Bells Across the Valley: Martin Lloyd Howard's Guitar Landscapes

Some composers paint with color. Martin Lloyd Howard paints with tuning. A composer and guitarist from Reigate, England, Howard bridges the gap between classical tradition and contemporary exploration, drawing on a striking range of influences that span centuries, from Elizabethan lutenist John Dowland and classical guitarist Julian Bream through folk virtuosos Davey Graham and Martin Simpson, all the way to the acoustic prowess of rock legends Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore. That unusual lineage has helped him develop a distinctive voice that resists easy categorization, one built on fluidity and organic expression rather than rigid classical structure, where the manner of playing becomes every bit as vital as the notes themselves.