SONGS
1. Gate 403 * 2. Red Rose Sambo * 3. Argentinean Tango * 4. Mantha de Carnaval * 5. Cabana Gypsy * 6. Orange Sunset * 7. Roncesvalles Tango * 8 Gentle Rain * 9. The Girl From Ipanema * 10. Craving * 11. Petite Waltz * 12. Beth

Song number 4 is by Luiz Bonfá / Antonio Maria : numbers 8 & 9 are by Carlos Jobim : number 11 is by Joe Heyne : number 12 is decated to pianist Elizabeth Shepherd, this one and the other seven songs are all by Rick Washbrook

Recorded at Zolis Audio, Covers front and back are by James Brown and Greg King respectively.
www.washbrookmusic.com : www.dirtyicecream.ca : DICM-CD-064 - Rick Washbrook 2007 ©

* * * * * * *

This is a soothing listening to solo performance album portraying the very fine attributes of the man and instrument in the playing of his six gut stringed acoustic guitar.

The title of the album – Roncesvalles Tango, according to Readers Digest is the name of a mountain pass and village of Navarra, Northern Spain, which was the site of the defeat and massacre of the rearguard of Charlemagne’s army in the year 778 under Roland by the Saracens.

King of the Franks, Charlemagne ruled from Aix-la-Chapelle, Aachen, Westphalia, Germany - but that’s another story.

I’m familiar with only one of the Washbrook tunes, but I do not claim the same of having no knowledge of his dance numbers, although my skills would no longer be seen a matching grace enough to be carried out on the floor of any of the late top-class ballrooms, the Washbrook music brings memories to mind, imaginative, if such wishful-ness could have been the case.

The CD liner notes give invaluable information on the techniques of his guitar playing that I’d say would be of great interest to many, whatever their standard of proficiency on their instrument.

Connoisseur reviewers of the guitar will naturally aim to describe and relate the methods and the styles of a performer – I can’t. Instead, I’ll go back 60 years whilst living in France listening then to the famous Belgian guitarist, which shed roots in depth on me that years later it created my interest in jazz music - so I move to say that my views on the Washbrook, Roncesvalles Tango CD are that listeners may deduce such a gem of an album could only have been produced through insatiable dedication and love of his music, so fated to be cherished by its seeking future owners.

Kings Jazz Review
Thursday the 2nd of August 2007

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