David Jacques – 16 histoires de guitares III

David Jacques is a guitar explorer. A great specialist in ancient music, he also pioneered tango, notably with the Tango Boréal ensemble. He also dabbled in a bit of pop, in a 2009 album called Grand Voyageur.

But first and foremost, David Jacques is an archaeologist-musicologist of guitars and classical music. David Jacques collects guitars, often rare. 16 Histoires de Guitares III constitutes the third volume of this guitar journey, in which he presents sixteen guitars from his private collection, the majority built in the 19th century. If you think all classical guitars sound the same, this album will forever dissuade you.

We hear heptachord (seven-string guitars), lyre-guitars, baroque guitars, an 18th century mandolin, as well as Russian and French guitars… and one from Quebec. David Jacques carefully chose the pieces according to each instrument, to highlight it.

The music was written by different composers ranging from the 17th century to today, from multiple countries, from Spain to Russia, with a little nod to Quebec with the piece Ad Lib Lovers by Guy Bergeron.

David Jacques is undoubtedly a master of the guitar and guitars. But his playing is never too clever. It all flows beautifully. A wonderful history lesson.