TONY COX
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TONY COX

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"A NIGHT OF PURE MUSICAL MAGIC"

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Guitarist

November 2, 2005

By Gary van Dyk

Who: Tony Cox
Where: The Baxter Studio until November 12

This aptly titled performance by one of the country's master guitarists goes a long way in proving that popular modern music culture is not really all it is made out to be; some of the freaks claiming superstardom on the modern scene do not deserve to sweep any stage this craftsman performs on.

Tony Cox does not need any dancing girls and flashing lights to prove his point. The stage is simple – just a chair in the middle – but there's plenty of fireworks in store for your ears during this performance.

His use of the harmonics of certain strings, helped along by some effects pedals and then playing some intriguing melodies over these harmonics, is just incredible.

In many ways this performance is also a journey into the soul of a musician who is intensely proud of things South African, especially when it comes to his guitars.

His main instrument was made by Mervin Davis from Pretoria, and watch what happens: this new design is going to become something that the rest of the world wants to hear

There are also the special sounds that he creates with the baritone guitar made by a former South African champion surfer and windsurfer now living near Morgan's Bay in the Eastern Cape.

This us all part of the South African experience that is hidden from most of us, but it exists and is something we should be proud of, and we need to hear more from this master musician.

On the night of the review it was exciting to witness some young people who this man has inspired – one of them confessed to being a fan since his dad first took him to a Cox concert as a five-year-old. This young lad is now in his 20s, a bigger fan, and leading some of his friends astray with this music.

If this doesn't prove that there is a lot of magic in this man's music, then nothing will convince you to discover the real South African music scene that is being hidden from your ears.

Take the chance and discover it for yourself, you won't be disappointed. Magical fingers: Tony Cox gets the guitar groove going at the Baxter Studio.
- The Argus


"COX IN PASSIONATE SOLO PERFORMANCE"

Fingerpicking master plays bluegrass to Mancini

November 7, 2005

By Jane Mayne

Since the days when Tony Cox first explored 101 Ways to Play the Acoustic Guitar with longstanding sparring partner Steve Newman, he committed himself to a life devoted to his instrument.

Decades later, this award-winning performer has mastered technical skills much coveted by first-time guitarists. Cox's particular calling card is fingerpicking, a technique at which he excels.

For this latest inspirational foray across the fretboard he uses three different instruments, the first of which is an unusual, beautiful creation from a local guitar maker.

With everything he tackles, he demonstrates a control and command of the neck. The hour-long set kicks off with a rhythmical tune with a thumb pick; then he saddles up for a wonderful bluegrass and kwela combo, dubbed Bluesgrass Safari, which gallops along at what he calls a "sh*t-kicking tempo".

With his Takamine strapped on his back he offers a piece from the Matabele Ants album. It's a song he wrote when he was 18 years old, and he comically complains that "his metabolism has moved on" since he created this energetic exercise titled Ant Hill Rag, but he still performs it well in an open tuning.

After switching to a long scale length baritone guitar made by a luthier in East London for The Midnight Sweeper, he cools off with a tune titled Schweet, aka Short and Schweet, which provides a mild interlude which almost mimics the harpsichord at times

Cox is very much an original music pundit but he also takes time out with a cover of Henry Mancini's Baby Elephant Walk. And in a fabulous finale he revisits You Asked For It, a dramatic end with a flurry of harmonics.

Whether he's onstage with the Aquarian Quartet or showcasing his solo skills, Cox approaches the steel-string guitar with a passion seldom seen.

As with most players his arsenal employs popular guitar tricks such as muting and digital delay effects, but there's so much more that makes this guitarist unique.

The show offers everything you would expect from a veteran player of the acoustic guitar. Definitely worth an outing for lovers of the six-string.

Cox's personal statement: "Every artist on the road knows all about loneliness and has to find a way to be lonely but to be happy with it if they want to continue."

- The Cape Times


"4 STAR REVIEW - EDINBURGH FRINGE FESTIVAL 2009"

Accomplished acoustic guitar players are everywhere these days. There’s a whole calendar of festivals dedicated to them and as they mingle and influence each other, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for one to arrive with a totally individual ‘voice’.

Tony Cox, however, may just have managed this. His guitar style has as distinctive a South African tang, with added tones from his native Zimbabwe, as his accent.

