One-off treat for guitar fans

Feb 27 2008 by Philip Key, Liverpool Daily Post

NEW York-born acoustic guitarist Preston Reed is a sight to behold as he attacks his guitar from all angles.

He will bang on the strings, thump the guitar body, tap with two hands and often play with both hands above the guitar’s neck.

It is a dazzling technique that has led at least one critic to describe him a “the world’s most gifted guitarist”.

Now the one man music machine is heading for Southport Arts Centre.

He learned on his father’s guitar and made his first public appearance at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC at the age of 17, supporting beat poet Allen Ginsberg.

It was his friend Lyle Lovett who helped him land his first deal with MCA Records.

Since then there have been numerous recordings with a number of different labels while guest starring on other musicians’ productions.

Like many performers today, he has also started his own label, Outer Bridge.

It is said many find it difficult to believe it is just one man and a guitar on his recordings.

He is also difficult to define, playing everything from jazz and blues to rock, funk and world music.

Reed, now based in Scotland, is certainly a one-off.

He appears at the Southport Arts Centre at 8pm on March 8.