ED2016 4/5 Reviews ED2016 Music Reviews

Guitar Multiverse (Declan Zapala)

By Louise Rodgers | Published on Sunday 14 August 2016

Thirteen was my lucky number tonight – the number of guitar parts in Declan Zapala’s arrangement of Steve Reich’s 1987 Minimalist composition ‘Electric Counterpoint’, written for Jazz great Pat Metheny. All were played by Zapala – live and on tape – and linked to colourful large screen graphics that transformed with the music. This fifteen minute finale transfixed me, and was a vibrant contrast to the cleverly percussive pieces that preceded it. Zapala is a virtuoso – watching him play was just as entertaining as listening to him; as he slapped, flicked, picked and strummed his instrument, through his own and other contemporary compositions, with excellent technique and an engaging charm. In what universe is Zapala a star? All of them!

C too, until 29 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Louise Rodgers]