Search - David Burgess :: Silver Nuggets & Fool's Gold

Great variety, a true virtuoso

Moses Alexander | Alabama, USA | 01/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"David Burgess is one of those artists that is a total gem to find. He doesn't have a "big name" or a huge recording contract, but when it comes down to what matters (namely playing well) he can totally deliver the goods. Not only is he technically amazing (I've seen him in concert and he honestly didn't hit a single bad note), he plays with an incredible amount of soul. You can tell both on record and live, that he breathes this music and that it truly means the world to him.Not only is the album a varied (yet consistent and thematic) but he employs a wide range of techniques to achieve his amazing sound: "Samba do Aviao" is breathtaking in terms of speed and beauty, the rhytmic oddities and brilliant use of percussive effects in "Berimbau" is unreal, "La Catedral" is sublime and almost played at a whisper, yet he breathes new life into familiar favorites like Isaac Albeniz's "Leyenda." This is one of the most creative albums of any genre that I've heard, but it is by far the best guitar album I own (and one of the best I've ever heard.) Another thing that makes this album so great is how rare some of this material is, some of these are complete gems and not at all in the standard repertoire.And if you have the chance...GO SEE HIM IN CONCERT...its even better than the superb album."

Silver (and Gold) Nuggets

Chris Crowe | 11/19/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD at one of Burgess' concerts (in Virginia). He plays with much strength, variety of technique, and tonal quality; moreover, he has excellent command of the rhythm required for this mainly Latin American collection. My favorites are the hypnotically delightful "Seis por Derecho" and "La Misionera," which has a driving and catchy rhythm. I find almost every other piece enjoyable except for the over-recorded "Leyenda" and the somewhat ponderous piece by Rodrigo (whom I'm still a big fan of, nonetheless). It would be nice if those two were replaced by a few of the other interesting Brazilian pieces I heard at the concert. Fortunately, I was told that Burgess might put out more Brazilian recordings later in 2002. I'm very much looking forward to hearing them."