MBGU: Rock Guitar Masterclass 1: 60 Tapping Licks (Mbgu) (Mel Bay Guitar University)
Born in the Greek island of Crete, Ioannis Anastassakis studied at the Greek National Conservatory and the Nakas Conservatory in Athens. He completed his Bachelor degree at the American College of Greece, and subsequently studied at the distinguished Musicians Institute (GIT), where he tutored, after graduating at the top 1% of his class. He continued his graduate studies in Music, at the California State University, completing an MA in Guitar Performance, graduating Magna cum Laude. Ioannis list of Electric guitar teachers is extremely impressive: the list read like as Who is Who of contemporary electric guitar legends! Steve Vai (Whitesnake), Vinnie Moore (UFO), Marty Friedman (Megadeth), John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Frank Gambale (Chick Corea), Paul Gilbert (Mr.Big), Richie Kotzen, Brett Garsed, Joey Tafolla, Scott Henderson, Mike Stern, Jean Marc Belkadi, Darren Householder, Tommy Tedesco, Ted Greene, Ron Eschete, Sid Jacobs & Joe Diorio. Ioannis also studied Solo Flamenco Guitar for several years with flamenco maestro Juan Serrano. In addition, he has studied with Flamenco guitar legends Manolo Sanlucar, Juan Martin, Paco Serrano, Jose Antonio Rodriguez and Manolo Franco. Ioannis has also performed and/or recorded in various settings with band members of Whitesnake, Dio, Deep Purple, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Santana, Celine Dion, Sara Vaughan, Tito Puente, Julio Iglesias, Tower of Power, Chick Corea Electric Band, Jeff Beck, Steve Vai Band, Badlands, Santana, Tribal Tech, Natalie Cole, Joe Cocker, Cher, Blood Sweat & Tears and more. Ioannis has presented over 400 solo recitals in Europe and the United States and has been a guest lecturer at several American colleges and Universities (University of Southern California, California State University Northridge, California State University Fresno, California State University Fullerton, Musicians Institute, Fresno City College, American College of Greece). In addition, he has won and placed as a finalist in several Classical and Flamenco guitar competitions and has been featured 15 times on European and American TV. In 2000, he was the 1st guitarist ever to present a solo guitar recital at the prestigious Greek National Opera House. Ioannis is the artistic director of the annual Athens International Electric Guitar Festival and has also served as principal instructor at the most prominent International Guitar Festivals in Greece (International guitar festival of Hermoupolis, International Winter guitar festival of Volos, International guitar festival of Patras, International guitar festival of Paros, International guitar festival of Porto Heli). Ioannis is also an officially registered guitar instructor with the London College of Music and Thames Valley University, as well as a registered LA s Guitar Institute of Technology (GIT). Ioannis first solo Flamenco guitar CD, Flamenco Live at Ioannina, was released by MP3.com on 2000, immediately entered the company's flamenco Top 10, eventually reaching the #1 place worldwide on October 2002. The CD was re-mastered and re-released by Wild Rose Angel Productions in 2004. Ioannis second solo Flamenco guitar CD, Traditional Flamenco Guitar Selections is scheduled to be released by Wild Rose Angel Productions in 2008. Ioannis first instrumental Rock/Fusion Electric guitar CD, Suspension of Disbelief, was released by Wild Rose Angel Productions in 2007 within 3 weeks its worldwide sales soared at the top 5 in the highly regarded Guitar9.com website!! Ioannis highly anticipated second instrumental Rock/Fusion Electric guitar CD, Orbital Attempt, is scheduled to be released by Wild Rose Angel Productions in June 2008. Ioannis instructional materials are published and distributed worldwide by Mel Bay Publications. His instructional books The Art of Rasgueado and the instructional book/DVD