Christopher Davis » Life

Help Me Find Concert Venues

Christopher — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:41:12 +0000

I have a few big gigs/events to go to next year, but they’re spread across many months. I’d like to use each gig as a base, and play concerts along the way.

Here’s the routes I have to take:

Dallas, TX to Clarksville, TN – this one is around March 18, 2011.
Dallas, TX to Macomb, IL – Around April 7th, 2011. I can also go through OK City and Wichita and Kansas City on this one. If there’s places to play there, that is.
Dallas, TX to the Los Angeles Area – In Late October 2011. I would like to drive and play a few concerts on the way, but otherwise I’ll have to fly.

Do you know any venues in the areas or along the way? Would you like to host a house concert? Are you a classical guitar teacher and want to have a Masterclass or Concerts just for your students? Please leave a comment below or get in touch via email.

Thank you!

Wedding Music

Christopher — Sat, 22 May 2010 05:12:48 +0000

It’s kind of odd being on the other side of the wedding music thing. As I’m a composer (sort of), and my Fiancée is contributing her visual art skillz in making invitations, I thought I should creatively contribute to the wedding plans.

So here’s my first attempt. It’s an easy piece. AND infinitely repeatable (awesome for wedding musicians).

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

(very quick recording, lots of flubs, but you get the idea).

See the music here (PDF)

What I Used to Look Like

Christopher — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:18:55 +0000

What I looked like circa 2006.

And here’s what I look like now. (more here)

Thank god for lifting heavy things.

My New Guitar: A Review

Christopher — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:17:19 +0000

About two months ago, I received a guitar from Michael Thames. This guitar is my very first “concert” guitar. Before it, I owned a Kenny Hill new world model and a cheapo Washburn classical. I never really suspected that a guitar could make a big difference in my playing, but it did. I had outgrown my Kenny Hill, and it was past time for an upgrade. A better guitar made me a better guitarist.

The Thames guitar is extremely responsive, and has a fast attack. It can sound sweet or growly depending on what I need, and its dynamic range is outstanding. Trebles really sing out and the basses are throaty and well separated. The guitar wins in the playability department as well: the neck profile is great, and the big frets make it very easy to play. One of my favorite things, though, is the arm rest on the body. It makes my right arm very comfy. The guitar, in addition to sound great and playing well, is gorgeous. The rosewood on the back is beautiful, so is the cedar top. I really like Michael’s rosette as well. The guitar is a complete package: the clarity, projection and volume I was looking for combined with great playability and looks. Frankly, it’s just fun to play.

pretty good look a the rosette

Picture from the Maquoketa Gig

Christopher — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:20:05 +0000

First picture with the new Thames guitar, I believe.

Press for my Maquoketa Gig

Christopher — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:06:53 +0000

I had a few ads and blurbs in the local papers about my concert. Here they are! (click to view larger images)

A Confession

Christopher — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 07:16:43 +0000

I don’t listen to guitar music. I might listen to guitar music once in a while to hear a piece, but that’s really it.

To be honest, I just don’t get excited by a lot of guitarists. There are a few players I enjoy, but I’d much rather listen to a string quartet or an orchestra.

Why I don’t put “Classical Guitar” behind my name

Christopher — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:46:50 +0000

I am a classical guitarist. I play art music on the guitar, and I’m not terribly interested in performing much else (outside of more art music-like fingerstyle).

But I will never put, “Christopher Davis, classical guitar,” on a program; I will never advertise my concert as, “Christopher Davis, classical guitarist.”

If it’s my mission to expand the audience for classical guitar, I owe it to that mission to attract unusual audiences. Avoiding the classical guitarist label avoids shutting down conversation about a concert before it starts. How many young people attend an orchestra concert? Not many. Most people are interested in guitar in general enjoy classical guitar at least a little bit. No one, however, knows they like classical guitar until they hear it. If I can get someone to come to a concert of art music by appealing to their general guitar affection, I’m a happy performer. I look at it as having the opportunity to share art music with an otherwise uninterested crowd. I don’t want to discourage them with a classical guitar label

The second reason I avoid the classical guitarist label is it makes more marketable as a teacher. I’m comfortably with just about any style of music. I don’t want to pigeonhole myself into one genre of teaching at this point in my career.

The Same Piece (mostly finished)

Christopher — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:25:05 +0000

Here’s the same piece I just posted, but mostly finished. No fingering put in yet, but the dynamics are there. Some small cleaning up to do, but it gives you an idea.

Click here to look at the PDF

Scary Looking Music

Christopher — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:56:04 +0000

I’m typesetting a 19C piece right now, and I thought I’d share what it looks like pre-editing/making-it-look-pretty.

click the image to see the full sized version.