The title of Richard’s show which formed the second part of the distinctly Latin American events at The Arts Centre takes its name from one of the guitarists albums but also relates to and bridges the two halves of his life. The number 26 bus used to take him from his home near Brighton to his music lessons as a young man but Paraguay is the birthplace of the music that means so much to him and in particular composer-guitarist Agustin Barrios. Having fallen under the spell of the man’s music at a young age he then headed off to make a living as a jobbing musician. It was not until later in life that he decided that he was ready to record Barrios’ music, a move that lead to visits to Paraguay to explore and play in the great mans homeland and eventually a trilogy of albums celebrating South American classical guitar music.
And this is the story he tells between the music and as great and engaging a narrator as he is, it is always his playing that is the star of the show. In an age where we are so used to guitar effects and studio enhancements giving songs additional layers or textures, it is great to be reminded of what acoustic guitar playing sounds like in its purest form. There is something mesmerising not just in the dexterity of the playing but in the completeness, the way he effortlessly changes rhythm or speed and the control of the tone just by where and how to strum, stroke and even caress the stings.
It is music which evokes the country that birthed and raised it, classical intricacy meets Latin passion, that speaks of hot, sultry nights and beautiful vistas, of colour and carnival, love and longing.
This is a man at one with his instrument, for who it is an extension of his very being, who has used those skills to explore his musical loves, to experience the land that spawn his life-long hero and which now holds many friends. Not bad for a kid from a Brighton council estate I’d say.
