Renaissance of the Steel String Guitar

CD Details

About the Artist

He is a musical legend, a pioneer of one of the most intricate, yet powerful, forms of American music, and a master of the guitar; he’s Dan Crary, a flatpicking stylist with an international reputation for innovation, taste and brilliance. With over 40 years as a performer, Crary is one of the few artists whose work can be said to transcend the boundaries of style and genre.
As a solo artist, Dan has created a performance style that blends traditional material from a variety of American sources with original compositions, and vocals with instrumental showcases, all woven together with stories and observations that share his experience and insights with the audience. His ability to connect both musically and personally has brought him success not only in North America but thoughout the world, with concert and workshop appearances from Europe to Japan and the South Pacific.
In a time when yesterday’s stars are all too often today’s unknowns, and genres are picked up and discarded quickly, it’s a rare career that encompasses multiple styles and decades while remaining fresh and exciting. If consistency, creativity and longevity are hallmarks of artistic achievement, then Dan Crary must be recognized as one of the greatest traditional artists of our day.

Product Description

“Renaissance..” is Dan Crary’s celebration of the beautiful diversity and international reach of the acoustic guitar. This virtuoso concert includes original signature pieces, plus blues, a touch of country, versions of Puccini, Kreisler, and Brahms, and Irish Celtic tunes. John Cephas, Joel Mabus, Sam Bush, and Beppe Gambetta are guests.

Review

Dan Crary… he’s a virtuoso who likes to go it alone. He doesn’t mind, however, multi-tracking guitar parts to create a rich, full sound on Renaissance of the Steel String Guitar. If it seems a bit gutsy to name your own album “Renaissance” anything, Crary justifies the use of the term within his first two compositions. Both “Senso Unico” and “In Flagrante” begin with fairly simple guitar parts, first on one track, then on the other, and quickly build like carefully constructed suites. The word “suite,” however, shouldn’t lead one to think Crary’s fretwork is overly formal. The real fun of Renaissance is the vitality he is able to extract from carefully arranged pieces like “Banderilla” and “Lobelia Blue,” guaranteeing that his music will never be mistaken for easy listening. There are numerous guest appearances by Beppe Gambetta, Sam Bush, and Billy Oskay. Crary’s extensive liner notes on the rich history of the guitar reveal that besides being a great guitarist, he’s also pretty darn smart. Renaissance of the Steel String Guitar will be greeted by guitar enthusiasts with open ears. –Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide