Beresford Vasseur: Beresford Vasseur

Guitarist and vocalist Charlie Beresford has reached the point where he needs no introduction; his recordings in the duo Beresford Hammond, the trio Beresford Hammond Hume, the quartet Fourth Page and the larger ensemble Crystal Moth have cemented his reputation as a musician who can successfully combine elements of folk with improv and make the results sound like a natural blend. Despite the ongoing success of the above-named groupings, Beresford has continued to expand his horizons, notably on the album What? (The 52nd, 2020) which combined Beresford and Hammond with trumpeter Gerry Gold, and Rod Paton on piano, French horn, melodica and voice. With Beresford hinting that a solo album is also in the pipeline, the album Beresford Vasseur is the first release from a new duo which pairs him with French guitarist and vocalist Christian Vasseur.

The album was recorded in concert in February 2020 at the house of Veronique Gailly and Steve Gibbs in Brussels, during a mini-tour of northern France and Belgium. The music comprises twelve tracks, ranging in length from two-and-a-half minutes to just over five-and-a-half, forty-eight minutes altogether. The only sounds heard are the voices and acoustic guitars of Beresford and Vasseur. In the main, the voices are used sparingly and are not allowed to dominate but, whether singing or reciting, in English or in French, they are entertaining and contrast well with the guitars. Throughout, the interaction between the two guitars (and the like-minded guitarists) is mesmerising, a point brought home by the album's six tracks which focus solely on the guitars alone.

As ever from Beresford, an enchanting album. More soon, s'il vous plait.