Bach & Bourbon captures the eclectic spirit of a live concert by The Old Guitarist, including works by Bach, Mozart, Ralph Towner and six of The Old Guitarist’s own compositions. The album features everything from Irish folk music of the Baroque period to wistful originals with historically sourced arrangements, bridging centuries and traditions...

Big Round Records' release of The Old Guitarist's Bach & Bourbon gives us 12 tracks (47 min, 15 sec) which offer a classical guitar fuelled approach to some memorable classical music standards, as well as some original compositions by the The Old Guitarist.

Highlights include 'Jesu After Bach Fantasia', a lyrical tribute that imagines Bach as a 20th-century Irish-American guitarist, and 'Distant Hills' by Ralph Towner, whose contrapuntal clarity echoes Pachelbel’s 'Canon'. The opening 'Jesu After Bach Fantasia' sets the stage for what is to come.

The collection closes with three original pieces reflecting poignant moments in the composer’s life. And, if I'm being perfectly honest, these are the tracks that I most warmed too. Whilst the familiar classical tracks are wonderful to revisit in a new setting, these original compositions are fresh and beautifully performed

Track listing:

The Old Guitarist
01. Jesu, After Bach, Fantasia (4:25)

W. A. Mozart, arr. F. Carulli
02. Sonata in B-flat K 570: Adagio (5:06)
03. Sonata in B-flat K 570: Allegretto (3:39)

Turlough O'Carolan
04. Sheebeg & Sheemore (2:39)

Ralph Towner
05. Distant Hills (5:00)
06. Icarus Ralph (3:10)

The Old Guitarist
07. Uyatu (3:29)

J.S. Bach
08. Trio Sonata No. 1 BWV 525: I. Largo (5:35)
09. Trio Sonata No. 1 BWV 525: II. Allegro (3:51)

The Old Guitarist
10. The Librarian Takes a Groom (4:41)
11. Kiss on a Forest Path (2:18)
12. Song without Words (3:22)

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Darren Rea