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PHILIPPE
FOUQUET |
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MUSIC
WEB EXPRESS 3000 presents Musical
Background
Favorite
Guitars
Musical
Influences I told
you about John Renbourn (his two mains albums for me are The Black
Balloon and The Hermit) and Pierre Bensusan (all albums)
who have been very important. I have listened to many guitarists,
such as John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Vai, Paco
de Lucia, Frank Zappa, Michael Hedges (I dedicated a tune to him on
my 1st album) and also... , well, the list would be too long!!! I
love the music of all these fantastic guitarists but what I always
come back to is classical music, and more especially, romantic composers.
In fact, I don’t listen a lot to guitar music. I think that it’s
a way for me to keep free from guitarist’s influences and deliver
something very personal fed from piano or orchestral music influences.
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Harp
guitarist and record company owner Gregg Miner continues to break
ground with his outstanding Harp Guitar Music label based out in California.
Among the latest releases on the label is a 2009 CD from France's
guitar master Philippe Fouquet. In addition to classical and steel-string
acoustic guitars, Philippe, Gregg and most of the label's artists
also play those amazing multi-string, vintage harp guitars. But above
it all these guys are simply dazzling guitarists who excel on any
guitar, let alone their mastery of both harp guitar and the six-string
guitar. Having worked with the fantastic guitarist / composer Jean
Pierre Llabador as far back as 1983, I can attest to being a big fan
of French jazz guitarists and of course all the great Django style
Gypsy Jazz players that emanated from that part of Europe. That classic
jazz and Gyspy Jazz guitar sound aside for one minute, Philippe Fouquet
is something quite special and unique in his own right. Fans of legendary
acoustic guitar icons such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan and
even fans of Bach's compositions / transcriptions for guitar must
hear Philippe's fantastic Turning Point. The CD also features
other notable influences from the world of Celtic and Baroque music.
Actually, Harp Guitar Music founder Gregg Miner wanted Philippe to
contribute a track for the label's 2008 CD release Harp Guitar
Dreams, but unfortunately there were some technical glitches with
Philippe's antique harp guitar but, thankfully Philippe had a new
harp guitar built and, possessed by a new found burst of musical enthusiasm
recorded and released his masterful Turning Point album. Featuring
Philippe performing a mix of six-string guitar (built by Kathy Wingert)
and harp guitar (Lukas Brunner), twelve of the thirteen tracks on
Turning Point were composed by Philippe. Co-production by Gregg
Miner, with further creative assistance by Frank Doucette, and excellent
mastering from Charlie Johnson really elevates the sound of the Turning
Point album, which seems to glisten with diamond-like precision.
All of the 2009 CD releases on the Harp Guitar Music label are essential
listening for guitar lovers but nevertheless there's something quite
special about the exquisite music and performance on Philippe Fouquet's
Turning Point. 
I
began playing guitar 35 years ago. I was a teenager; it was in the
70’s. I soon discovered Stephan Grossman and his ragtime/blues
adaptations and tablatures. A few years later John Renbourn produced
two great albums of celtic and baroque music for guitar. I was much
impressed and loved that! I immediately knew that this music was much
more my style than blues and ragtime. Pierre Bensusan was beginning
his story and he has been a strong influence for a long time. Classical
music has always been important to me. It’s what I listen to
the most. I listened a lot to Bach’s music and for many years
I have been fond of romantic composers such as Schumann, Brahms and
others. 
For
a very long time I have played only acoustic guitars. I own two fantastic
guitars. My 6-string was built by Kathy Wingert, a Californian luthier.
For me, Kathy is one of the best of the modern luthiers. Her instruments
have a lot of personality and great qualities. Each one of her instruments
is “one of a kind.” This guitar inspires me a lot, it’s
a treasure. 
Of
course I am still in the promotional period for my latest album and
there are many press releases. I think that I will have enough material
to go back into the studio next year but I am not sure if there is
enough time and money to do it. I compose a lot. It’s very natural
for me. Actually, I have some private concerts. I really enjoy them
very much because of the close and easy communication with the audience.