专辑简介

Dave studied classical guitar with Robin Pearson whilst an undergraduate at University College Cardiff. He became known in the 1970’s for his work with the Birmingham-based Steve Gibbons Band, touring with The Who and appearing on “Top of the Pops”. More recently Dave’s adaptability as a guitarist was much in evidence with the Royal Shakespeare Company for whom he worked until 2007.He now spends most of his time composing for the classical guitar but also enjoys working with the Pianosmith Jazz Trio.

Dave’s solo album “GUITAR” is a collection of pieces going back many years, the earliest, ‘Classical Brollies’ dating from 1963 when Dave was but a teenager. His compositional style is light, melodic and accessible, interwoven with a distinctive strand of musical humour. The influences are varied, as reflects his involvement with different genres over a long career : from the Classical style of ‘Love Theme and Variations’ to the Scott Joplin- like ‘Wolf Whistle Rag’ ; from the jazz-influenced ‘Cwm’ to the impressionistic flute and guitar duet ‘Seascape’. Track 16, ‘Jigantella’ has a biographical element in its fusion of Irish and Italian dance forms, revealing something of the composer’s own cultural heritage. The Spanish style of ‘Siglo de Oro’ was inspired by the RSC’s Golden Age 2004 in which Dave toured with the company to Madrid. During the same year he composed the music for ‘Trouble and Wonder’, an RSC production of short tragedies written by 10-year-olds. The guitar solos ‘Tombeau’ and ‘Love Theme’ featured in this show. Dave then went on to develop the set of five variations based on the Love Theme including the striking ‘Barcarole Africaine’, inspired by memories of a trip to Senegal in 1996. To complete this round-up of styles, the flavour of Latin America is captured in ‘Tango’, the album’s opening track.