James Blackshaw with Greg Davis and Chris Weisman June 16, 2009

"One of the best and most original instrumentalists in the new, acoustic renaissance."—Rolling Stone

Finger-picking British acoustic guitar sensation James Blackshaw’s approach to purely instrumental music makes him heir apparent to the legacy of forerunners such as Robbie Basho or Bert Jansch (who plays here himself on August 8). Blackshaw played the Wexner Center on his first U.S. tour, well before most stateside audiences had caught on to his European acclaim—or his mesmerizing, cascading playing. Now he returns on a tour in conjunction with the release of The Glass Bead Game, his beautiful new recording for new label Young God Records. On it, Blackshaw’s virtuosic but deeply meditative 12-string work continues to flourish, but he also stretches creatively, adapting his music to the piano—which he’ll play here too—with sparkling, kaleidoscopic compositions that recall the ecstatic minimalism of Terry Riley and Steve Reich’s breakthrough work. Trance-music duo Greg Davis and Chris Weisman open the evening.

This is a seated, cabaret-style show.

Official Website: http://www.wexarts.org/pa/index.php?eventid=3951