Sally Greenberg wrote:
>
> Scottish guitarist Tony McManus is returning for the 3rd time after 2
> previous sell-outs to perform a concert at my house on Sunday, April 15th.
>
For those of you who don't know Tony, he is incredible. In 1996 I received a call from
an
Edinburgh music shop saying 'you like celtic guitar, come and have a beer, we've got a
demonstration by this incredible player' - Tony. I hadn't heard of him then but I had
heard his name mentioned. So I went along and was completely converted. I even forced
him
to play crap guitars (Takamine or something) instead of his handmade job and to abandon
the PA. I just had to be sure that no aspect of the remarkable sound he produced was
only
to do with instruments or set-up; of course, it isn't. He can do it on anything, and
since
then I've met Tony several times in different contexts - workshops, houseparties,
summer
schools. He has proved he also can do this while he should be asleep, and can drive a
guitar under the influence of Old Sheepshagger 'drawn from the wood'.
If you play fiddle or pipes, it's probably fair to say you won't very much like what
guitarists do with your timing, ornaments, modes and harmonies etc - in fact, most
guitarists will either hamper your own playing or provide a very inadequate imitation
on
the wrong instrument. This is where Tony is totally different. He will persuade you
that
tunes YOU thought were written for the fiddle, whistle, smallpipes or even the Great
Highland Pipes have been since their birth destined for the guitar. So it isn't just
guitarists who need to hear and see Tony (to mend their ways) but other traditional
Scottish/Irish/Cape Breton etc players who can gain insights.
Tony will be playing back home in Scotland at the Wynd Theatre in Melrose on June 15th
-
sadly he won't be doing a workshop, as he must fly out to Italy the next morning.
But at risk of overdoing the praise, this is one guitar player you must hear if you
think
you have no interest in guitar players - and one player that 'celtic guitar' players
should hear to reassess their approach and standards.
David
------------------------------------------
Icon magazines: http://www.freelancephotographer.co.uk/
Music CDs and tracks: http://www.mp3.com/DavidKilpatrick
Personal website: http://www.maxwellplace.demon.co.uk/pandemonium/
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