Influenced by the music he grew up surrounded by, he has adapted the dancing rhythms and swaying, swivelling feel familiar through such musicians as Abdullah Ibrahim, Dudu Pukwana and Stella Chiweshe and added them to the fingerpicking lexicon.

The result is playing that’s relaxed but highly detailed with an almost spiritual quality, even if one piece was inspired by the damage done to Cox’s backside by pepper ticks.

Other pickers may have visited Henry Mancini’s Baby Elephant Walk before and tapped frets and strings as Cox does in places, but items such as Bluegrass Safari (kind of Bill Monroe meets Thomas Mapfumo) and his finger-bustin’ dedication to chips, Jo’burg style, are well worth the trek out to Gorgie.
- Rob Adams - The Herald


"WIZARD ON THE WIRES"

REVIEW: Patrick Leeman, The Mercury, Natal

Tony Cox is something of a phenomenon in the world of guitar music. He epitomises the expression, out of Africa always something new. Finding material in the unlikeliest of sources, he is constantly diverting, ever inventive.

And he is an individualist. Whoever would have thought of melding the distinctive ‘bluegrass’ style of the American South with the South African kwela into a work of fusion, Bluegrass Safari?

His Schweet in the first half was just that – a quiet, reflective piece that was short and sweet.

Cox produced his unusual baritone guitar for an interpretation entitled Midnight Sweeper. This is based on an observation of a sweeper hired by his friend Manuel, to look after the grounds of his house in Maputo.

Because the employee had already performed his duties and was simply going through the motions in the middle of the night, the musician amusingly remarked: ‘This is an example of Zen and the art of sweeping and staying awake at the same time.’

The artist contributed three further pieces in the first half – Anthill Rag, written when he was 18, the haunting and evocative Christy-Boy and an African-themed composition that had the audience clapping along.

The second half opened with a fairly sombre choice, A Warm Day In Maputo, followed by Major Mynah. Cox received inspiration for this fun item while observing the ubiquitous chattering birds roosting in Durban’s central city square.

The guitarist contributed an attractive piece – in waltz time – which he had dedicated to his daughter Thalo, when she was two years old.

Then he had a surprise for the audience, the performer explaining that he rarely included cover tunes in his recitals but now was about to do so.

The result is an original piece of improvisation – it is the theme tune Baby Elephant Walk from the old film HATARI! The tune had never been transcribed for the guitar at the time Cox arranged it and presents a mind-boggling display of Cox’s masterful finger-style technique, keeping an insistent bass-groove going while superimposing the complex melody-line on top of it.

The guitarist’s unique gift of being able to blend styles was vividly displayed in the virtuoso creation, Muizenberg – The Purple and Soda, a title based on an impressionable time in his life. In this case, the two strands were rock ‘n’ roll and blues.

An intriguing feature of this performer’s approach is his ability to switch moods (and guitars) with effortless ease. The man is a master of his instrument, a wizard on the wires.
- The Mercury, Natal


"IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN"

Lewes is a small town somewhere between London and Brighton. It is home to an annual International Guitar Festival, and one of those on the bill this year was South African maestro, Tony Cox.

The setting for the final live event of the festival was the picturesque Grange Gardens. The grass was green, the wind was rustling gently in the trees and the sun was shining in the sky. A near perfect setting for the relaxed sounds that came from the small stage. We were warmed up (or should that be mellowed down) by a Dixie Jazz band for about an hour, then Tony took to the stage.

Judging from the introduction he was given by the festival organiser, he had been well liked in Lewes, both for his laid back amiable character, as well as for the undeniable mastery he has over his guitar. Clearly enjoying himself, he quickly won over the large crowd who had gathered on the grass to pass a restful Sunday afternoon. He prefaced each piece with a little story about the tune, and then proceeded to bring those stories vividly to life in the music. You felt you were going down the 'Anthole' with him, or sitting next to the tree full of chattering Indian Mynah's in 'Major Mynah', or hopping playfully around Zimbabwe with the frog that makes the sound 'Kwe Kwe'.

The crowd responded warmly with enthusiastic applause after each song, and respectful silence during each piece. The set ended with the awesome 'You Asked For It', a piece which to a non-guitar player like me, goes beyond belief as it sounds like there are at least 2 guitars being played at once, and although I've heard this tune a few times, I was still left stunned by it's sheer beauty.

