[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Linstead_Johannes.jpg” caption=”Award-winning musician Johannes Linstead will perform at Convocation Hall on Friday, Oct. 26. Photo courtesy of SOTA.”]The School of the Arts presents award-winning musician Johannes Linstead on Friday, Oct. 26. Linstead won the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year in 2007 and his latest recording, Cafe Tropical, earned a JUNO nomination for Instrumental Album of the Year.

On top of his awards, Linstead has been regarded as one of the best Latin and nouveau flamenco guitarists in the world. At the age of 8, he began studying the guitar, and by his teens, he had studied just about every facet of the instrument as well as several different styles, including jazz, rock and classical. In his graduating year from high school, he earned the Musician of the Year award.

Linstead's live performances are regarded as nothing short of phenomenal. Bursting with tropical sounds, audiences are moved to dance and clap along with his music.

A hugely-talented multi-instrumentalist, Linstead plays guitar, piano, mandolin, bouzouki, bass, wood flute and various percussion instruments.

In concert, as on his recordings, Linstead strives to create a festive mood, leaving plenty of room for lightning-fast guitar improvisations and spicy percussion solos, which include bongos, congas, timbale and doubek.

Lively Latin and Mediterranean rhythms combined with Linstead's technical virtuosity leave audiences breathless.

Tickets are $17 for general admission, $12 for seniors and $5 for students.

The concert will be held in Convocation Hall (2nd Floor, University Hall) on Friday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. For more information, please call 905-525-9140, ext. 24246.