Nick Charles
Warranwood, Victoria, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 2016 | INDIE
Music
Press
Melbourne guitarist Nick Charles continues to write highly accessible melodies that insinuate themselves into your consciousness. On his latest album, the acoustic player delivers a dozen tracks that range from folk and blues to bluegrass, ragtime and jazz.
It’s familiar territory, but superbly executed with understated skill and finesse. Mostly backed by dobro, double bass and fiddle, Charles includes gentle vocals – notably a delightfully sardonic original called “You Can’t Change A Thing” and his casual rendition of Bob Dylan’s One Too Many Mornings. A highlight is the relaxed “New Memphis Blues”, inspired by W.C. Handy and augmented by Ian Collard’s blues harp, with Charles dipping his fingers into Django Reinhardt’s nimble technique. Another standout, “Elizabeth Mary”, is dedicated to Nick’s mother (“who finally relented and paid for my first guitar lessons”). It’s a beautiful, extended, atmospheric instrumental, reinforced by bassist Howard Cairns, with splashes of dobro colour from Pete Fidler. But the solo guitar pieces are what really set Charles apart, including his evocative “Las Cruces” and a splendid blues-swing treatment of “Yesterdays”. You can hear Charles solo or with his quartet at various venues, including a May 9 concert at Melbourne University’s Melba Hall.(details: www.charlesguitar.com )
- The Age (Reviewer : Mike Daly)
Melbourne guitarist Nick Charles continues to write highly accessible melodies that insinuate themselves into your consciousness. On his latest album, the acoustic player delivers a dozen tracks that range from folk and blues to bluegrass, ragtime and jazz.
It’s familiar territory, but superbly executed with understated skill and finesse. Mostly backed by dobro, double bass and fiddle, Charles includes gentle vocals – notably a delightfully sardonic original called “You Can’t Change A Thing” and his casual rendition of Bob Dylan’s One Too Many Mornings. A highlight is the relaxed “New Memphis Blues”, inspired by W.C. Handy and augmented by Ian Collard’s blues harp, with Charles dipping his fingers into Django Reinhardt’s nimble technique. Another standout, “Elizabeth Mary”, is dedicated to Nick’s mother (“who finally relented and paid for my first guitar lessons”). It’s a beautiful, extended, atmospheric instrumental, reinforced by bassist Howard Cairns, with splashes of dobro colour from Pete Fidler. But the solo guitar pieces are what really set Charles apart, including his evocative “Las Cruces” and a splendid blues-swing treatment of “Yesterdays”. You can hear Charles solo or with his quartet at various venues, including a May 9 concert at Melbourne University’s Melba Hall.(details: www.charlesguitar.com )
- The Age (Reviewer : Mike Daly)
Discography
THE RIVER FLOWS(2015)
INTO THE BLUES (2012)
RETURN OF THE TRAVELLING FINGERPICKER (2010)
CLOSER TO HOME (2008)
NEW KIND OF FEELING (2006)
TRAVELLING FINGERPICKER (2004)
GRACE NOTES (2001)
MY PLACE (1999)
OTHER RELEASES
"DE LOVELY GUITAR" (USA)
"POPPIN" GUITARS" (USA)
"NICK CHARLES THE COLLECTION" (USA)
"EVERYBODY'S PICKIN' ON LIEBER AND STOLLER" (USA)
Photos
Bio
NICK CHARLES
With dazzling melodic fingerpicking on six and twelve string guitars, stinging bottleneck slide and a lifetime’s stories and songs gathered or written on the world’s musical highways it’s no surprise that Nick Charles is labelled internationally as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”.
During his extensive and acclaimed career, Nick has released more than a dozen albums on major Australian and US roots music labels. His recordings have garnered world-wide recognition beginning with “My Place” and now his most recent release “The River Flows”.
This recognition has succeeded in having Nick signed to the Grammy Award winning label, Solid Air Records USA (“Home of the World’s Finest Guitarists”). The only other Australian recognized by the label being Tommy Emmanuel.
Consistently averaging 150 shows a year in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, his music encompasses a delightful and eclectic mix of acoustic roots including blues, folk and early ragtime jazz. Along the way there are stylish nods to the Great American Songbook and the finest contemporary players and composers from Chet Atkins to Lennon and McCartney to Leo Kottke.
A SMALL SAMPLE OF RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
“Port Fairy Folk Festival Artist of the Year 2014”
“Twice winner of the Australian Song Contest”
“Song of the Year 2013 and 2014” – Australian Blues Awards
“Album of the Year” (MBAS) Multiple times
“Song of the Year” (MBAS) Multiple times
“Solo Performer of the Year” Multiple times
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT NICK’S MUSIC AND PERFORMANCES
“An awesome talent” – Australian Guitar Magazine
“Plays guitar like an angel” – Sydney Morning Herald
“A world class musician and composer” – The Black Rose Acoustic Society, Colorado
“Dazzling guitar, muscular vocals and clever literate song-writing” – Little Rock AR Folk Society
“Amazingly expressive” – Herald Sun
“His mastery of country blues is striking!” – Rhythms Magazine
Latest album “The River Flows” – four and half stars in The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian newspapers. Reached number 2 on the Australian Public Radio Network.
Band Members
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