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Classical Guitar Meets Electric Guitar
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Rob Ward's predominantly classical, debut solo guitar CD, Both Sides of the Story, features original solo guitar works and some well-chosen cover tunes, including Jimmy Page's "Bron-Yr-Aur" and Adrian Legg's "Anu". Several beautiful pieces by Granados and Domeniconi ("Spanish Dance No. 2: The Oriental", "Koyunbaba") are also present, as well as an arrangement of the traditional "Scarborough Fair". Ward filled Both Sides of the Story with the music he grew up loving, and his originals fill out the CD quite nicely - florid, melodic guitar conversations you'll grow to appreciate with each repeated listen. He manages to also integrate a bit of electric guitar into his works, adding the instrument as a compliment to the acoustic textures. Ward is a talented and gifted guitarist, and his debut CD will delight fans of the acoustic guitar with its richness, variety and timeless melodicism. Well worth picking up. Rob Ward was originally profiled in the June-July, 2002 edition of The Undiscovered.
Inspired at age 7 to pick up the guitar by the Dire Straits music video "Money For Nothing", it wasn't until Rob was older and desired to learn Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that he began to get serious. Learning Van Halen and Randy Rhoads solos gave him a great head start, but seeing a classical guitarist performing in a book store inspired him to take that path of musical growth. In 1996, Rob studied classical guitar with Pablo Cohen for two years while attending Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He later studied music theory/composition while performing with rock bands during the college years. Prompted to consider teaching guitar by a local guitar studio, Rob now has taken 50+ students under his wing.
Currently, Ward has the pleasure of performing with two ensembles that have helped him grow as a musician. They include the The Judy Aron Band and The New York Guitar Orchestra (an ensemble made up of eight very good classical guitarists). He is also working on his second solo guitar album.
Contact Information
Rob Ward
P.O. Box 91
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410
United States
E-mail:
Rob Ward
Web site:
www.robward.com
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Surprising Program Of Jewish Music
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Minnesota's Tim Sparks, the 1993 National Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, has recently released At The Rebbe's Table, a wonderful fingerstyle CD, and Sparks' fifth recording. The album offers a surprising program of Jewish music from around the world, all produced and arranged by Sparks. Cyro Baptista lends some excellent percussion to the ethnic music, which features duo and complex band arrangements. Sparks playing is stirring and technically superb, as he embellishes the beautiful melodies with harmonies and a sense of excitement. One highlight on the CD is the title track; another is the rhythmically charged "Tartar Dance". The opening number "Returning From The River" sets the tone for the entire album; right off the bat you hear exotic melodies and near-telepathic harmonic/rhythmic interplay. At The Rebbe's Table is another top notch addition to Sparks discography - if you're a fingerstyle lover, seek it out. Tim Sparks was originally profiled in the June-July, 2002 edition of The Undiscovered.
Tim Sparks' long journey to the 1993 National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship, and beyond, began modestly in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, when he started picking out tunes by ear on an old Stella flat top. He later attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied with Segovia protegee Jesus Silva. Tim eventually relocated to Minnesota, where he soon established himself as a journeyman guitarist and session player. While recording three albums with the seminal vocal jazz ensemble Rio Nido, Tim also became proficient in jazz styles from Brazilian to Be Bop. A sojourn abroad inspired an interest in European and Mediterranean styles, particularly the music of the Balkans, culminating in the recording of Sparks' "Balkan Dreams Suite", a remarkable collection of odd-meter guitar arrangements.
In recent years, Sparks has been immersed in the ethnic music scene, performing on Oud in middle eastern ensembles, and accompanying on guitar in Greek and Klezmer orchestras. Last fall was spent studying Fado and Portuguese Guitar in Lisbon.
Contact Information
Tim Sparks
Box 476
Frazee, MN 56544
United States
E-mail:
Tim Sparks
Web site:
www.timsparks.com
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Vol. 16, No. 6: Apr.-May 2012
