Guitarist Gary Lucas. Who knows him ?

Subject: RE: Guitarist Gary Lucas. Who knows him ?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 23 Feb 02 - 11:19 AM

What I would like to ascertain is whether the guy is in fact a genuine creative virtuoso, in the same league as ,say, Tony McManus or Tommy Emmanuel, or whether he is simply an average player who has succeeded in conning the critics by hiding behind a battery of effects.

He really does have some stunningly fulsome reviews, but what do critics know ...

Looks like nobody here has heard of him, maybe I will just have to buy one of his solo CDs and find out for myself.

Murray

Subject: RE: Guitarist Gary Lucas. Who knows him ?
From: C-flat
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 06:54 PM

I've just looked him up and the guy seems a bit of a chameleon! Guitarist in Captain Beefhearts,13 years as an advertising copywriter (Columbia records),member of "art rock" trio Gods and Monsters,recordings as diverse as 1930's Chinese pop music (me either),avante-garde film tracks,accoustic guitar tunes and his latest offering "No knowledge of music required" described as "psychedelic bluegrass". Is someone taking the P***!!

Subject: Guitarist Gary Lucas. Who knows him ?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Feb 02 - 06:23 PM

While checking out some guitar related topic on the net, I came across the name of this guitarist, and was amazed to read so many rhapsodic eulogies about a musician I had never heard of.

The stlyle of music he plays appears to vary from Kottke-esque type fingerpicking to down-home blues, and all the reviews I have read online say that he is simply amazing. So why haven't I heard of him before, and , more importantly, has anybody on Mudcat seen him, heard him, or bought one of his CDs?

I will be disappointed if MTed does not post a detailed critique of the man and his music in the next couple of posts .......

Murray