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Charley Rich

Charley studied privately with Jazz notables Joe Monk and Harry Leahy. At Stony Brook, he focused on composition, studied with Peter Winkler and Richard Dyer-Bennet and then spent a year at Berklee College of Music. After college he played the club scene in NYC, performed for impresario Sid Bernstein, studied classical guitar with Jerry Willard and took a fascinating lesson with Ralph Towner.

Charley has played with many bands and done solo gigs such as opening up the first 20th Century Classic American Guitar Show on Long Island. He spent several years prior to this new CD performing and recording with the Long Island group, "Sun, Moon and Stars".

Gear

Guitars: - G&L ASAT Classic III - G&L ASAT Deluxe semi-hollow - Martin HD28 - Kim Griffin OM - Guild F212XL - Traveler Guitar Amps: - Laney VC30 210 - Fender Champ 12 - Fishman LoudBox 100


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Take Five With Charley Rich

Read "Take Five With Charley Rich" reviewed by Charley Rich


Meet Charley Rich:Guitarist Charley Rich studied privately with notables Joe Monk and Harry Leahy. At Stony Brook, he focused on composition, studied with Richard Dyer-Bennet and then spent a year at Berklee College of Music. After college he played the club scene in NYC, performed for impresario Sid Bernstein, studied classical guitar with Jerry Willard and took a fascinating lesson with Ralph Towner.Charley has played with many bands and done solo gigs such as opening up ...

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Reviews: Customer Reviews A unique guitarist/composer by JonnyFood Charley Rich’s new CD, “By Myself” is, as Frank Zappa used to refer to himself, by “a composer who plays the guitar.” Zappa was a distinctive guitarist, and so is Charley. At times you can hear echoes of Joe Pass, John Mclaughlin, Jerry Garcia and Ralph Towner, to name but a few of Charley’s sonic influences, and yet, you always know it’s Charley, from the first note. When a composer plays all the instruments as Charley does here, you get a real window into the mind and ear of the composer. Charley is a poignant melodist, something you rarely hear in modern music. His guitar playing is intimate, and he often favors back phrasing, bent notes, slides, and a variety of interesting timbres and touches. His electronic arrangements are like an aural version of an impressionist painting, with a jazz beat blended in. Some of the tracks included are: ‘Wondering”- a swing tune with polytonal riffs. “Time Again” – Cool congas, tympani and bass behind Charley’s haunting lead lines. “River Falls” – Feels like an early Paul Simon folk instrumental. “Mythology” – Crazy horns slip sliding and swinging with Freddie Greene/Basie-like comping. A great contemporary bebop tune. Reminds us of Weather Report and late Miles Davis. And here, Charley on one guitar trades fours with Charley on another. “Friend”- twin Allmann Brothers-like guitars over a Bossa Nova. “If The Sun Don’t Shine, The Squirrels Don’t Dance.” – A pretty theme moving into some fun funk. Disoholirag- A rag based groove with a melody that would make a great French movie theme. One can imagine these electronic orchestrations played by a real orchestra, and that might be an interesting idea for Charley to pursue in the future. This would be a good CD to have in your ears when you’re hiking in the back woods. Kind of like nature with a groove. Meditative, but with lots of movement.

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

By Myself

cdbaby
2012

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Madeira

From: By Myself
By Charley Rich

Mythology

From: By Myself
By Charley Rich

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