Martin, you've topped it again. Just when I thought you couldn't put on anything better than the finest musicians that you've previously booked, you pull the rabbit out of the hat and Acoustic Sussex gave us at  another delightful musical evening. (That is not to say that previous performers were not as good - everyone has been a treasure in its own way and it is difficult to compare like with like.)

It kicked off with a truly remarkable young man who had travelled down from Thame in Oxfordshire to be with us tonight. He came straight from school and arrived in good time to support Richard Durrant. His name is Wilber, he's just sixteen years old and plays acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, banjo and Appalachian dulcimer. He entertained us with some ragtime, blues slide guitar and even his great interpretation of 'Abide With Me' which was more like a stunning etude than an old hymn; I could not believe my ears as this affable young man, brimming with enthusiasm sat down and gave us a display on the acoustic guitar which belied his age. Recognition of his abilities is already travelling far and already he has been spotted by Fairport Convention's Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie. Also he was a finalist in the BBC Young Folk Music Awards. No prize for this prediction as it is dead easy to make - this lad will go far! (More at www.myspace.com/wilbermusic) 

What can I say about Richard Durrant? This man is, without doubt, in my eyes the most competent guitar player of his genre I have ever seen and I've seen plenty over the decades since I became interested in music. Originally Richard was classical trained at the Royal College of Music and this evening Richard performed a mixture of classical pieces and non-classical virtuoso pieces, including his own compositions on his new concert guitar, custom made by Gary Hearn and called "The Richard Durrant Concert Model", completely acoustic which sounded beautiful and the sweet sound easily carried to the back of the Baronial Hall at The Ravenswood. Nothing but pure notes and virtually no string buzz in this performance. 

Richard also made full use of technology in the form of two sample pedals and a chaos pedal where he turned out his version of some John Martyn-style pieces - not at all plagiarised and completely and refreshingly different. The highlight for me was his rendition of Steve Reich's 'Electric Counterpoint' which consisted of a pre-recorded CD of various acoustic and electric guitars to which Richard added some amazing guitar playing which he described as "The cherry on the top of the cake". The experimental, minimalist sounds contrasted with the more conventional compositions of the evening in that the audience was were invited to the listen to layers of instruments and their interactions with one another. I found myself being transported to another plane as I did just that. It took me back to the late 1960s and the work of Terry Riley who Steve worked with at the San Francisco Tape Music Center - in particular Terry's time-shifted composition 'In C'. I understand that Richard is particularly proud of his version of 'Electric Counterpoint' and so he should. It is a marvel of performance (and it is currently available on the LongMan Records website). 

During the course of the concert, Richard mentioned that he really admired the now defunct British medieval folk/progressive rock band, Gryphon of the early '70s and had heard that there was a slim chance they would reform - with a bit of luck play at an Acoustic Sussex venue - and as a tribute to them he performed a small snippet of Ethellion, from the Midnight Mushrumps album. (We live in hope to see again a fine band of yesteryear.) 

All in all, Richard gave us a performance which grabbed attention at the opening notes and continued until he ended the concert by walking off after giving an encore, plus an anecdote in which his tutor at the Royal College of Music told him to never do an encore and not to walk on stage like a gorilla. All I can say to that is that I have never met such a musically talented gorilla and an amiable one at that. Pieces performed included: Sonata in A by Scarlatti, Gavotte by JS Bach, Bouree by JS Bach, Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy by Tchaikovsky (which was dedicate to his brother Bill), Into the forest by himself, Westway by Herbie Flowers, The English Guitar Hymnal Pt1 by himself, Electric Counterpoint by Steve Reich, At Buriton (a banjo Piece) by himself, Uke Sarabande & Courante by JS Bach (performed magnificently on a ukulele), Kenneth The Hedge by himself.  Requests - While my ukulele gently weeps(!) and Here Comes the Sun (both by George Harrison), Ethellion by Gryphon and a finally magnificent rendition of Leyenda by Albeniz. May you long deliver a mixture of fun, culture and cerebral delights, Richard. I hope to see you soon.