(James Grace)
(Review from the Hilton Arts Festival from
Keith Millar)
South Africa’s
leading classical guitarist, James Grace, has become something of a regular at
the Hilton Arts Festival in recent years. This is certainly good news as there
can be little doubt that his presence enhances the quality of the entertainment
on offer at the festival.
This year Grace
presented his new show entitled Guitar
Hero. The show has nothing to do with the computer game of the same name
and everything to do with sublime guitar music performed with warmth, skill and
passion by a very gifted musician.
In his programme,
Grace pays homage to his personal guitar heroes - the performers who influenced
him as he developed as a guitarist.
Using his classical
guitar (nylon strings) he played his own arrangements of Apache by Hank Marvin of the Shadows, the exquisite Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, More Than Words by Extreme, Mason
Williams’ Classical Gas, a
breath-taking Beatles medley and Cavatina
by Stanley Myers.
In between numbers
Grace demonstrated the techniques, such as bending the notes and the slap
technique which he used while performing. He also shared anecdotes about the
artists and their music.
Rounding out the
concert were items of Spanish and flamenco guitar classics by masters such as
Albeniz and Tarrega.
After giving a
demonstration of how to play tremolo effect employed in the piece, Grace
performed the hauntingly beautiful Recuerdos
de la Alhambra by Francisco Tarrega as the final item on the programme.
Guitar Hero is a show of considerable quality with
guitar playing out of the top drawer.
James Grace is a
very versatile and skilled classical guitarist. He performs with great
intensity and sensitivity. To hear him perform is an exciting and most
enjoyable experience. If you get the chance to see him in concert don’t miss
it. – Keith Millar
Posts
