Review of the concert
at the 2012 Witness Hilton Art Festival by Keith Millar
For reason or another,
I had never seen guitarist Tony Cox live in concert before the Witness Hilton
Arts Festival. After hearing him play, it is a lapse that I seriously regret,
and I hope that I will be fortunate enough to hear him play again soon, and
often.
All the superlatives
that have used to describe Cox and his guitar playing, virtuoso, maestro,
genius, iconic are true. This man is quite simply brilliant guitarist.
He is also a pretty
good raconteur, coming across as a warm and friendly person as he chats to his
audience with humour and sincerity. He relates anecdotes about his music and
his life and is able to create a very convivial ambiance which leads to
increased enjoyment of the concert.
Only one item on the programme
which is titled Tony Cox – Well And Truly
Plucked, was not his own composition
and that was Henry Mancini’s Baby
Elephant Walk. He related how he had first heard this tune in a movie
called Hatari which starred, of all
people, John Wayne as the leader of a game capture team. He later transcribed
the orchestral work for guitar. The result is stunning.
Cox’s compositions
have their own unique sound and style. Obviously influenced by his roots in
Zimbabwe and South Africa, he produces powerful music of rare beauty with strong
rhythmic and percussive qualities.
We were treated to
several of his own works including The
Eighth Nerve, Humming Bird and Salty
Towers. We then heard the quirky Slap
Chips and a lovely ballad called Good
Morning, which he wrote for his daughter. For an encore he played the aptly
named You Asked For it.
Tony Cox has been
entertaining for over 30 years. He is one of South Africa’s most renowned
musicians and undoubtedly a world class guitarist. When he is in town again,
don’t miss his concert. You won’t regret it. – Keith Millar
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