Roger Lasley

Roger Lasley performs original material for solo flatpick guitar. He writes what one reviewer terms “immaculate . . . very beautiful tunes that are easy on the ear and show a strong connection with American folk and roots music.” (Massimo Ferro, Highway 61) And when he plays, “he keeps a lot of balls in the air.” (Chet Williamson, Rambles, A Cultural Magazine) It isn’t uncommon to find solo fingerstyle guitarists specializing in instrumentals, and there are certainly some fine flatpickers holding forth in an ensemble setting. But the solo flatpicker is a rare bird. fRoots magazine (no.274 - April 2006) called attention to Roger’s ability to make this approach work: "Ace Minnesota guitarist and his big ol' Martin show that a good flatpicker can match fingerpicking any day in a set of excellent original pieces ranging from the laidback to the seriously rocking. . . Bert Weedon was never like this!" Or as a new-found fan recently testified: “All my solo guitar cds are fingerpickers. I love fingerpicking but I wanted to see what was possible with a straight flatpick and you really showed me what was possible!” Though the phrase “flatpick guitar” is often used to denote an aggressive style used in bluegrass, guitarists playing in many genres use flat picks to play solos and to provide accompaniment. But the flat pick can also be used to weave a complex texture of melody and embellishment, bass lines and harmonic structure, in a solo unaccompanied setting. Roger’s “very beautiful tunes” employ an exciting variety of flatpick techniques, but it’s the beauty of the music that keeps people coming back for more.