Reviews
Artist: Richard Durrant
Album: The No26 Bus to Paraguay
Label: Longman
Tracks: 11
Website:http://www.richard-durrant.com/
The No26 Bus to Paraguay by Richard Durrant Firstly I have to point out that mere-mortal guitar players need only listen to Richard Durrant, or watch a YouTube clip, for a few moments before feelings of inadequacy start to creep in. It goes without saying that what the guy can't do with nylon strings ain't worth doing. And I must confess that solo guitar music, from Paraguay or anywhere else, isn't exactly my go-to music of choice. So I'm starting with two rather large disadvantages. But you take on the task of reviewing the guy's CD and you owe it to him and yourself to move beyond such restrictions. So I tried.
And I'm slightly ashamed to say I found it quite hard. You see deep down I'm a pop tart and in the beginning I think I decided that this stuff was a little too sophisticated for me. I can appreciate the ridiculous level of technical excellence and I wouldn't dream of suggesting that the renditions aren't heart felt, they clearly are. And the description on the rear of the CD explaining how the No26 bus took a young Mr Durrant from his Brighton Council Estate to his guitar lessons, whilst the music of Paraguayan guitarist and composer Augustin Barrios played on his walkman, puts it all wonderfully into context. But I just couldn't quite get into it. Then I stopped trying.
It may be a basic lesson in musical appreciation that everyone else knows but has eluded me all these years. But it wasn't until I stopped listening and accidentally allowed this CD to wash over me whilst I wasn't really concentrating, that it all started to make sense. And there was a moment (in track 8, Gavota al Estilo Antiguo, if you must know) when I stopped breathing and welled up a tiny bit.
I'm still a pop tart and can't say I'm rushing out to buy more solo guitar albums but I think I get it a little bit more now. And Richard Durrant and Agustin Barrios have made it onto my listening device and have been recalled by choice more than once. And I'm not even that intimidated by his super human guitar playing anymore.