Album Notes

Aside from his day job as a professor of comparative European politics at Oxford University, an author or co-editor of five books on international law, and an avocation as a classically trained cordon bleu chef, Alec Stone Sweet is also an exquisite acoustic guitarist. His debut CD, "Memory & Praise," is a sublime collection of instrumental guitar music that reflects a global sensibility. Featured are six of Alec's arrangements of compositions by the blind 17th Century Irish harpist, Turlough O'Carolan, two medleys of Appalachian fiddle tunes (played on guitar using the "clawhammer" banjo style, and dance tunes from Israel ("Mona Vu"), France ("Bells"), and Ireland ("An Phis Fluich"). Sparse, beautiful and filed with soul, this CD flows with deeply emotional music. "Alec's guitar playing is extraordinary, resembling no one else in touch, technique or feel," says the world class American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jody Stecher, and fellow virtuoso Martin Simpson agrees, calling the CD "beautifully simple and simply beautiful traditional music played with love, reverence and fine tone."

Bio:

Pacific Northwest native Alec Stone Sweet has been playing guitar since the age of 18. He spent many years living abroad in France and Italy, where his unique guitar style developed, and has taught guitar at the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop and at guitar camps throughout the United States. He is currently a professor of comparative European politics at Oxford University in England.