Album Notes

I’ve been playing solo guitar since the early days at the Shepherd Restaurant in Encinitas in the late 1970’s. I’d pull in on Sunday mornings, eat some buckwheat pancakes and then take off with the guitar for the next 3 hours exploring the world of six strings morphing into an orchestra. Joe Pass and Lenny Breau were early heroes along with Chick Corea’s solo piano work. The journey, with just me and the guitar, has continued through the years but it’s finally taken me ‘till now to record a set of songs in this solo setting. What took so long? Solo guitar is one of the most challenging formats to play in and well, maybe I wasn’t ready until now. I’ve still got a lot to learn but the cool factor is that it’s a joy just being on the ride.

Thanks for listening…

Peter Sprague
February, 2008


Peter Sprague — guitar


Produced by Peter Sprague
Recorded at SpragueLand Studios, Encinitas, CA / June, 2007 and December, 2007
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Peter Sprague at SpragueLand Studios
Cover photo by Sam Dosick
Art direction and design by Rix Graphix

For more information on other Peter Sprague recordings and books, visit petersprague.com or write to:
SBE Records
P.O. Box 762
Del Mar, CA
92014-0762

Peter Sprague plays a custom built Yuris Zeltins classical guitar (Blue Guitar) and a Taylor Guitar steel string.


Secret Code
by Peter Sprague and Kevyn Lettau (BMI) Satyam Music

It’s You Or No One
by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn

Luiza
by Antonio Carlos Jobim

With A Little Help From My Friends
by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Letter From Home
by Pat Metheny

Satellite
by John Coltrane

Nocturne Opus 9, Number 2
by Frederic Chopin

Passarim
by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Paulo Jobim

In Her Family
by Pat Metheny

A Foggy Day
by George and Ira Gershwin

She’s Leaving Home
by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Papaya Samba
by Peter Sprague © 2008 (BMI) Satyam Music

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 11, 1955, Peter Sprague was raised in Colorado until 1963, when his family moved to Del Mar, California. Inspired by his father's love of jazz, he took up the guitar when he was twelve. Following a year's study at the Interlochen Arts Academy, Sprague studied privately and performed around the San Diego area until 1976. That year found him moving to Boston to study with many notable musicians including Pat Metheny, Madame Chaloff and Albin Czak (a classical guitarist).

Peter has recorded many of his own albums on the Concord, Xanadu, and SBE record labels and has been a guest artist on many other records. Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, Billy Childs, David Benoit and Sergio Mendes are only but a few of the many great artists Peter has worked and recorded with.

Peter is active in the music book world having self-published nine of his own books and internationally published The Jazz Solos of Chick Corea with Sher Music. Sprague was also the chief organizer and transcriber for Chick Corea's music books with Hal Leonard Publishing.

Peter has won many awards for his recordings and his live playing:
San Diego Best of 1984 San Diego Newsline Newspaper

San Diego Reader's Best of 1988-Best Local Musician

San Diego Entertainer Magazine's Best of 1986-Best Jazz Act

San Diego Entertainer Magazine's Best of 1988-Musician's Choice

San Diego Music Awards 1994-Best Pop Jazz Group (Blurring the Edges)

San Diego Reader's Best of 2000 Poll-Best Jazz Artist

San Diego Music Awards 2000-Best Mainstream Jazz Artist

San Diego Reader's Best of 2003 Poll-Best Jazz Artist

San Diego Music Awards 2004 - Best Jazz Artist

San Diego Music Awards 2007 - Best Jazz Artist

Sprague taught music at both Musicians Institute in Hollywood and California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles for three years. Today Peter teaches every year at the USCD Jazz Camp in San Diego.

Peter is also involved with producing other artists and has been part of over two hundred and fifty CD projects. He runs a recording studio called SpragueLand where he is the producer, engineer, guitar player, composer and arranger.

Sprague composed and performed a 20-minute guitar concerto with both the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra in May 2000 and then with the San Diego Symphony in May 2002.

Peter arranged Chick Corea's song "Spain" for the GRP All-Star Big Band recording and video. Featured artists on this recording were Lee Ritenour, Dave Weckl, Ernie Watts and John Pattitucci.

The Peter Sprague String Consort has been in operation since 1985. I am the leader and composer for the group. My approach for this ensemble is to bring the string quartet into full participation with the jazz trio. This means a very melodic and rhythmic approach to string writing. The compositions are large in scope, encompassing many different sections and moods.