It was a wonderful setting for a wonderful afternoon's entertainment. The tranquillity of the garden matched in all respects by the refined and quite frankly exquisite guitar playing of Tony Cox who demonstrated today that he is a world-class talent.
- London/SA Rock Digest


"THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE ACOUSTIC GUITARIST"

“When I was young and I’d watch someone playing a guitar, I saw it as a living, breathing thing. The player was only there to let it speak,” said acclaimed acoustic guitar maestro Tony Cox in an interview with Cue, the newspaper of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, where he has just presented his latest show.

Well, in my book, Tony Cox takes the “living breathing thing” and creates even more magic! Durban audiences are privileged to see Tony live with this show, ‘The Loneliness of the Long Distance Acoustic Guitarist’, as it is currently running at Catalina Theatre. In the same Cue interview, Tony said: “Any working musician or actor knows the loneliness of being way from home, family and friends, so this is probably the most real of any of my show titles.”

With nothing other than atmospheric lighting for visual effect, this multiple SAMA award-winner sits alone on the stage surrounded by three of his guitars. It’s a familiar image with his distinctive curly greying mane of hair falling over his shoulders as he hunches over his guitar, lost in the music. The image may offer a sense of stillness and concentration but watch the fingers - they’re flying!

Be prepared to be wooed by Tony Cox’s musicianship and blown away by the sheer mastery of his playing. He presents an entertaining programme of differing moods and styles which he links with his usual wry humour. Quipping that bluegrass music equals “a helluva tempo”, he combines this in ‘Bluegrass Safari’ with kwela music, which always makes me think of pedalling a bicycle backwards because of its hiccup-like rhythm. The combination of styles was electrifying.

He introduces the audience to his baritone guitar made by former Springbok sportsman, Ian Corr, who lives in Morgan’s Bay and makes guitars as a hobby. This instrument produces an exciting deep tone and at times sounds like a whole bank of cellos. I enjoyed ‘A Warm Day in Maputo’.

There is much gentle amusement amid the playing – particularly with ‘Major Mynah’ which was inspired when Tony and Steve Newman were staying at the Royal Hotel while they were in Durban for a five-week gig. From his hotel room window, Tony could see the trees outside the City Hall that play host to the masses of mynah birds that come there to roost as sunset approaches! There’s also a song inspired by a sweeper who looks after the grounds of a friend’s house. He works through the night although there is often nothing left to sweep. Tony says: “It’s a combination of Zen, sweeping, and the art of staying awake!”

He also plays on a guitar which has to be open-tuned, causing much amusement in mentioning that Dolly Parton also plays an open tuned guitar because her fingernails are too long to do otherwise! For the current tour he has borrowed the instrument from his 13 year-old daughter Thalo, so the Cox talent has obviously been passed on.

While at the festival in Grahamstown, Tony set aside one of his performances to record his latest CD and DVD live. It is expected that this will be released later this year. So, see the show at Catalina, put the DVD on your gift/birthday/Christmas wish list and become a fan … that’s if you aren’t one already!
- Durban D'arts Magazine


Discography

Discography:

1983 - 101 Ways To Use An Acoustic Guitar – Mountain Records (with Steve newman)

1991 - In-To-Nation – Shifty Records

1996 - Cool Friction – Sheer Sound (Nominated best instrumental album S.A. music awards)

1998 - Looking for Zim – Sheer Sound

2000 - Matabele Ants – Sheer Sound (winner best instrumental S.A. music awards)

2000 - Aquarian Quartet Live – Digital Cupboard

2001 - About Time – Instinct Africaine (with Steve Newman, nominated best instrumental album
S.A. music awards)

2002 - China – Instinct Africaine (winner best instrumental S.A. music awards)

2002 - Night Light – Vox Terrae

2003 - The World in a Guitar – Plum Productions – DVD/CD

2005 - The Best of Tony Cox – Sheer Sound

2005 – Tony Cox in concert at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival – Sheer
Sound – DVD/CD

2007 - Blue Anthem - Instinct Africaine (winner best instrumental S.A. music awards)

2008 - Audient

Photos

Bio

Born in Zimbabwe and residing in the U.K. multiple award-winning acoustic guitarist Tony Cox has become a veritable icon of the instrument in his own country. For a number of years now the guitarist has been working his particular six-string magic further a-field. As of late, he has undertaken regular forays into Europe and Canada and has seen a loyal fan-base begin to develop in the UK, Germany and Canada.

