larry Del Casale, Guitarist


Larry Del Casale is a Latin Grammy-nominated classical guitarist, educator, and Zoho recording artist. A graduate of Manhattan's Mannes College of Music, he is highly regarded for his decades-long duo collaboration with the late guitar virtuoso Carlos Barbosa-Lima.


Del Casale's performance career spans back to 1983. He was introduced to Barbosa-Lima in 1997 by composer Ernesto Cordero, leading to a profound musical partnership that resulted in sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (in 2003 and 2008) and extensive touring across the US and Europe.


In 2013, Del Casale earned a Latin Grammy nomination for his work on the album Beatlerianas, which featured Carlos Barbosa-Lima, the Havana String Quartet, and the Havana String Ensemble. He also produced and played on the 2016 release Carlos Barbosa-Lima plays Mason Williams, and released the acclaimed Latin-jazz inspired

album Delicado in 2019.


Most recently, he released (2026) Homage—an ensemble recording celebrating his collaborations with Barbosa-Lima that also features a commissioned, World premiere quintet by Leo Brouwer, entitled Contradanza Cubana.


"Carlos Barbosa-Lima’s Delicado continues Zoho Music‘s pursuit of the finest South American music in contemporary jazz. This is a fantastic guitar recording, to put it succinctly, and credit should be given to Del Casale, the producer. (I know I tend to give Zoho credit as a whole, but this is clearly a time when I need to single out the man with the plan."

– Marc Phillips in Random, The Vinyl Anachronist read full review


"Del Casale and Barbosa-Lima—who have been collaborators for more than 15 years—offer a gorgeous duo reading of “Manhã De Carnaval” that tugs at the heartstrings."

– Downbeat Magazine


"Delicado will please longtime fans and also might serve as a fine introduction to some of Brazil’s greatest composers."

– Bobby Reed, Downbeat Magazine - June 2019 read full review

  • "...here's one that works as a gorgeous guitar recital of mostly familiar bossa and standard Latin fare like Tico Tico, Delicado, Manha De Carnaval, Samba De Orfeu and others. Barbosa-Lima works to perfection, both individually on some selections, and with fellow guitarist Larry Del Casale on others."

    – George Fendel's High Standards

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  • "I love your new CD! Beautiful repertoire, arrangements and performances! It's a new, exotic journey and concept that works brilliantly. Thanks for sending, and bravo to all for the terrific project!"

    – Sharon Isbin, Grammy Award® winning, International Guitarist

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  • “…you will definitely not go away disappointed. [Barbosa-Lima] sounds fantastic throughout.”

    – Classical Guitar Magazine

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  • "A Great Album..."

    – Classical Guitar Magazine

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  • "Truly a masterwork of modern-day Brazilian guitar!"

    – Jonathan Widran, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

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  • "MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.97 for this fine album."

    – Dick Metcalf, Contemporary Fusion Reviews - May 4, 2019

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  • "This music is romantic, joyful, and surprisingly accessible...."

    – Glide Magazine, CD Review - May 15, 2019

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  • "an irresistible verve..."

    – Raymond Tuttle, FanFare Archive CD Reviews - May 4, 2019

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  • "an exuberant, rhythmically intoxicating celebration of Brazilian culture and music.."

