ACOUSTIC MUSIC

BIOGRAPHIE - DISCOGRAPHIE MIT SOUNDBEISPIELEN/WITH SOUNDSAMPLES

BIOGRAPHIE

Gert's musical career started at the age of ten when a guitar was given to him by his parents. After a few lessons on a musical-school he quit and started learning by himself. As he still does today. Soon a 12-string guitar became part of the collection and a few years later a 5-string banjo followed. No need to say that all three instruments influenced the technical approach on playing guitars and banjo.The 5-string banjo for instance influenced the 12-string playing. Gert developped as a guitarplayer, banjoist and a little bit as a singer. Also the ragtime music as performed by Stefan Grossman, Ton van Bergeyk and Duck Baker became temporarily an inspiration. This helped him understanding how to conjure counterparts with basses and melody-strings...playing more complexe tunes.
In 1974 and 1975 Gert was chosen best solo-performer at national (dutch) Pauwkes folk and blues concours. This was a hint towards his capabilities. After discovering other contemporary musicians ( such as John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Bruce Cockburn, Richard Thompson) the musical approach became more and more experimental and this resulted in a style that he still carries today: inspired, creative, challenging, techniques that serve the idea and not restricted to idioms.In 1977 Munich records invited him to record an instrumental album ( 'Clear Tunes' ) that had good reviews in the acoustic field. For a few years Gert played as a professional in folkclubs and performed on TV and radio and played as a supporting act for other players (Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson and Derroll Adams among others).
In 1998 he recorded " A View from the Root " . On this album the main-theme is roots-music and the acoustic guitar....but performed with different combinations and in different styles. Of course there are some solo-pieces on guitar but also there are some songs with a band. Gert started composing new instrumentals on both 6 & 12 string guitars and finally was invited by Peter Finger from Acoustic Music Records to record an album. Especially his 12-string guitar playing draws attention, being a rare instrument and difficult to master. But Gert mastered it and plays it with ' a highly original voice ', using different techniques and tunings. But also the 6-string guitar still is an instrument to choose for compositions. And this, together with his musical approach, makes the range of his music unusual broad. 'Behind the Dunes' was recorded in 2000 and had good reviews. In februar 2002 the new album 'Acoustickled' has been released.

DISCOGRAPHIE

BEHIND THE DUNES

acoustic guitar solos
Recording: 2000
Time: 39:26
Musicians
Gert de Meijer: acoustic guitar

CD-TRACKS
BEHIND THE DUNES - SUMMER

· FOR HEDGES

· SUNNY BELLAMYPARK

· DUNES OF DISHOEK

· AIR TO AIR

· JAZZER’S BLUES

· AS DREAMS GO BY

· INNER SWING

· WHEN THE WORK IS DONE

· DREAMER

· BE SHARP

· BLUES IN VARIATIONS

· WHEN YOU SMILE

· BEHIND THE DUNES – WINTER

INFO
Einer der großen europäischen Stilisten der „New Acoustic Guitar" ist wieder da. Gert de Meijer, geboren 1953, feiert sein Debut bei ACOUSTIC MUSIC. In der Nachfolge von Musikern wie Leo Kottke oder Michael Hedges zaubert er aus seinen 6- und 12-saitigen Gitarren Klanggemälde zwischen zartem Impressionismus und packendem „Power-Picking". Seine Kompositionen sind inspiriert von den Landschaften seiner Heimat, den Niederlanden. So ist „Behind The Dunes" ein stimmungsvolles Statement eines großartigen Gitarristen, getragen von Inspiration und schöpferischer Kreativität.
One of the top masters of style of the “New Acoustic Guitar” is back. Gert de Meijer, born in 1953, is celebrating his debut with ACOUSTIC MUSIC. Following in the footsteps of musicians such as Leo Kottke or Michael Hedges, he conjures sound tableaux that range from gentle impressionism to engrossing power-picking from his six- and twelve-string guitars. His compositions are inspired by the landscape of his homeland, the Netherlands. “Behind The Dunes” is an atmospheric statement by a superb guitarist, music carried by inspiration and prolific creativity.