When he was just nine years old Tony Cox began, incredibly, learning and playing the Hawaiian guitar in what was then Rhodesia. This was brought about by one Archie Pereira arriving from Lisbon and for reasons unknown decided to settle in the backwater of Kwe-Kwe, a town 20 miles away from Cox’s mining-town birthplace, Redcliff.

In his teens and after Archie disappeared back to Lisbon, Cox changed to a conventional guitar style and later studied the classical guitar for an intensive 2-year period. In 1969 the family left Rhodesia to settle in Cape Town South Africa and it is here the young guitarist really started to absorb and assimilate the multi-textured rhythms and facets of the rich, indigenous music of his upbringing and surroundings.

He began to compose his own music early and immediately charged it with the African imagery that is very much a part of this unique guitar player’s world perspective. Using all the finger-style techniques he had absorbed over the years from such greats as Leo Kottke and Bert Jansch, Cox honed and developed a style all his own. With the rigorous precision of classical technique juxtaposing the loose, laid-backed delivery of a master at work, Cox’s music tumbles out at you, hitting your tapping feet with its solid groove and taking your heart and mind on harmonic journeys they have not been on before. Tony Cox on-stage is as warm and engaging with his audience as he is off-stage. Telling stories and anecdotes, he draws a person in and you find yourself listening really closely to a tune you may never have heard before and then being punched in the solar-plexus at the power and delivery of that tune.

Besides being a solo performer Cox has collaborated and recorded with many other musicians to produce three award-winning albums and a string of nominations. ‘China’ (UK/SA slang for friend) is just such an album. He recorded it in 2002 featuring many of the cream of SA musicians and is a great example of Cox’s ability to work beyond the confines of solo guitar playing. The album won the ‘best instrumental’ category at the 2003 SAMA awards. He has very recently received his 7th nomination for the 2008 SAMA awards for his new release, ‘Blue Anthem’ and at the event last year, walked away with his third SAMA.

In late September 2007 Cox performed at the ‘Open Strings International Guitar Festival’ in Osnabrueck, Germany up alongside the finest guitar players in the world. Shortly after, he completed a 16-theatre tour of Canada and the USA, where he performs annually. He now resides in the UK and tours the world performing as a solo guitarist.

WHAT THEY SAY OVERSEAS

'Watching the South African guitarist perform at the Stan Rogers Folk Festival last summer was a truly dazzling experience' - Stephen Cooke, The Chronicle Herald, Nova Scotia, canada - 2009

'In a year of many outstanding performances at the Evergreen Theatre, this concert by Tony Cox has to be one of the highlights' - Steve Kennard, Evergreen Theatre, Margaretsville, Nova Scotia, Canada - Nov 2007

'Lewes Guitar Festival has been delighted to invite guitar maestro Tony Cox to perform twice at our festival over the last few years - he's simply an entrancing performer who has that special knack of engaging all his audience while at the same time delivering a highly skilled and entertaining show. Highly recommended...' Laurence Hill, Festival Director, Lewes, UK - 2006

‘On behalf of the Cornwall Folk Festival organizing committee I would like say a big thank you for contributing towards the success of our festival with your excellent performances. Your guitar playing is unique and was the hit of the festival’ Alan Collins, Festival Committee, Cornwall, UK - 2006

WHAT THEY SAY AT HOME
‘Tony conjured up varying moods and layers of emotion and swept the audience along from American Blue Grass to the camp grounds of Shongweni, to the turbulence of life on Zimbabwe’s farms’ The Highway Mail – 2007

‘Put a party together and go have your mind blown to bits (and reconstructed) by a musician who is well on his way to becoming a living legend’ Daily News – 2007

‘Tony Cox is something of a phenomenon in the world of guitar music’ The Mercury - 2006

‘Be prepared to be wooed by Tony Cox’s musicianship and blown away by the sheer mastery of his playing’ Durban D’arts - 2005

www.tonycox.co.za
www.myspace.com/tonycoxmusic