David Barrett
of Toronto

Description

After many years of recording and touring in rock bands and backing up some great singers, I decided to take a break from the popular music I was playing, retreat to my 8 track studio, and develop the kind of music that I wanted to play. It really was the same type of music I started writing and recording as a kid, using sound on sound to create instrumental guitar music. Les Paul inspired me to do this. Reading about how he went back to the drawing board, stopped working, and took the necessary time to develop his thing. As Director Of Special Events with The Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Association I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to spend time, and in some cases jam with some of my guitar heroes, like John Williams, Tommy Emmanuel, and Steve Howe. I'll never forget these moments. Steve's encouragement really helped me continue on what seemed to many to be a self indulgent path leading to obscurity. Then in early 2010, Alex Lifeson after hearing my record The Dead Arm, sent an email to me offering to record and produce my music, and suggested that maybe it would be best if I formed and ensemble to do it right. After playing guitar all these years being in the studio with Alex Lifeson has been my career highlight. We've done three tunes and are planning for more, when time permits. Alex has loaded me up with some great gear and I'm also an endorsing artist for Mack Guitar Amps, D'Addario and Planet Waves. And recently, thanks to The League Of Rock, I've discovered a whole new thing in coaching and producing the amateur rockers, as well as doing private lessons and guitar workshops. The thing now for me is my own instrumental music, solo and with The David Barrett Trio, which features the fearless rhythm section of Alexander Tukatsch and Jason Farrar.