Rare Instrumental Treasures

One of the wizards of modern music,' was Bob Dylan's judgement of Rev. Davis's importance. He was a giant in the story of fingerstyle guitar. He was a master guitar player as well as a wonderful and patient teacher. He was an exciting performer who could entertain a college audience, bring 25,000 people to their feet at an outdoor festival, move the spirit of a handful of men and women in a small Harlem storefront church, or bring smiles to students and friends who gathered around his home to hear his stories and music and inhale his White Owl cigar smoke. He was an innovator in the story of fingerstyle guitar.

I have spent many years learning and documenting the styles and techniques of Rev. Davis. It has been a never-ending journey of wonderful discoveries. The 13 instrumentals in this collection range from slow blues to ragtime instrumentals to long blues improvisations in various keys. I have transcribed from the first to the last notes of each performance. There's a lot of fingerpicking in these pages. Enjoy the joy and challenges of the guitar of Rev. Gary Davis.