Michael Berk
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Percussive Acoustic Guitarist Plans Career
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London fingerstyle guitarist Michael Berk has already been compared to the the likes of Michael Hedges, Adrian Legg and Preston Reed, and the intricate compositions on his debut CD Organized Chaos certainly invite comparisons with these masters. The CD itself was self-financed and recorded in the summer of 2001. Advancing a percussive style on a steel-strung acoustic, album cuts such as "All Enquiries" and the title track leap from the speakers, displaying technical mastery, a robust, commanding acoustic guitar tone and a passion for the sensitive side of guitar playing. The unpredictability of his compositions is also a strength - the music keeps your attention and offers a sense of fullness of expression. Some of the quotes about his performances include The 12 Bar Club's statement, "Michael performs a storming set of guitar virtuosity, exploiting the guitar as a percussive instrument," and Up All Nights comment, "Not for the faint of heart." Berk is an acoustic guitarist on the rise.
Michael began playing music about nine years ago, at the age of twelve. He started playing in bands almost right away, but only over the past two years has he begun to perform solo guitar at bars, clubs, festivals and open mic nights in and around London. Michael is looking to advance to larger venues, such as concert halls, theaters and art centers, and to that end, focuses on defining and enhancing his own original style on the acoustic guitar.
Berk's ambition is to make a career from performing and recording his own music, and he is looking for anyone that can move him closer to achieving his goal, including record companies, booking agents and management.
Contact Information
Michael Berk
9 Sheldon Ave.
Highate
London
N6 4JS
England
E-mail:
Michael Berk
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Deven March
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Modern Shred Guitar From Germany
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My Crying Soul is the new modern shred CD from German guitarist Deven March. A veteran of a half-dozen bands, March decided to strike out on his own with his first solo album, playing guitar and most of the rest of the instruments throughout the fifteen cuts. Mostly instrumental, except for some street talk from a cyborg (?!) on "Cyborg", March favors a heavily overdriven guitar tone and a variety of modern lead techniques which enhance songs such as "Believe" and "Mad Monday". A few things keep the CD from being as good as it could be. One is the use of a drum machine, because for the most part the patterns are stock-sounding and very thin. Music this heavy deserves pounding, brutal drum work. The one track with live drums is "Believe", and the heaviness is assisted by the use of a real drummer. Also, March should probably hook up with an outside producer to assist him in getting the most heavy sound he can achieve for his compositions, one who can help him layer and spread the rhythm tracks and process the bass for maximum power and crunch. He should also eliminate the two-hand tapping, since, unless you can do something new with it, it doesn't add anythiing to the originality. This is a good first effort which March can learn from, and pour his knowledge into the next release.
Deven has been playing in various bands since 1992, including the metal group Demeneted (1992-94), the power metal outfit Inhuman Paradise (1993-96), the progressive metal band Firechild (1997-99), the female-fronted Melissa Wood (200), the hard rock group Curfew (2000-01) and an acoustic rock and blues project, Harlem Rain (2000-present). He also is a teacher at a local guitar school and also gives workshops at various music stores. HIs current focus is on his solo project and the My Crying Soul CD.
March plans to continue to devote himself to his passion - playing guitar - performing and recording whenever possible.
Contact Information
Deven March
c/o Music-Management
Jacqueline Schafer
Barbarossastrasse 47
09112 Chemnitz
Germany
E-mail:
Deven March
Web site:
www.devenmarch.com
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