Dariush Kanani
Captivated from the age of 17 by the guitar playing of Bert Jansch, Davey Graham and John Renbourn, 29-year-old Dariush Kanani, has in the meantime performed, studied and taught with some of the most influential figures in fingerstyle guitar. These include Renbourn himself, Wizz Jones, Stefan Grossman, and Clive Carroll. He’s performed at concerts at Cecil Sharp House, paying tribute to Davey Graham in 2009 on Renbourn’s recommendation, and the tribute concert after John passed, alongside Jacqui McShee, Ralph McTell, Bernard Butler, Graham Coxon and more. Stefan Grossman chose Dariush to be his personal teaching assistant for his annual UK masterclass guitar workshops. In April 2019 Dariush was invited to perform at the Wizz Jones 80th birthday concert at the Cadogan Hall in London.
The Wheel
A Bert cover by Dariush Kanani for Bert Jansch
Dariush writes: “The Wheel’, from Bert’s 1965 album ‘It Don’t Bother Me’, has always been a favourite of mine among his many captivating instrumentals. It’s unlike anything I have ever heard in the way of fingerstyle guitar playing. Its cyclical pattern branches off to jagged counterpoint lines which expand and open up as the piece develops. The combination of dissonance and resolve is deeply satisfying and is a wonderful example of Bert’s preference for unconventional chord voicings that so much contribute to his signature sound. In the original liner notes Bert says: ‘This number represents the spinning, turning of a wheel.’ Indeed, Bert has been turning the wheel of acoustic guitar playing for nearly sixty years and I dare say, built many of the spokes himself!”
Dariush’s colleagues on stage at the Wizz Jones’ 80th birthday concert on Wednesday 24 April 2019, 19:30 at The Cadogan Hall in London, included Ralph McTell, Steve Tilston, Clive Carroll, Simeon Jones, Edwina Hayes and Pete Berryman.
Dariush released his debut album of his own compositions, ‘Mr Troubadour’ in 2015.