Worlds Greatest Guitarist – Julian Bream
The worlds greateste guitarist and who that may be has been in hot discussion around me of late since someone asked the question in one of my online surveys. There are so many different styles and how to compare. I really like Julian Bream and so does my friend Mark Anthony over at Hotel Mark site . Yes I love Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Joe Pass, Tony Rice and many others but amongst the classical players Julian is my favourite. I have three recordings of the Bach lute suites on vinyl and Julians version is the most emotive of the lot.
So here’s a reminder of what a beautiful classical guitar player sounds like. The worlds best guitar player? who cares, so long as it sounds good. My dear friend Ike Isaacs (late) always spoke very highly of Julians playing.
I start my day listening to Julian Bream’s La Maja De Goya, or Asturias. I have burned CDs with Asturias by Bream, Segovia, Williams, Fisk, and some others. Bream’s performances are dynamically alive with passion and are emotionally evocative to a degree no one else comes close to. Every note seems heartfelt. I’ve read criticisms of Julian’s facial expressions or tics (as someone called them.) He is the music when he plays. He, the guitar, the emotions, and the music are one system. In my world he gets the crown.
Bernie Andres