PRESS REVIEWS
„Von impressionistischen Klanggemälden bis zum heiter-sentimentalen Blues: Gert de Meijer setzt auf seiner neuen CD „Behind The Dunes” der holländischen Provinz Zeeland ein musikalisches Denkmal. Man spürt förmlich den Wind im Strandhafer , riecht das Meer und fühlt den weichen Sand unter den Füßen.“ (OWL am Sonntag, 03. 09. 00)
„From impressionistic sound tableaux to light-hearted, sentimental blues: Gert de Meijer has created a musical monument to the Dutch province Zeeland on his new CD „Behind The Dunes.” You can hear the wind through the coastal grasses, breathe in the sea’s fragrance, feel the soft sands beneath your feet.“ (OWL Sunday supplement, September 3, 2000)
„Gert de Meijer ist ein Fingerstyle-Gitarrist, der aus einem riesigen Repertoire kreativer Techniken schöpft, mit unterschiedlichen Tunings experimentiert und ganz individuelle Klänge aus seinen 6- und 12-saitigen Gitarren zaubert. Zarte, impressionistisch eingefärbte Kompositionen stehen neben temperamentvollen Powerpicking, bluesige Slides neben klar intonierten Melodiebögen." (Vintage Guitar News, Okt./ Nov./ Dez. 2000)

ACOUSTICKLED

acoustic guitar solos
Recording: 2002
Time: 47:58
Musicians
Gert de Meijer: acoustic guitar

CD-TRACKS
The Run

· The Healing

· Air And Sea

· Torino

· Domburg Beach

· Cross The River

· Fahey’s Retreat

· The Bridge

· You’re In My Veins

· Evie

· Friday

· Polder Biker

· Endless Wire

· Framed Motions

· Time Stealing

INFO
Mit 'Behind The Dunes' aus dem Jahr 2000 meldete sich einer der großen europäischen Stilisten der „New Acoustic Guitar“ zu Wort. Der holländische Gitarrist Gert de Meijer ist ein Meister an den 6- und 12-saitigen Instrumenten und beherrscht ein riesiges Repertoire kreativer Techniken. Wer die Musik von Leo Kottke, John Fahey oder Michael Hedges schätzt, kommt an Gert de Meijer nicht vorbei. Seine Meisterschaft der schwer zu beherrschenden 12-Saitigen ist beeindruckend: Er schöpft alle klanglichen Möglichkeiten mit unglaublicher dynamischer und emotionaler Bandbreite aus. Auf der neuen CD 'Acoustickled' zelebriert de Meijer kraftvolle „Power-Pickings“ ebenso überzeugend wie fragile impressionistisch eingefärbte Klanggemälde und begeistert mit erfrischender Leichtigkeit und Traditionsbewusstsein.
One of the great European stylists of the “New Acoustic Guitar” has spoken up with the album ‘Behind The Dunes’ from the year 2000. The Dutch guitarist Gert de Meijer is a master of the 6- and 12-string instrument and comands a gigantic repertoire of creative techniques. Those with a feel for the music of Leo Kottke, John Fahey or Michael Hedges, will not get by Gert de Meijer. His mastery of the difficult 12-string guitar is impressive: He exhausts all the sonorous possibilities with an unbelievably dynamic and emotional range. On his new CD, ‘Acoustickled’ de Meijer celebrates vigorous “power pickings” as convincingly as he does fragile, impressionistically tinted sound tableaux, and he captivates the listener with his refreshing lightness and his awareness of tradition.

PRESS REVIEWS
„Beim holländischen Gitarristen Gert de Meijer kann man sich dagegen entspannt zurücklehnen und die Virtuosität des Musikers auf der Zwölfsaitigen genießen. Beim Hören erkennt man dann, warum er zu den besten Fingerstyle-Gitarristen Europas gehört.” (Gunter Held, Neue Westfälische, 3. 10. 2002)
„Dieser niederländische Maestro der Fingerstyle-Gitarre ist ein wahrer Meister der 6- und 12-Saiten. Jeder, der die Musik von Leo Kottke,
John Fahey und Michael Hedges mag, wird
Gert de Meijer lieben. Seine erste CD ‚Behind
the dunes‘ führte zu einer Sensation bei den Europäischen Fingerstyle Liebhabern und ... 'Acoustickled'‘ ist sogar noch besser.”
(Antoine, 27. September 2002)