By way of the rubble that is now Beirut and the squalor that is the Paris subway comes to us
an incredible talent, Nocy Karkour. Nocy plays one of the most amazing guitars you are ever likely to hear and will be doing it
locally for - most likely - not too much longer. Classically schooled in Paris, Nocy blends that learning with the soul he possesses and the result is
invigorating. Growing up on the streets of Lebanon, he and his friends were big fans of the music coming out of London, stuff like Pink Floyd, Jimi, Deep Purple
and Creedence. It wasn't that love of music that has led him to become what he is today, however. When I asked him how long he'd been playing, he replied,
"100 years. It doesn't matter when I started, it came to easy. When I first took up the guitar, I wanted to invent. Songs take me five minutes
to learn. Folk, rock, the chords are the same. Learning the guitar is different."
It was on the streets of Paris and under them that the furious fingers and blazing mind of Nocy continued their destined merging. In France,
in part to elude the war ravaging his homeland and in another part to forward his education in classical guitar, Nocy found himself on the streets
at 15. He played for the masses converging on the subways and eeked out a living that allowed him a room without heat or water and he met up with
a girl who began to further his classical instruction. "Man, she was so mean to me. 'Do this, do that.' But I found a conservatory in the district
I was living in and the teacher was so beautiful to me. In two years I was better than him I couldn't learn any more." It isn't with any attitude
that Nocy relates this. He knows where he's been, where he is and where he will be. He's very much in touch with himself. As he said, "When you have
a soul, you have everything. I learned to play with my soul. Playing your soul is music."
Eventually, his music and his friends led Nocy above ground and into some of the most popular cabarets in Paris. People continually told him,
"Go to America, you should be recording." But even though he knew they were right, he admits to being just plain lazy. Finally, however, he did make
it to the States - landing in Miami, up and over to New Yourk for a bit and finally settling in L.A. That was 1990, and the man was knocking on doors
saying he'd like to play, no cash, he'd just pass the hat after his set. Sure, laughed club managers, go ahead. Almost without exception he was viewed
as a loon with a guitar and there were no expectations of anything other than background noise. Without exception he knocked them to the floor. Listening
to his debut, Flames Of Spain is to be introduced to as engaging and awe-inspiring a talent as is possible to find. The deftness with which Nocy races
about the strings and frets of his instruments are alternatingly shocking and beautiful. His music is a blend of classical, flamenco, gypsy
(he played with the Gypsy Kings before their fame) and his own mind - the guitar comes alive in his hands. He said in our talk that, even though
no one can tell, at least two songs he performs each night are made up on the spot. He tells the bass player what he wants and wanders off and
creates something. It's testament to the talent born some 100 years ago.
Steve Alcorn, Pasadena Weekly