WHEN TOTAL Guitar described Preston Reed as “the world’s most gifted guitarist” and Guitarist described his playing as “spellbinding” they were not exaggerating.
Neither was the Manchester Evening News when is said: “The phrase ‘has to be seen to believed’ has never been more true...a major musical talent”.
Preston Reed is making a welcome return to the Róisín Dubh on Sunday March 25 at 8pm and if you have not seen him before then make sure not to miss him this time.
The American guitarist is not just dextrous and able to play music that is both captivating and complex, but he has pretty much invented a unique style of playing that has become his trademark - Reed often plays the guitar with his right hand over the fretboard, rather than the orthodox manner of underneath it.
From here he snaps, pulls, and plucks on the strings, not over the soundhole but on the neck. Meanwhile his left hand manages to do two things at once - strum the strings while using the body of the guitar as a percussive device. So he has one hand strumming and drumming at the almost the same time! As Uncut said: “Remarkable”.
This technique along with his fusion of country, blues, and jazz, has made him an hugely respected and influential figure among guitarists with Andy McKee, Newton Faulkner, and Kaki King among those who acknowledge his influence.
Tickets are available from the Róisín Dubh and www.roisindubh.net
