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A fingerstyle guitarist known for a two-handed playing style and compositional approach that integrates the percussive potential of the guitar body. One of the greatest and most influential guitarists in the world, he has been captivating audiences globally for almost three decades. To-date, he has recorded seventeen albums and is working on his next, which he hopes to release later this year or in early 2019. In 2000 he moved to Scotland, where he puts on his own week-long workshops, which have been attended by many over the years, including Ed Sheeran.

Notable Guest Quotes

"The style of guitar playing that I invented, I call integrated percussive guitar playing. And it incorporates so-called fingerstyle guitar plus it also incorporates playing drums and percussion on various parts of the guitar and kind of turning the guitar into a source of sounds that you sort of orchestrate."

"I think what always has meant the most to me is the music, which, to me, goes beyond the guitar playing. The guitar is a vehicle for playing music. So, I always tried to focus on the ultimate musicality of something and that included some unusual, new things that were not expected from a guitar but that, to me, contributed to an expanded musical experience."

"I love working with other people and I love jamming with other musicians, but the main thing I do is this presenting a complete sound on a solo instrument, so I don't do a whole lot of collaborating with other musicians."

"I love situations where I can show people what I do, especially young people because they're usually so open to thinking in a new way.  And my music is very much about the music itself but also about thinking in a new way about how to use the guitar."

"It very much is guitar playing. I can assure you. And it very much is in real time, there's no tricks. It's all just honest guitar playing. But it's not Chet Atkins - it's something different."

"A lot of people have learned my techniques and my approach and they've gone on to make their own music and I feel very proud of that. I feel proud that I didn't withhold my secrets and my discoveries."

"I'm a composer and I'm a unique composer and no one's ever really going to sound like me. And, even if someone learns my techniques and my approach, if they continue to write their own music they will sound like themselves and that's, to me, the most beautiful thing."

"I think music cuts across a lot of the obstructions that people from different cultures can encounter. There's something very wonderful and magical about it."

Songs on this episode

"Delayed Train"
"Ladies Night"