Jazz For Classical Guitar
Jul 30th, 2007 by skanson.com
Without You - This classical guitar solo combines haunting jazz chords with the beautiful nylon string classical guitar tone for a jazz composition that completely evokes the title. Composed in 2004, it displays the delicate touch and phrasing that has become a trade mark of Darren Curtis Skanson’s classical guitar work. The right hand is a classical guitarist’s voice and is similar to that of a string player’s bow. By using a combination of flesh and fingernail to pluck the strings, a classical guitarist is able to generate a wide variety of sounds. In this selection, Skanson uses those colors and delicate nuances to produce a beautiful mix of jazz and classical guitar.
“Most of the time when I write music, I do not start with the title. Once I finish the piece, I reflect on what the song is saying to me. This melancholy melody said Without You.” - Darren Curtis Skanson
Skanson’s Classical Guitar music has a timeless classical sound with familiar melodies and fresh new compositions that all lean to the gentle and melodic side of Classical. With 9 compact discs to his resume, Darren is a classical guitar musical force. His Spanish and Flamenco release “Solamente Romanz” reached #8 on Billboard’s Top Classical Chart. Darren’s previous CD, “Classica” which features classical guitar reached #11 on that same chart. Darren was also proclaimed; “… the most requested classical guitarist on Beethoven Radio” by Beethoven.com, the #1 Classical Radio Station in the world.
With over 200 pieces to his credit, Skanson has a partnership with the classical guitar that has produced a wide variety of music. After an outstanding collegiate career and 2 nationally touring ensembles, Skanson embarked on his solo career where his composition output exploded with works for classical guitar, acoustic finger-style guitar, 12 string guitar, cello, and violin.
Although Skanson is known mostly for his classical guitar compositions, he is also a prolific arranger. His classical guitar arrangements of Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, and other classical composers are among the most essential to the classical guitar repertoire.
Skanson continues to record, compose and perform out of his Denver, Colorado base. As well as playing solo, he performs with his electro-acoustic orchestra aptly named The Skanson Strings.