"...conspicuous skill and tonal range... Ito proved himself to be a clean and technically adroit player, whizzing through thorny passages with aplomb... sensitive... lyrical..."

"Masakazu Ito is one of the most exciting guitarists to emerge in recent years. He has it all: virtuosity, musicality and flair. He is certainly a name to watch."

"He is a highly sensitive musician with a deep understanding of his instrument and the music he plays."

"... I cannot help but be impressed by his accomplishments and his refinement. He must surely be considered as one of the finest of a new generation of guitarists to emerge in recent time."

"... Beautiful tone and expression... ever precise technique..."

"... sensitive playing... technically fluent with impressive control... vast technique..."

Since his professional Tokyo debut in 1987, Masakazu Ito has fast become recognized as one of the top guitarists of today. The Gendai Guitar Magazine, Tokyo, called him "a true musician who just happens to be playing the guitar."

As a prize winner of such competitions as the Andres Segovia International Guitar Competition, Tokyo International Guitar Competition, Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition and Seto-Ohashi International Guitar Competition, Ito has been busy touring as a recitalist as well as a soloist with symphony orchestras in Japan and throughout the United States of America. He made his successful debuts in Europe (Germany) in the fall of 1995 and in California at the Cal-State Luckman Theatre in Los Angeles in April 1996. "Ito displayed conspicuous skill and tonal rrange... proved himself to be aclean and technically adroit player, whizzing through thorny passages with aplomb" (Los Angeles Times).

Ito is active in teaching as well. He currently holds a position as Chairman of the guitar program at Colorado State University and also teaches as an adjunct faculty at the University of Denver where he received his Master's degree under the guidance of maestro Ricardo Iznaola.

Masakazu Ito joined his mentor, Ricardo Iznaola, in paying homage to Italo-American composer Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco's centenary with a performance of his Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra with the Lamont Symphony in Denver and the Wyoming Symphony in 1996.

Ito's friendship with Japanese superstar musician Kitaro gave a new dimension to his music; the outdoor duo concert they presented in 1991 was one of Ito's major career achievements. His first solo CD, which Ito recorded under the name "Massito", released in 1996 contains some of his original compositions, which are influenced and encouraged by composer Kitaro.

Massito

Intimate Guitar

Solo Guitar Collection

leeping Wolf Productions

P.O. Box 108

Lyons, CO 80540

TEL: 303-818-3432

Fax : (303)682-5915

E-Mail:wmoore4@ix.netcom.com

ｩCopyright 1996 Massito. All rights reserved.

massito@interpacificnet.com