Guitar greats play solos in high style at Orono

Joe Pass, Paco Pena, Pepe Romero and Leo Kottke showed up for a “guitar summit” last night at the Maine Center for the Arts and played a concert that was of peak quality, delicacy and style.

Pass, now in his 63rd year, began the show on his electric guitar with mellifluous jazz standards including “Stella By Starlight,” “Round Midnight,” and a medley he called “blues in every key.” His eloquent style built to high points that could quite understandably leave one short of breath. Smooth and fluid, Pass slid into a sparkling version of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” before yielding the stage to Pena.

A five-time winner of Guitar Player Magazine’s flamenco award, Pena switched the tempo to sounds of Spain. Whirling, cascading textures throbbed from his guitar as he played the thrilling “Tarantas” and “Alegrias.” During “Zapateado,” he accompanied his music with wildly rhythmic tappings on the body of his acoustic guitar.

The strumming and melodic passagework of flamenco continued with Romero, who had both technical virtuosity and soul. In a tune by Francisco de Madina, Romero dexterously worked a simple melody through every imaginable form, including a waltz, march and lullaby. He ended his inspired performance with “Fantasia,” composed by his father.

Kottke gave an outstanding wrapup to the show with “William Powell,” “My Aunt Frances/Oddball,” “Little Martha,” “Echoing Gilewitz,” and a slide medley on his steel-string guitar. He confessed to the audience that he didn’t enjoy having to speak during shows, but spent several minutes doing just that — and having a good time of it, too, with his offbeat brand of humor.

The encore consisted of two duets, one with the flamenco guitarists, and one with Pass and Kottke.