Rick Alexander - Fine Light

Rick Alexander: Guitarist and Songwriter Comments by Rick: Fine Light was released in September 2013. I love writing and playing instrumental music for guitar, particularly nylon-string guitar, and I'm glad to be able to share this latest work with you. My aim in writing, playing and recording this music was to capture the best I could from my guitar. I've tried to write instrumentals that fit the guitar well, which flow naturally from the guitar. Most of all, I hope you find this music relaxing and enjoyable to listen to. All tracks written and performed by Rick Alexander Track Listing: 1. Silver 3:13 2. Missing you 3:17 3. Side By Side 3:31 4. Evolution 2:52 5. Rolling 2:57 6. Bellbrae 3:10 7. The Banjo Song 2:37 8. Intersection 2:08 9. Almost hidden 3:13 10. Gliding 2:25 11. Once 2:44 12. Frozen space 2:13 13. Shade 2:50 14. PJ 2:35 15. Destinations 3:20 16. Fine light 3:02 Rick Alexander Fine Light - CD Notes. Silver: This is the most recent track on the CD, written in July 2013. I was unwell at home when I wrote this. I wouldn’t have written this track if I hadn’t been at home that week so I named it from the phrase “every cloud has a ......”. Missing You.: I wrote this the day after my wife, Babs, left on a one-month overseas trip. The guitar has the A string tuned down to G which gives a good resonance. Side by Side: This is a relaxed track which suits nylon string guitar well. Evolution: This is one of my favourite tracks. It’s gone through a few stages of development. Hence the name. Rolling: This track uses a very resonant bass with the low E string tuned down to C and A to G. I like the backing this gives. The original track had a straighter feel and one day I tried improvising the backing riff with more happening, and recorded my first try. This take is the one you hear on this CD. First takes are often the most enjoyable! Bellbrae: This was written on the veranda at my parents’ house at Bellbrae near Torquay, Victora. I’ve previously released a steel string version but it was originally written on nylon string guitar so I thought it would be good for people to hear it this way. The Banjo Song: I was playing around on a banjo at my friend’s house (thanks Kevin!) and came up with a riff. After going home I tuned the guitar partly like the banjo by moving the high E to D and continued working on the riff. Eventually this track arrived. Intersection: This is an overdubbed duet. I initially recorded the track intending it to be a solo piece, but then decided to improvise an overdub. I liked the result, so here it is! Almost Hidden: This is a slow track which uses a low D drone. It’s one of my favourites to play. Gliding: I’ve called this Gliding because of the slides up the high strings. Once: This is an improvised piece based around a D minor chord. I like the darker feel and the way it develops. Frozen Space: I think that this track has more of a classical guitar feel than most of the others. Shade: This track is based around an A minor to C major seventh chord pattern and is very enjoyable and relaxing to play. PJ: I wrote this in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia in August 2012. Petaling Jaya is called PJ by the locals. Destinations: This track was written in two stages more than ten years apart. I started it in the early 2000s and in 2013 played it again and decided to finish it off. Fine Light: This is a bit more upbeat than most of the tracks and is fun to play. The title popped into my head when thinking of clear sunny spring mornings. I played this music on a Carson Crickmore guitar except for Intersection and Once which were played on a Ramirez A1 guitar. The tracks were recorded and engineered at Baker Street Studios by Allan Neuendorf except for Silver, Side by Side, Rolling, Intersection, Almost Hidden and Once which I recorded myself. All of the tracks were mastered by Allan Neuendorf. Julie Fraser did the graphic design. Thank you to: Babs Alexander for everything. My family for listening to my music and for just being there. Phil Carson-Crickmore for your guitar. Daniel Bodourian, Rick Prakhoff, Jarek Czechowicz and Nicole Rogers for inspiring me as teachers. Julie Fraser for your design. Allan Neuendorf for helping me share the sound of the guitar.