Search - Davey Graham :: Complete Guitarist

One of the finest musicians that Britain has ever produced

Penguin Egg | London, England | 02/03/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Davey Graham is a British guitarist from the early 60s who pioneered a style of acoustic guitar playing called Folk Baroque. What Davey did was to combine blues, folk and jazz and create something new. The music of Pentangle, Bert Jansch and John Renbourne would have been unthinkable without him. The eclecticism that informs his music is on display on this 1979 album, 'The Complete Guitarist,' which also has tracks from 'Dance For Two People' and his three contributions to 'Blues Workshop.'Davey plays without accompaniment throughout this album and he is all the better for it. A brilliant guitarist, he tackles his material with authority and aplomb. Traditional songs such as 'Hardiman the Fiddler' and 'The Road to Lisdoonvana' mingle with classical pieces by Robert De Visee and Vaughan Williams. Jazz mingles with Blues. This eclectic mix works maybe because Davey was born in England to a Scottish father and an African mother. This has given him an open mind and a broad perspective and he is an accomplished enough musician to carry this through into his music. Davey was into World Music (African, Moorish, Indian) long before the term was invented, and on some of his earlier albums recorded in the 60s, (That's right! Right back in the 60s!) Davey even plays some African and Indian songs on their original instruments. However, this side of him is not represented here. What is here: Blues, folk, jazz, classical, - is excellent. He is a master of the instrument: The best guitarist that Britain has produced - only John Renbourn can match him. Most of his albums have been patchy, but this one is a delight throughout. There is not one duff track here. If you like acoustic guitar music, then I heartily recommend this album.Davey was a friend of Alexis Korner, the founding father of British rock. He said of Davey that he is "a genuinely gifted guitarist who rightly, refuses to let himself be fenced into one field of music. The great traditional folk banjo and guitar pickers have influenced his playing. Josh White...has also exerted considerable influence. But then, so have the great modern jazz players. The fierce belief of good Gospel groups, the great blues singers, all have influenced him as have the Baroque composers." Davey Graham is an inspiration and a joy to listen to, and this is his very best album. There are informative sleeve notes by Duck Baker. I even like the leather jacket Davey wears on the cover."

Delightful variety of guitar instrumentals

Zordano | 10/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"`The Complete Guitarist' was always a very strong set from Graham - here it is re-mastered and brilliantly boosted by the addition of 8 bonus tracks.



Davey Graham's joyful, earnest, eclectic guitar playing encompasses countless influences: blues, jazz, English, Scottish and Irish folk, classical and world music. It may sound unlikely that he brings these together - but he does, and with deep affection and care.



His own compositions here are superb - the jazzy, punchy, totally addictive, `Lashtal's Room' and `Blues for Gino' where he really gets under the skin of the blues - leaning into the bluesy chords with perfect judgement. No British player reaches into the heart of the blues with a feel quite like Graham's. In his blues-folk composition `Forty-Ton Parachute', he moves nimbly over the fret board.



Other pieces are sourced widely from: traditional sources, works for lute, classical, British and Irish folk, hymns, and the American blues.



Some other stand-out tracks are a tremendous self-accompanied blues vocal (one of only two on this otherwise solo instrumental CD) - `When I Been Drinking', and `Renaissance Piece', `Sarah', `Prelude From The Suite in D Minor', `The Gold Ring' and `Panic Room Blues'.



Graham utilises a variety of steel strung acoustic guitars, nylon strung guitars and employs standard and non-standard tunings all to great effect.



If you want a superb collection of eclectic guitar music and to start, or improve, your Davey Graham collection - you can't go much wrong here.



[Note: the original album (1977) of 16 pieces is supplemented here with 5 tracks from its follow up `Dance for Two People' (1979) plus 3 contributions taken from the `Blues Guitar Workshop' album (1980)]."