    – Jonathan Widran, THE JW VIBE CD Reviews - May 7, 2019

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Tracks

Homage Track List


1. Contradanza Cubana/Leo Brouwer 6:40

2. Por Causa de você/Antonio Carlos Jobim. 4:30

3. Veleiro/Heitor Villa-Lobos 2:20

4. Tico Tico/A. Oliveira, Z. De Abreu 2:58

5. Canta Mais/Antonio Carlos Jobim. 2:10

6. Squares Suspended/Andrew York 2:32

7. Modinha/Antonio Carlos Jobim 4:12

8. Delicado/ W. Azevedo 3:29

9. Sentimental Melody/Heitor Villa-Lobos 3:44

10. Luiza/Antonio Carlos Jobim 3:30

11. Danza De La Mosa Donosa/Alberto Ginestera 3:00

  • Larry Del Casale, Guitar, plays guitar 1 on all tracks except Modinha, gtr. 2
  • Francisco Roldan, Guitar ( 2, 9, 11)
  • Joao Luiz, Guitar ( 10 )
  • Michael Newman, Guitar ( 3, 5, 11)
  • Laura Oltman, Guitar ( 3, 5, 11)
  • Andrew York, Guitar ( 6 )
  • Michelle LaPorte, Flute ( 7 )
  • Gerry Saulter, Guitar ( 7 )
  • Duduka da Fonseca, Percussion ( 4, 8 )
  • Nilson Matta, Bass (4,8 )
  • Helio Alves, Piano ( 4,8 )
  • Steve Adorno, Percussion ( 2 )
  • The Bergamot Quartet, ( 1 ) Ledah Finck & Sarah Thomas, violins, Jordan Watt, viola, Irene Han, cello

  • All pieces arranged for two or more guitars by Carlos Barbosa Lima.
  • Squares Suspended is composed by Andrew York
  • Contradanza Cubana is composed by Leo Brouwer

Liner Notes


Soon after releasing our fourth and final recording together, Delicado, Carlos and I continued to perform frequently across the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. Our program, a blend of Classical guitar, Brazilian Bossa Nova, and Samba, suited both jazz clubs and recital/listening rooms. It was on these tours that I learned so much from him. While preparing for our next project, tentatively titled Delicado 2, we recorded two demo pieces at our beloved Emmy Award-winning studio, Alchemy Post Sound in Peekskill, NY, working closely with our recording and mixing engineer, Leslie Bloome.


Then COVID arrived, changing everything. What would have been our final performance at the BeanRunner Cafe in downtown Peekskill on March 14, 2020, never took place. Carlos and I scrambled to get him back to his homeland, Brazil. The last time I saw Carlos was at Newark Airport. We had agreed he would “open up” several solo pieces from his GSP publication, Antonio Carlos Jobim: 9 Pieces arranged for solo guitar by Carlos Barbosa-Lima, and arrange them for two guitars, forming the foundation of our next CD. With that, we said goodbye, never to see my duo partner of twenty years again. Hence, this recording is an homage to the legendary guitarist, arranger, and my dearest friend, Carlos Barbosa-Lima.


Homage was conceived from the beginning as an ensemble recording, specifically focusing on chamber music. Every artist featured here has worked and performed closely with Carlos, except for two pieces; all the arrangements were composed by Carlos Barbosa-Lima. The string quintet, Contradanza Cubana, is a commissioned work dedicated to me by Maestro Leo Brouwer, who was a dear friend of Carlos throughout his life. Lastly, Andrew York, Carlos, and I had the privilege of performing together in Germany. Carlos often spoke very highly of that meeting with Andrew and of his compositions. I present here York’s Squares Suspended, which I feel speaks of Carlos. It has been the privilege and honor of a lifetime to work with the finest musicians on this recording. A big abrazo to you all.


Acknowledgements:


Executive Producer Kabir Sehgal / Producer, Musical Director Larry Del Casale / Recorded and Mixed by Justin Hahn at Greenbrier Studio, Mahopac, N.Y., and East Side Sound Studios, New York City, April 4, 2026 / Mastering engineer Michele Papa / Cover Photograph by Angelo Mannino / Graphic Design by Sofoklis Gourdouklis / Larry Del Casale uses Savarez Creation strings exclusively and plays a Richard Prenkert Guitar


I want to give a very special thank you to my beautiful wife, Nancy, my true A, who always keeps me in tune. Her  unwavering love and support made this project a reality. Thank you, “Cookie”. Thank you to my practice partners, Lawrence Alexander, Alfred Obersteiner, and Gonzalo Zeballo.