John Renbourn
John Renbourn

John Renbourn is among the leading figures of the British folk scene that swept across Great Britain in the second half of the '60s.

From the far north of Scotland to the south, in the smoky pubs of London's Soho, many drew on folk and acoustic blues from across the ocean, blending it with the more distinctly British and Celtic tradition. John Martyn, Donovan, Davy Graham, Bert Jansch are some of the names that made that era unforgettable. It was with Bert Jansch that Renbourn formed a steady partnership, later founding the Pentangle, a memorable group which, along with Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band, stood among the most prolific bands of British folk.

Returning to our John, who is universally recognized as one of the finest and most appreciated exponents of the fingerpicking art, a master of the acoustic six-string in general, following an adolescent passion for skiffle (a U.S.-origin genre very popular in '50s England, fusing blues with bluegrass and jazzy sounds) he became passionate about the blues of Leadbelly and Robert Johnson. After leaving school, he moved to London at just over twenty (where he lived on a houseboat along the Thames, as depicted on the cover photo) and there he could gain experience and refine his technique in the numerous venues of the capital.
A virtuoso guitarist with the purest and most crystalline class as well as a refined and cultured touch, also a result of his classical guitar studies, he recorded this album in 1965, including pieces written by himself alongside classics of British tradition, as was the custom among many folk musicians of the era ("Winter Is Gone", "Beth’s Blues" or "Candy Man" being examples).

"John Renbourn", a self-titled album, is the first of his solo discography and immediately reveals his distinctive traits. Renbourn's guitar takes center stage alongside his warm and deep voice and his passion for medieval sounds. Melodies and captivating arpeggios from the first listen, strings plucked in a marvelous manner and eclectic, versatile nature demonstrated by his ability to range from the pure folk of "Song" and "Playsong" or "Down On The Barge", to the boozy and melancholic blues of "Blue Bones" and "Blues Run The Game", to the jazz of "Noah and the Rabbit".

A debut far from silent for an icon of English folk, one of the most respected and long-lived guitarists of the British musical landscape in general; an album I highly recommend to all genre enthusiasts (especially to newcomers…).