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With
his unorthodox playing style, Davy Graham exploded
onto the 1960s folk scene to become one of the UK's most
influential guitarists. Drawing upon diverse folk, jazz
and blues influences Davy flew in the face of what was
then deemed commercial, recording a string of critically-acclaimed
albums that reflected his exotic tastes. Revered by his
peers as much for his guitar prowess as for his musical
integrity, he is widely credited as the founder of "baroque
folk" and broke new ground when he introduced elements
of what might now be termed "world music" into
his work. On being billed as "legendary" in
a 1970s' interview: "If all I have to do is play
well and rarely, I suppose I always will be legendary.
It's just an adjective … I don't get any particular
kicks out of it. The kicks I get are strictly from playing
and listening. I might just be a street singer who made
good."
This release marks a welcome return to CD for Godington
Boundry, Davy Graham's sole President album recorded
in 1970. In keeping with those he made for Decca, it's
an unashamedly esoteric blend of the influences dear to
his heart. As well as takes on jazz standards such as
'Round Midnight and the perennial Worksong,
then-contemporary covers of the Beatles' Mother
Nature's Son and the Incredible String Band's
Everything's Fine Right Now also feature.
Tabla player Kesh Sathe contributes his mastery to Afta,
one of the original compositions to debut on this album
and Holly Gwyn lends her stunning vocals to On
Green Dolphin Street and the rousing A Mighty
Fortress Is Our God. It would be some years before
Davy ventured into a studio again; Godington Boundry draws
a decade of pioneering recordings to a close in suitably
eclectic style.
Enjoying cult status amongst a new generation of fans,
Davy Graham's mystique endures and he remains one of the
UK's foremost guitar greats.
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