Paul CostelloMusic and writing
Writing
New book tackles the art of improvisation for classical, fingerstyle and jazz guitar.
Guitarist, teacher and composer, Paul Costello, has published a book for guitarists who are looking for an in depth exploration of the art of improvisation. It is now available world wide from Amazon & other leading booksellers.
Paul has spent his musical career developing improvisational strategies for both classical and fingerstyle guitar and has written a book that shows how to use improvisation as a universal way of making music, rather than confining it to just one style. It gives practical strategies that enable the reader transform scales, chords, and arpeggios, and other basic building blocks, into actual music, with many new ideas, techniques, and strategies designed to appeal to more advanced players in search of new inspiration and direction.
The book also places theory and practice in a much broader context, by including discussions on the historical development of improvisation and performance psychology, along with supplementary information on a wide range of inter-related literature and listening.
This new work will be of interest to the majority of Classical, Fingerstyle, and Jazz guitarists, with an interest in composition and improvisation. It will also be an invaluable study resource for teachers and students preparing for graded examinations, as well as Degree and Diploma courses.
You can look inside, and order a copy of 'Improvisation for Classical, Fingerstyle and Jazz Guitar' at: www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.com
To order a copy of 'Improvisation for Classical, Fingerstyle and Jazz Guitar', please send a cheque for 12.99 + £3.00 p&p (£15.99) to: Paul Costello,18 GreenbankRoad, Birkenhead, Merseyside. CH42 7JS
Music
I have so far recorded three albums- 'Snaizeholme' which I recorded in 1995 with my colleague and former student Fred Arnell. This features music which I composed from 1984 onwards. We recorded the album in one day playing all of the music live, developing the pieces through improvisation and included two pieces which we spontaneously improvised in the early hours of the morning. It very much reflects the music we were performing in our live concerts at that time.
I recorded 'Solo Six and Seven String Guitar' but sadly never got a chance to release it. It reflects an onward going commitment to creating improvised solo guitar music.
I recorded 'Living Music' with fellow guitarist John Loughran and Indian Sitarist Partha Bose when Partha visited the UK during his tour of Europe, Canada and the USA in 2008. The pieces are all original compositions by either John, Partha and myself and reflect our mutual commitment to the art of improvisation with its capacity to provide bridges across all musical boarders.
To order CD's of 'Snaizeholme' or 'Living Music' please send a cheque for: £6 + 1.50 p&p to Paul Costello,18 GreenbankRoad, Birkenhead, Merseyside. CH42 7JS.
More recently we have recorded as the 'Living Music Quartet' at Parr Street studios in Liverpool. These recordings include John and myself along with American double bass player David Luvin and Israeli drummer Michael Wiseman. This music is much closer the more familiar Jazz quartet- albeit with a distinctly European perspective- and a classical guitar taking over the role of the piano.
Current projects include The Freedom Project. This arose out of a series of recent recording sessions that document the evolution of some new and exiting creative strategies. An almost orchestral range of sounds has been achieved by combining the contrasting sounds of my own classical/acoustic guitars, with the unique playing of electric guitarist John Loughran. The results can be, simple, complex, melodic, intense, humorous, romantic, impressionistic and abstract.
‘Our work is a reflection of who we are, and have been, as musicians. Our intention is to reach out to, rather than alienate the listener. We feel that we can do this by drawing on music that has given and continues to give us, pleasure and to convey meaning.These pieces are created live, in the studio; ‘we just go. Neither of us has a clue about what will happen next. We have found that by relying on our ears, our experience, and our intuition, that we discover music which would otherwise be impossible to imagine’.
