Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Read all about it: Doves' latest and musical duo

As many of you know, I sometimes get around to writing about some of the best new albums that come my way and musician-writer TJR is kind enough to post those on his www.MusicWorthBuying.com site. Earlier today, he posted my review of the latest effort from Doves. Make sure to check that out if you are a fan of adventuresome Brit-pop and indie modern rock.

Also, the Orange County Register ran my review of the next Lord of the Strings concert, featuring guitarist Richard Smith and cello player Julie Adams. Here is the story that was posted on the Register's Web site on April 21, 2009:

Few instruments sound as wonderful together as the guitar and cello, especially when played by 2001 National Fingerstyle Champion guitarist Richard Smith and award-winning cellist Julie Adams.
The Nashville, Tenn.-based musicians – who are celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary this year – will perform two concerts in south Orange County this week, appearing in Dana Point on Friday, April 24 and Mission Viejo on Saturday, April 25.
Smith, who was born in England in 1971, has been playing guitar since age 5. A childhood prodigy, Smith began to learn guitar after hearing his father play a cover of a notable Chet Atkins-Merle Travis recording, "Down South Blues." Though Smith is left-handed and his father's right-handed guitar was too large for the youngster's small hands, by the end of the day Smith had learned to play both the chords and the melody.
More than three decades later, Smith is considered one of the world's best fingerstyle guitarists, and he performs a wide-ranging repertoire that includes bluegrass, jazz, country, pop, rock and classical.
Adams was raised in Dayton, Ohio, and received her training in music at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Cincinnati Conservatory.
Though her early training was in classical music, Adams also has extended her interest in contemporary music with the 2000 recording "Theme for Two Friends" with well-known guitarist Muriel Anderson.
Adams also is a well-known studio musician, having played on Top 10 albums and major film scores.
Smith and Adams released their first collaboration, "Living Out a Dream," in 2001. The album features original compositions by Smith and Anderson, as well as interpretations of standards such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and classical works such as "Flight of the Bumblebee" and "Ave Maria."
For more information on these two shows, call Tim Johnson at 949-842-2227.

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