The Guitar Player's Resource
Rob Ward's predominantly classical, debut solo guitar CD, Both Sides of the Story, features original solo guitar works and some well-chosen cover tunes, including Jimmy Page's "Bron-Yr-Aur" and Adrian Legg's "Anu". Several beautiful pieces by Granados and Domeniconi ("Spanish Dance No. 2: The Oriental", "Koyunbaba") are also present, as well as an arrangement of the traditional "Scarborough Fair". Ward filled Both Sides of the Story with the music he grew up loving, and his originals fill out the CD quite nicely - florid, melodic guitar conversations you'll grow to appreciate with each repeated listen. He manages to also integrate a bit of electric guitar into his works, adding the instrument as a compliment to the acoustic textures. Ward is a talented and gifted guitarist, and his debut CD will delight fans of the acoustic guitar with its richness, variety and timeless melodicism. Well worth picking up.
Inspired at age 7 to pick up the guitar by the Dire Straits music video "Money For Nothing", it wasn't until Rob was older and desired to learn Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that he began to get serious. Learning Van Halen and Randy Rhoads solos gave him a great head start, but seeing a classical guitarist performing in a book store inspired him to take that path of musical growth. In 1996, Rob studied classical guitar with Pablo Cohen for two years while attending Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. He later studied music theory/composition while performing with rock bands during the college years. Prompted to consider teaching guitar by a local guitar studio, Rob now has taken 50+ students under his wing.
Currently, Ward has the pleasure of performing with two ensembles that have helped him grow as a musician. They include the The Judy Aron Band and The New York Guitar Orchestra (an ensemble made up of eight very good classical guitarists). He is also working on his second solo guitar album.
Rob Ward
United States
Web site: www.robward.com