GORDON GILTRAP

VENUE MUSIC AT GALLERY 1, FRODSHAM DATE 09/09/2018

There's often a feeling that people dismiss Gordon Giltrap as some sort of folky minstrel who deals in quiet passages of music that are okay but lack real impact. Wrong! What he does certainly has a folk element, but it’s distinctively individual. That’s because nobody else sounds like this man, as he proves tonight.

This concert comes at the end of a day that was, in essence, a workshop, wherein people have the opportunity to meet the master and get tuition from him, based around his 2017 composition Ania's Dream. The climax of the occasion is this intimate performance, in the imposing setting of the Castle Park Arts Centre.

This sort of location suits Giltrap's music because he’s at his best when getting up close and personal with the audience. And the occasion is also very cathartic for him, following the recent death of his son. He reaches deep into his soul to bring a fresh dimension to well‑known pieces of music, and everybody feels connected to the way he brings through his extensive artistry.

At times it's almost as if Giltrap is rediscovering his own work, which is the sign of a creative person who is never content merely to repeat himself, however familiar the tunes might be.

And Giltrap is such a master of the art of acoustic guitar playing that he takes us on a wide‑ranging journey through various

emotions, holding everyone in rapt attention throughout.

Moreover, while he obviously takes his craft very seriously, there's a humour about Giltrap that occasionally lightens the mood. He's never afraid to send himself up when he feels the time has come to brighten the performance.

With a vast catalogue from which to choose, this time he decides to concentrate on more recent material, which makes sense given that Ania's Dream is the centrepiece for the day. Yet despite being able to see him in such an intimate setting, his technique and flexibility on the guitar remain astounding. The flight of those fingers is almost numbing, and yet there isn't – and never has been – anything flashy about his approach.

Giltrap is also joined for part of the evening by Paul brett, another fine guitarist, albeit more in the blues vein. The differing styles of the pair complement one another well, adding a fresh frisson to proceedings.

Giltrap always sets the highest standards for himself. Tonight he more than meets such personal demands.