Considered by many to be the “Dean of Jazz Guitar” in the southwest, Michael Anthony’s artistry and influence have left a lasting impression on generations of New Mexico’s finest musicians. Tonight’s concert is about celebrating Anthony’s love for the guitar and his lifelong passion for teaching. Through performances and lively storytelling, two of his former students, Claudio Tolousse and John Maestas, come together to celebrate the legacy of the man they call ‘Uncle Mike’ and they will perform a variety of songs ranging from material they worked on in their first years as guitar students, to original compositions and arrangements of American Songbook standards that they recently recorded on their new album, which they are officially releasing at this concert. Joining the trio will be Asher Barreras on bass and Arnaldo Acosta on drums. Since moving to New Mexico in 1980, Michael Anthony has been one of the most respected and sought-after guitarists on the scene. He spent fifteen years in Los Angeles working in recording studios with artists like Blue Mitchell, Herbie Laws, the Bobby Bryant Orchestra, the Louie Belson Orchestra, Quincy Jones and many others and also played with the Gil Evans Orchestra accompanying Miles Davis at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Mexico Music Awards in 2014, Anthony has recorded ten CDs and written four Jazz Guitar books, including the most recent, Street Knowledge, which part autobiography/part instructional jazz guitar.