The Guitar Player's Resource
Guitarist Peter James has recently released his CD featuring eleven shimmering examples of his lush, cinematic folk music, entitled Footnotes To Fairytales. Garnering a lot of attention among the mainstream, guitar-oriented press, his album also features fretted and fretless guitarist David Lofton, and Chapman Stick and electric-upright bass player Daniel Panasenko, both of whom supplement James' 8-string guitar playing, complex arrangements and unusual time signatures. It must be pointed out that, at it's core, this is a singer/songwriter style album, but the skill of the musicians and their textural use of many stringed instruments is anything but run-of-the-mill, and will rightly command the enlightened listener's attention. If you're open to his approach, James certainly has one of the best CDs you could ask for.
Peter, a self-taught guitarist and songwriter, began writing and performing during his teenage years in the United Kingdom. In 1992 he relocated to Hong Kong. Traveling regularly throughout Southeast Asia, he discovered the commonality of the melodic rhythms about him and classical minimalist music. Inspired, he embarked on an intense period of musical exploration and songwriting. His journey continued to the USA, where he arrived in 1998. Serendipity introduced the complimentary talents of Daniel Panasenko in 2001. David Lofton's artistry completed the collaboration in 2002.
James currently resides in San Francisco and performs regularly on the West Coast. His unique repertoire of guitars includes a 10-string classical by Cardiel, an 8-string, electric-acoustic by Joe Veillette, and a 6-string electric designed by Ned Steinberger. Additionally, both Guitar Player and Guitar One magazines have current and upcoming reviews of his music.
Peter James
United States
Web site: www.peterjamesmusic.com