PAUL
VERNON CHESTER
Manouche Maestro
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Manouche Maestro |
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Nick Mellor - Rhythm Guitarist
Cousin to Paul Vernon Chester
and his lifetime accompanist as a superb rhythm guitarist. They
have been playing together since they were kids and their resultant
rapport is clearly apparent in their sympathetic guitar duo
performances.
Nick Mellor Rhythm Guitarist and Paul's lifetime collaborator - photos by Jake Kirkpatrick In his secondary but essential role as rhythm guitarist Nick Mellor is a tower of strength to enhance Paul's ability to relax and deliver his lead guitar voice with a solid rhythm accompaniment. An unsung but essential component of the soaring soloist's performance . He is the hard rock strata foundation on which Paul builds for perfection. Albeit he looks intense and insignificant in his gargantuan and so important task of pulsing rhythm guitar support
In their youth Nick and
Paul sat for hours playing through their slowly but steadily increasing
Reinhardt repertoire. They thirsted for information about the man
and about these
weird guitars with added sound resonators. Some people called them
Selmer's and
others, Maccaferris. Some had D shaped holes and some oval. You could
not buy them as they were very rare! Their investigations only ever got so
far and their knowledge of Django the man was gleaned almost exclusively from record
sleeve notes, read over and over. Years later Charles Delaunay's
biography of Django Reinhardt became available at their public library. Needless to say, it
was read from cover to cover several times over. "What characterises this music is a rhythmical style of accompaniment we call 'the pump,' "It's rare for musicians to master it. It's a Manouche jazz thing. But once you can do 'the pump,' you can do everything."
Paul's quiet relaxed approach to his music was refreshing and he imparted many interesting and amusing anecdotes between numbers - each composition allowing him to display a dazzling technique with an attack or tenderness that was worthy of his hero and mentor Django - we are blessed that these disciples still emulate this wonderful facet of Jazz - Manouche Gypsy Jazz Swing. Not to forget the important labour's of Nick Mellor - on Rhythm Guitar such an essential component of this magical sound - both are indeed Manouche Maestros.
Video Excerpt of Nick's Performance @ Concert Jazz in Thame 14/03/07
Nick will be endorsing
JWC Guitars and will be playing one of source Luthier
Jeongwoo Cho's 14 fret D holes. These guitars are really taking off as word gets
around of their quality and closeness tonally to the Selmer Maccaferri
originals. They are beautiful instruments. |
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Nick's Guitar Choice
