Guitar Emporium

A tune from the old recordings on reel to reel from 1986. I've extracted the guitar parts and re-worked the backing track. I'm not sure about the 1980's - this sounds like it comes from the 60's or at latest 70's - what was I listening to. ? Support the show

Or .. from sorrow to joy in three pieces. yes the joy is a bit subdued ( Round Dance ) but that's how it is sometimes. Two steel guitar pieces with a nylon string piece sandwiched in the middle. To the 3 boys - to reflect the trials and tribulations they are all going through. It will all be OK.  Support the show

The acoustic /live band version went up on July 9th last year. Here's the original studio version. Support the show

This is a positive tune - things are about to change . I feel optimistic about 2023 for people in general for the world as a whole. I started thinking about the tune  "as things can only get better" - but that seems almost defeatist.  Support the show

A combination of a rhythmic passage from Brian Protheroe's Pinball and some Django Reinhardt ideas. Re- mixed in stereo - I hope it worked this time . Support the show

Variations on a theme - The theme is  played twice, once at the end of each section of the piece. Its based around a slight rhythmic simplification of a  Mike Oldfield theme - in fact probably his most well known theme.  Support the show

I recorded all 12 of the studies. This is a recent update of Study no.1. Played on the Hybrid 24 fret guitar in 2013. Support the show

July 29th last year the folk set version that Rob and I played - a live version - of this song went up on the podcast . This is the original from 2008/2009.  Support the show

Tracking Back - the piece refers to a chord sequence and a way of finger style playing that has been around for a long time - going back, for me anyway. to playing the Villa Lobos Study No.1 - which I keep going back to ( I'll put up a recent recording over the next few days ) Support the show

I had a spell in the Lockdowns of putting together very long winded pieces that don't seem to go anywhere. This is one of those. It started with a working title of Trepidation - which is a bit over the top really . The piece is about that anxiety that you get ( I think it increases as you get older) about "things" you can't really put your finger on.. Wow- I've really sold...

From 2000 a piece taken from the Bunch of Fives collection for young pupils. As school children all head back to school today - best wishes for a good term and a good year. Support the show

A re-mix of a tune that worked off one of the highlights of 2022 - visiting our middle son Robert and his wife Marri in the middle of nowhere in Tuscany. I hope this year works out well for them.  Support the show

The return to work is this morning in the UK . Get ready to tackle New Year. This'll wake you up . Using a very old riff a completely over the top tune for the first work day of the New Year for those of us lucky enough to have had some time off. Go to it .... Support the show

Based on the song Roundsman - which I had on a CD called Lights in the Mist in about 2015 - this song has become an instrumental. Re-mixed and hopefully now in stereo. Support the show

The first piece of 2023 - its a combination I've used before but I'm returning to the trio - bass, drums and guitar. Easy and quick to organise - but leaves each player quite exposed - mistakes are so easily heard - as you can hear in this tune - Looking Which Way. The New Year always make you do this - look at what's gone before and what is to come. Sometimes one bears no relation...

Two rock based tunes to see out the old year and take us into the New Year. Have a Happy, Peaceful and Fulfilling 2023. Thank you for listening Support the show

Five pieces for Young Jazz Band - Fairground Suite: 1. Roller Coaster 2. Ghost Train 3. Carousel 4. Waltzer 5. Calliope Support the show

Taking us back to just two years ago in the UK - the post Christmas Lockdown. Observed by the many, abused by the few - frustrating and limiting times . I think I lost the plot for a bit - this piece was written then - and it sounds like I lost the plot. Support the show

A Latin American rhythm used in this piece which was completed around about the time I visited Alicante and Elche looking at a new job. This was completed on the way back from there - I liked the place , I liked the job and I liked the area. A laid back tune for a good couple of days back in Spain. Support the show

Philip Catherine is a guitar player who I 've always enjoyed listening to. I remember seeing him on an Old Grey Whistle Test TV programme and being amazed by the different way he played. It makes you realise however much you know - Its Never Enough Support the show

This is for everyone who works on  Christmas Day - those who cook, care, look after, watch over, keep the world going and sometimes enjoy Boxing Day a little bit more than the day itself. I'm sure that includes the Big Man himself. Its based around the rhythm of the words to The Night Before Christmas. Happy Boxing Day  Support the show

Merry  Christmas ! Five tunes to celebrate the day : Unto us is born Son Little Town of Bethlehem Noel It Came Upon a Midnight Clear Christ was born in Bethlehem.  Have a peaceful, restful and enjoyable day Support the show

It was 204 years ago when "Silent Night" was first heard by Austrian villagers attending Christmas Eve mass in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf. On  Christmas Eve, 1818, was the first performance of  Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht . Joseph Mohr, the young priest who wrote the lyrics, played the guitar and sang along with Franz Xaver Gruber, the choir director who had written the melody. Have...

A re-mix of the tune - in glorious (?) stereo - Something for the Weekend, Sir ? was the original title - from that old barbers shop joke. Support the show

The French Carol - arranged for guitar and bass. From 2015. Support the show