044 - 055

Pete Hawkes
Melbourne, VIC, Australia

"The Warlock's Dream"
Pete Hawkes - guitar
Louise Woodward - viola
Michael McClintock - violin
Gareth Skinner - cello

How often does one come across a composer with the ability to transcend several musical genres and yet stay firmly focussed within his own perceived sound? Almost never! Pete manages to turn many genres into his own, making the listener feel they are witnessing something innovative and fresh, but still familiar to the feels and traditions of the genre. This latest double album, highlighting some of Pete's instrumental works over the last ten years is absolutely amazing! I have no doubt its going to be one of those remembered albums and I'm sure it will still be being played in years to come. On 'Double Diversity' you will find airs, reels and Celtic influenced pieces; Delta Blues (for a unique 1930's Delta interpretation of McCartney's' Yesterday') and a cleverly written neo classical piece that just oozes Russia, 'The Moscow Gypsy'. It also includes some very finely arranged and well-executed Jazz with the bossa Nova 'A whispered Scream'. If that doesn't take your fancy then you can always listen to Pete's beautiful arrangements of some great classical guitar standards or alternatively relax with the innovative Cello compositions.

Dig ragtime? then you have the 'Belly Laugh Rag' and 'The Boisterous Border Collie!' In fact there is so much here, in this record you need to listen to it a few times to digest all the ideas and nuances on both disks.

The word 'genius' I have always reserved for the greats like Charlie Parker, Charles Mingus, Richard Thompson and Louie Armstrong, but given the diversity, variation, number of musical genres, and the prolific number of high quality, original compositions of all styles of music Pete has put out on this record, and continues to produce every year, not to mention a back catalogue of finely crafted original songs (that always have something unique to say about the human condition), it's hard not to use the word for him here as well.

www.myspace.com/petehawkes