THE GUITAR SHOW! The 2009/10 show by Dale Harris

The Guitar Show!

Dale Harris forges new directions in solo guitar

performance in his new show for 2009/10.

Dale's solo concerts are an event to behold. Audiences are spellbound by his uncanny ability to create magic from just about any genre you care to mention. Dale is not only fully-trained classical musician who can reel-off any number of repertoire pieces both popular and obscure without pretence, but he can play anything from jazz to rock to ragtime or flamenco, country to blue-grass acoustic, delta-blues slide electric, Indian classical raga and all with an authentic flair for the style executed with a twinkle-in-the-eye sense of humour and a death-defying level technique. He'll imitate drums, trumpets, the Nashville steel-guitar, play pieces entirely on the tuning pegs, lay down live loops, trigger synths or bass pedals for self-accompaniment.

An array of instruments are evident at Dale's concerts: there's a few one-off luthiered Spanish and flamenco guitars (by Manuel Contreras & Stephen Hill), a Godin electric-classical instrument hooked up to an axon system synth (you have missed out if you have not heard the music of J.S. Bach played on a church organ and guitar at the same time!), an Ovation Adamas acoustic-electric steel-string (as purchased from Adrian Legg as part of a deal where Ovation offered the instrument for John Williams to use after the formation of Sky in 1979 - he promptly declared this instrument to be 'vulgar'!!!) complete with banjo de-tuning-pegs. Then he might get out a baroque 24-string lute, a banjo (Deliverance: here we go!), an electric guitar and play some blues 'slide'. You'll hear music by The Beatles played on a Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar (an identical model to the one played by George Harrison in the 1960's).

Dale also plays music by Adrian Legg (as an 18-year old, Dale once played Legg's music to the composer himself and picked up some handy tips!), John McLaughlin, Chet Atkins, or simply revert to the classics such as 'Cavatina: Theme from the Deerhunter', 'The Entertainer', 'Tarrega's Recuerdos De La Alhambra', Albeniz's 'Asturias', or Don McLean's beautiful 'Vincent'. Then, there's medleys of hits such as Message in a Bottle (Police) / Californication (Red Hot Chili Peppers) / Day Tripper (Beatles) where Dale plays the bass line and melody simultaneously! An ultra jazzy and atmospheric version of Summertime coupled with the James Bond Theme always raises a few smiles and wonderment, especially as the guitar pedal board is worked to the maximum.
Dale also tells the occasional story - tales of crazy incidents, old friends, topical anecdotes, or informative and fascinating background to accompany the programme. It's no wonder that Dale's concerts will leave you with a sense of awe-inspiration, genuine warmth and one of the best guitar concerts that you may ever be part of.

November 2008

"Dale Harris: The Guitars Show!"

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