Portraits

Dominic Ashworth continues to shine as one of the finest jazz guitarists in Britain. His debut trio CD, Portraits, is an intimate and highly personal album originally recorded for and dedicated to those who have touched his life. Playing the nylon-stringed classical guitar, Dominic performs alongside Chris Dodd (bass) and Nic France (percussion), with guest appearances from Josefina Cupido (percussion). Portraits features some of Dominic's original tunes, jazz standards by Billie Holiday, Jobim, Ellington, Monk, Ibrahim, Pastoris, Bernstein and a breathtaking version of Gabriel Faure's Pavane. This is special album you'll want to share with those close to you. Portraits (NUTSCD0019), on the Chugnut Label, is a highly personal collection of tunes, both original and standard, inspired by and dedicated to people who have touched Dominic's life. Playing a nylon-strung guitar throughout, Dominic creates an intimate mood which will appeal to lovers of classical music as well as discerning jazz fans. The great grooves of Nic France and Chris Dodd create space for the nylon-strung guitar to breathe in material reflecting Jazz, Classical, Latin, Celtic and Pop influences. Alongside standards by Bernstein, Ellington, Monk and Jobim, some less familiar tunes appear, including Three Views of a Secret by Jaco Pastorius and a few of Dominic's originals, Portraits also features a breathtaking version of Faure's Pavane. Born in Hamilton Ontario, Canada, Dominic Ashworth studied guitar at the University of Toronto Canada with Eli Kassner, graduating in 1982. Before moving to the UK he performed at the Havana Guitar Festival Cuba and studied under scholarship in Spain. He settled in the UK writing music including a version of Carmen performed at the Newcastle Playhouse. Dominic's musical inspirations for writing and performing include J.S.

Bach, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Paco de Lucia and George Benson. In Glasgow, he co-founded the group Ah Um, a regular feature of the Glasgow and Edinburgh Jazz Festivals. He will shortly be playing on George Melly's forthcoming album on the Candid label. Now based in Greenwich, Dominic tours and records with Carol Kidd, Michael Garrick's Quartet and big band and teaches Jazz Guitar at Trinity College of Music.