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I had the pleasure of catching Vancouver guitarist, Don Alder's performance recently at the Mellow Side in Cowichan Bay Village. Don has just completed a tour with another guitar giant, Peter Finger.
Don Alder's manner is very personable and down to earth. His fresh-faced appearance belies the years of experience and experimentation behind impressive techniques used effectively. His right hand dances like a hummingbird over the strings. Left and right hands alternately tap, bend strings, and strike percussively, on his Greenfield signature Don Alder guitar, an instrument with which he is so intimate. |
 Photo Credit: Lorelei Andrew |
I can definitely hear the influences of Michael Hedges and his mentor Don Ross. "Dr. Dr." was Dedicated to Don Ross, using all his techniques, e.g. over the top and percussive style playing.
Don tells me his style is changing, moving to more elaborate arrangements, similar to music of Michel Hedges. There are plenty of finger style guitar pyrotechniques in his performance with banjo style rolls, lightning-fast hammer-ons and pull-offs. Don even used a Jimi Hendrix technique of leading the bass line over the top, a playing style popularized by Don Ross.
Don decided earlier on in his career to become a singer/songwriter because there was more opportunity to perform considering the limited avenues for instrumentalists.
His lyrics are honest, heart-felt and concise, from "Walking Back To You in the Rain" to "I Won't Be Home", a song written while accompanying Rick Hansen on his wheel-chair journey of thousands of miles. He is unapologetically himself, as the song titled "Slow Down" demonstrates (composed in defiant reply to a judge's advice at the Winfield Guitar Competition).
A grooving, catchy beat complemented Don's soft, smooth voice in "Stage Five/ Stage One", where he ventured into some scat singing and swing style vocals.
"Cheter Chees", is a nod to the playing style of Chet Atkins, in open tuning.
A song written for the National Finger picking Competition showcased Chet Atkins style picking and held surprises in dynamic, melody and tempo. Don's "Chet-style" originals are not played in standard tunings, so they offer a different take on this genre. I can also hear the same style coming through in Tommy Time.
The right-hand work on "Taiwan Traffic Jam" was amazing. Through high speed fingering and picking Don kept the pace unerringly.
Keep an eye out for Don Alder and catch his show if he is ever in your area.
| www.donalder.com. Email: don@donalder.com |
Guy Langlois is Publisher and Webmaster of Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine.
He is also a musician and has recently released his debut album of original compositions, Ambiance.
