This new collection – still firmly in the ‘Bach to Bacharach’ mould -includes four of my favourite Classical pieces. The Bach Prelude and Tarrega’s Capricho Arabe are pieces I’ve always enjoyed playing and Faure’s Pavane, although written for flute, works well I think as a guitar duet.

 

Cavatina was composed – and enjoyed plenty of airplay – about the time I started learning the guitar. Perhaps, without realising, hearing John Williams inspired me. I did record the piece in its unaccompanied form some years ago but here it gets ‘the Deerhunter’ treatment with strings and flutes.

 

Also included are a couple of jazz tracks composed in the ‘30s. As with Cavatina, I wanted an opportunity to re-record Tears and Georgia On My Mind, and I’ve done so here adding fiddle and Double Bass respectively.

 

Ragtime has always been one of my favourite guitar styles with Cannonball Rag a particular pet. My version here, with Brian Carter, was played on steel strings for a change.

 

There’s also a Queen song, a tune from Les Miserables and one of  Elvis’s less well-known songs – which I thought fitting as the release of this CD coincides with the 30th anniversary of his death. The remainder are simply tunes I liked from my formative years which I thought deserved arrangements and therefore a home on this recording.

 

With the exception of track 2 (Washburn electro-classical) and track 15 (Takamine) all tracks were recorded on my Raimundo classical guitar. Recording, engineering and mastering - all analogue, of course - was painstakingly and patiently done by

Jim Riley at Ranscombe Studios in Rochester. The cover image was designed by Hilary Cooke.

 

Hugs and handshakes are due to my fellow musicians:

Calvin Beedle (Guitar, track 1)

Pat Fysh (Double Bass, tracks 4 & 16)

Phil Bennet (Violin, track 9)

Siobhan Link (Flute, tracks 12 & 16)

Brian Carter (Guitar, track 15)

Matt Whitworth (Keyboard, track 16)

 

 

 

01 - Pavane

02 - We Are The Champions

03 - Bridge Over  Troubled Water

04 - Georgia On My Mind

05 - My Favourite Things

06 - Capricho

07 - On My Own

08 - Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

09 - Tears

10 - Prelude In D

11 - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

12 - American Trilogy

13 - Over The Rainbow

14 - Michelle

15 - Cannonball Rag

16 - Cavatina

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