Founded 22 years ago, the ensemble has garnered worldwide acclaim from both fans and critics.
The California Guitar Trio certainly doesn't string their audiences along.
Playing a very direct, but complex weave of music–both covers and originals– Paul Richards, Bert Lams, and Hideyo Moriya solder together a sonic sculpture of genres, ranging from classical to rock to jazz–and even include some surf music. Founded 22 years ago, the ensemble has garnered worldwide acclaim from both fans and critics.
The group brings its fretboard fusion to The Iron Horse Music Hall on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Richards took a few moments to discuss the history of the group as well as how they approach their work.
Q: The trio actually got its start with Robert Fripp in the League of Crafty Guitarists, correct? Tell me a little bit about how that came about, and what was it like playing with Fripp?
A: Yes, the three of us met while studying music with Robert Fripp on the Guitar Craft courses in England in 1987. Each of us had attended a different one week "introductory course" at a retreat center near Washington D.C. and then all three of us were invited to go to England for an extended Guitar Craft course held at Robert's house in Cranborne Dorset England. We were there at Robert's house for the last part of 1987 and most of 1988. It was an amazing experience playing guitar, cooking and living in the house together with Robert. At times it was very intense, but we also had some fun. As part of our training, we formed the touring group The League of Crafty Guitarists and toured in Europe, USA and Canada together with Robert. Most of what we do in the California Guitar Trio now is based on our experience of working with Robert during these Guitar Craft courses.
Q: All three of you have unique and diverse backgrounds as far as your playing and playing styles. How does that blend together to create your sound?
A: Yes, Bert is from Belgium and studied Classical Music; Hideyo is from Japan and is a phenomenal Surf guitarist and Traditional Japanese music enthusiast. And I'm originally from Utah and began learning to play guitar by playing along with my Led Zeppelin albums, and later studied Jazz at the University. We all have very different musical influences and combine these to create the extremely diverse style and repertoire of the California Guitar Trio.
Q: How do you choose what music to cover? And how do you make the original stuff you write blend in with it?
A: We play the music that we love. It doesn't matter to us what genre the music comes from. We like blending music that normally does not go together. Our live shows are really a presentation of the variety of music that can be played on the acoustic guitar. The blending of all these styles seems to come naturally for us. In the past when we've tried music that just doesn't fit in, it is obvious to us, just doesn't feel right and is abandoned.
Q: Who or what got you first interested in playing the guitar? In other words who influenced you early on, and then later?
A: Two of my older brothers played guitar and were a big influence for me when I began playing at age 13. In the beginning I taught myself to play by playing along with my Led Zeppelin and Rush albums. Then at age 18 I found a great guitar instructor named Don Ayers who turned me on to many great guitarists like Robert Fripp, John McLaughlin and Bill Frisell. Don is the one who encouraged me to attend the Robert Fripp Guitar Craft courses.