Doug de Vries

Biography

A diverse career spanning 30 years the master guitarist Doug de Vries never fails to astonish.

For those who have heard him live or recorded in his many featured activities it comes as no surprise that Doug de Vries has been acclaimed as one of Australia’s leading guitarists (on both the arch top and acoustic guitar). A gifted performer to grace the guitar world, displaying sheer virtuosity and excelling in many genres spanning jazz and swing, to tango, choro and bossa nova, Doug is also a leading exponent of the Brazilian guitar repertoire. Moreover, his abilities as a composer and arranger of depth and finesse have ensured him a place as one of the most revered musicians in the country.

His sophisticated and delicate accompaniments, combined with daring improvisations, earned him the Australian Critics Award for best guitarist in 1991. He has toured and recorded with major artists including: Diana Clark, Andrew Pendlebury, Christine Sullivan, Kate Ceberano, Paul Grabowsky and Judy Jacques from Australia, Barbara Morrison and Andy Bey from the United States and Yamandu Costa, Mauricio Carrilho and Lula Galvao from Brazil.

In 2004 Doug was acknowledged for his contribution to Australian music, receiving a two-year fellowship to continue his long-standing devotion to the study and performance practice of South American music, embarking on another research and recording venture to Brazil. There he collaborated with the Choro legend, Mauricio Carrilho recording a new album of original works Jacaranda released by Acari Records in 2007, making him one of the select few outsiders to be acknowledged by his peers in Brazil – further confirmation that Australia has produced a jazz guitarist of international stature and a prolific composer for the instrument.

Other notable recordings include: Agua e Vinho, a selection of Brazilian classics that impressed Egberto Gismonti so much that he released it on his own label, Carmo, ensuring world wide distribution by ECM records. He also produced Lantana Lovers, a comprehensive document of original music along with new arrangements of choro gems featuring collaborations with pianist/accordionist Joe Chindamo and guitarist Slava Grigoryan. This was followed by Three Shadows of Blue, a collection of bossa nova classics featuring vocalist Diana Clark, boasting intimate duo settings of songs by Tom Jobim and Milton Nascimento.

Doug currently plays with the critically acclaimed Diana Clark Trio and the Odeon Guitar Trio – where he is joined by prominent classical guitarist Ken Murray, and Flamenco specialist Jaimie Smith.

Apart from freelancing as a soloist and musical director, Doug has established the Brazilian music course within the Bachelor of Australian Popular Music Degree at NMIT. He also teaches at Monash University in Melbourne, inspiring and fostering a new generation of musicians and academics. There he has initiated along with Rob Burke, Head of Jazz and Popular Music studies, a cultural exchange with outstanding musicians from Brazil.

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