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Pete Downes Releases Contemporary Bach Recording

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Pete Downes, the jazz fusion guitarist best known for his work with PD3 (Pete Downes Trio) has released a recording of JS Bach Lute Suites on the Wiser Productions Label. The recording is available from digital outlets such as iTunes and is called Music for Guitar: Bach.

Although these pieces have been recorded by many great guitarists, Pete felt he could give them a unique interpretation.

“I believed I could approach them using what I've learned from jazz and contemporary music," says Pete, “In these fields groove is everything.

“To me, Bach's music has an inherent 'feel' sometimes lost in more Romantic interpretations. To achieve this, I have kept the pulse steady, unless the music suggests otherwise.

“It is like a river, a constant flow, occasionally changing note frequency, like travelling along a smooth flowing wide river into a narrow white-water gorge. A beautiful journey with an underlying 'groove'.

“Bach was very generous to musicians as his scores contain very few expressive directions, allowing for ultimate freedom of interpretation. As I understand it, and feel it, Bach intended his music to be adapted to the musician's sensibilities. To this end, I focused on a personal expression rather than technical perfection and have personalised many of the period decorations."

The pieces were recorded on a Armalio Burguet Flamenco guitar. “I felt the brighter sound and quicker attack suited Bach perfectly," says Pete.

You can hear samples of this recording at CD Baby.

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