Bridge Guitar Reviews
Issue June /July 2010
Ray Montford Interview
We welcome Ray Montford who is a Canadian guitarist and composer who recorded until this moment seven CD's in his career. As a teenager he started playing guitar and got a serious musician when he was eighteen years.
On what kind of guitar you started when you where a teenager and what repertoire you played?
An epiphone acoustic and an El Degas strat... we were jamming Led Zeppelin riffs, as well as the Who, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple etc...
Do you have to study hard on a guitar or do you play by ear?
I am mostly self-taught, did a lot of wood-shedding at 18, but also did a term at Humber Music College and learnt some theory, harmony and every single note on the fretboard.
You studied audio engineering, production, and performance do you record and produce your own albums?
Yes I do as I have my own studio, Soundhole, which is also open for business to other artists.
When one listens to your guitar music it seems you play with ease as well an acoustic guitar as an electric one, which you prefer the acoustic guitar or the electric guitar?
They are both so different and I like them both equally, although I am focusing my passion mostly on the electric these days and enjoy performing with my band.
What guitars as well electric as acoustic you use and what sound effects you use mostly?
My acoustic is hand made by Ted Thompsom from British Columbia. My main electric these days is a Jeff Beck strat and a Yanuziello (handmade here in Toronto). I also have a '54 tele re-issue and a '57 Strat re-issue. My FX are for subtle colouring, mainly a bit of delay and reverb... the rest in in the fingers and pick-up choices... and I don't use a pick.
Your guitar style has influences from acoustic, finger-style, funk to jazz and world musicand blues, by which musicians and guitarists you have been influenced?
Michael Hedges, David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny, Jimmy Page and Santana
Is there a favourite guitarist you learned a lot from and does your guitarplay still improve?
Perhaps David Gilmour for his sense of economy and lyricism... I am constantly working on my technique and voice.
On your latest CD the “Live sessions”album you have drummer Gary Craig and bassist Russ Boswell assisting you, do you all work on a composition as a team or more individual?
They certainly bring their own creativity to their parts... I'm a big fan of letting musicians express themselves.
Many of your songs have a feel of serenity in it, are you a creator of atmosphere?
Absolutely yes, the texture and sound is as important to me as the melodic content.
While you produce your own CD's what's the story catching up with Rob Poland's CandyRat record label?
We met at the Canadian Guitar Festival last summer. He saw us play live and then signed me.
Can you tell us where we can see the Ray Montford Group in concert, any chance heading to Holland too?
I toured there in 2000 and would love to go back again sometime soon. We are playing the Canadian Guitar Festival again this summer and also this weekend, as part of an outdoor festival, here in Toronto.
Thanks for joining us here on Bridge Guitar Reviews
© 2010
