Pavlo is a world-renowned Canadian musician performing 150 plus shows each year worldwide. He performed his Mediterranean style music at the Dekker Centre Monday, March 9, playing a guitar from his own line – which he bestowed upon one audience member following the show.
The audience responded with a standing ovation and calls for more, and he has promised to return to the community for another performance.
Pavlo told the Regional Optimist recently he has accomplished many of his dreams by virtue of doing what he loves. He lives by his father’s motto, “Have the courage to do what you love, and the drive to do it well.”
One of his dreams was to have his own guitar line. He designed it with Calgary luthier Jack Peters and it got the attention of Godin, the biggest guitar manufacture in North America, headquartered in Montreal.
“Bigger than Gibson, bigger than Fender, and they are Canadian,” said Pavlo. “Godin now manufactures my guitars in Canada and I’m so proud to say that.”
He now gives the guitar he plays in his shows away after nearly every performance. He confirms someone who comes to his show at the Dekker Centre will go home with the guitar he is playing that evening.
The Toronto-born musician plays more than 150 shows per year, travelling worldwide from his home base in Tampa, Florida, accomplishing things he’s been told he couldn’t do.
In a telephone interview from Florida, he said, “I think when we do things with the right intention and for the right reasons things work out. Anybody can do anything you want, you really can.”
Pavlo performances are unique, and at times he’s been told his style of music is “too ethnic” or that it had “no market,” but he’s proved naysayers and critics wrong.
“I’ve performed over 2,000 concerts all over the world for the last 20 years,” he said. “I’m not a commercial artist, yet I’ve sold millions of albums, I have gold records in Canada, Juno nominations, I have a PBS special, Mediterranean Nights, that plays all over Canada and America.”
He attributes his success to his passion.
“It’s because I love what I do,” said Pavlo. “I never had a game plan, yet it happens anyway, and that’s sort of how my career started and how it still is.”
Pavlo said, “I play this very unique, distinct Mediterranean style music. I don’t pretend to do anything else, but what I do I do very well, and that’s it.”
Monday’s Dekker Centre audience had a chance to meet Pavlo during the performance, during the intermission and following the show. When asked if he would be greeting guests after the show, he exclaimed, “Are you kidding me? That’s my favourite part! We dance, we kiss, we hug, that’s the best part of the show.”
Pavlo said, “I’ve been doing this for so long, I feel so fortunate, I don’t care where I am.”
One night he might be headlining a jazz festival with BB King with 20,000 people in the audience and the next night he’s in a small city like North Battleford.
“I love it all,” he said. “I don’t care if there are two people in the audience, they’ve committed two hours of their life to see me play. Absolutely, you can depend on me being out there, hanging out and talking to people and making friends because that’s what I love.”
Pavlo’s North Battleford concert will feature four musicians on stage. Appearing with him will be a world-class percussionist, bass player and bazukee player. Pavlo, who is of Greek heritage, explained a bazukee is the Greek version of a mandolin.
Pavlo has been playing the guitar since he was 10. His parents were supportive and encouraging.
“I guess it’s the story of my life,” he said. “Right out of the gate, I love the playing.”
After years of guitar lessons, from classical to flamenco, Pavlo spent his early years playing in rock groups and wedding bands. Moving on, he discovered his own distinct sound, which he termed Mediterranean, and was inspired to write his first self-titled album.
When music executives said it was “too ethnic,” he created his own record label, and by marketing himself by playing craft shows, café gigs and festival performances across the country, he built a fan base.
His second album, Fantasia, made it to the Billboard Top 10 and earned Pavlo his first Juno nomination.
Just as critics were saying this trend would die out, Pavlo received a call to perform for His Royal Highness, Prince Charles.
Then, after several more albums, he was told that he was not ready to perform in Canada’s most prestigious theatre, the legendary Massey Hall. What did he do? He booked the 2,700-seat theatre anyway and sold it out – twice.
When he was told the United States wouldn’t be interested in his Mediterranean music, he went on an 80-city tour across the USA.
He was also told it would be too difficult to overcome language barriers and cultural differences to establish a fan base overseas, yet his music is being played in cafes all over China, he annually tours throughout Europe and sells out concert halls in South Korea.
“When I heard, ‘You cannot win a court case against Jay-Z,’ one of the biggest artists in the world, I went ahead and I won it,” said Pavlo.
That was in 2002. He initiated a lawsuit against mega stars R-Kelly and Jay-Z for sampling his guitar work in one of their Top 10 songs. He now shares in the publishing of the song as a co-writer.
His ambition performing on television was also discouraged, yet he received a call from 15-time Emmy award-winning director, George Veras, famous for Yanni’s Live at the Acropolis, resulting in a one-hour concert special, Pavlo: Mediterranean Nights. (Pavlo is working currently working on a second PBS special.)
In another example, he was inspired by the famous guitar trio project of Paco De Lucia, Al DiMeola and John McLaughlin, and dreamed of creating a Canadian Guitar Trio. Many thought it would be too difficult to collaborate with other musicians that were famous within their own genres, but Pavlo called on legendary guitarists Oscar Lopez and Hall of Famer Rik Emmett of the rock band Triumph. They released an album, Trifecta, and sold out on a national tour. The album earned Pavlo a second Juno nomination.
Pavlo has now released his ninth album, Six String Blvd, celebrating his ongoing ability to pave his own way, and he feels it is some of the best music he has ever written.
On his new album, Pavlo pays tribute to Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot with a Mediterranean rendition of If You Could Read My Mind. Lightfoot himself endorses this new version and is a supporter and a fan of Pavlo’s music.
His next collaboration, due out later this year, will be a guitar album with Remigio Pereira of The Tenors.
Pavlo is also due to release a second wine. He said he, like many people, is a wine-lover and enjoys a glass of wine with a meal. So he had an edition of 2006 Meritage bottled by an award-winning winery located in Lake Erie, Ont. called Mastronardi Estate Winery. Renowned wine critic, Konrad Ejbich, reviewed, “It is as rich and as smooth as the vibes from Pavlo’s guitar.”
It sold out, said Pavlo.
Pavlo is also a spokesperson for World Vision. Through his concerts, he has helped sponsor over 1,000 children to date.
He is also the North American spokesperson for Batten Disease Awareness. Batten Disease is a rare and always fatal degenerative brain disease that affects children.
