Last night was the first in a series of gigs we’ve booked as part of this season’s Snape Proms. Although we knew of him, we hadn’t heard any of his recorded work or seen him live before, so this one was a bit of a punt, spurred on by the musical company he keeps and the reverence other guitar players have for him.
The first thing that hits you is the sheer virtuosity – even to a non player his fantastic technique and tone shines through. His ability to play lead, harmony and rhythm at the same time is undeniably brilliant but the man himself is understated and self deprecating. Throughout the set he showed a mastery of blues, country, folk and bluegrass, along with a pop sensibility and sense of melody. But for whatever reason it was difficult to get involved or be emotionally engaged. I’m guessing it was because we knew none of the material. When he played his own interpretations of more familiar tunes, such as a Beatles medley and a fantastic version of ‘Classical Gas’, it was much easier to see (and hear) just how spectacularly he had adapted them for the solo guitar. I think we were in the minority as there were clearly many devoted fans in the audience, who had the advantage of knowing quite a bit of the self penned material. I think unfamiliarity generated a bit of an emotional disconnect but even I, musically talentless, could recognise a technical master of the guitar at work.