Manfred Leuchter - Ian Melrose Duo

Two internationally recognised virtuosos from very different genres meet on a stage. With great curiosity, a deep mutual respect and love of playing music they tear into the strings and keys - and create magical moments. Soulful melodies, wild improvisations, pulsating and off-beat rhythms cascade through the air. The astonishment of the audience turns into frenetic applause. Leuchter and Melrose, both delighted with this first public performance, immediately decide to officially form a duo. Leuchter, the amazing Ethno-Jazz musician with an Arabian touch, and Melrose, one of Europe’s leading folk guitarists, create a new musical fusion – and are just beginning to tap the potential this formation offers!

After three days of rehearsal and four days in the studio they produced an album Vis á Vis , which was released in January 2009 on Acoustic Music Records (www.acoustic-music.de). The second eagerly-awaited album will be released in 2011.

”Melrose, the master of the acoustic guitar ….. delivered an exciting duel with jazz-maestro Manfred Leuchter in the culture centre. … The world-musicians positively sparkled with virtuosity ….these international-class players proved exquisitely in their duets, that individual virtuosity on the one hand and listening and reacting on the other hand are not opposites, but part of the same thing … Each player is a great soloist in his own right, but together as world-music ambassadors they are unbeatable!!  Aachener Nachrichten: March 2008 (D) 

MANFRED LEUCHTER (Accordion) 

is without doubt one of the most established (ethno-) jazz- and world-music accordion virtuosos in Europe. In recent years he has given euphorically-received tours all over the world with his quintet, managed hugely successful CD productions and has been part of very diverse and exciting musical projects. Not only in the purely musical sense a world-traveller, Manfred Leuchter has developed his very own musical concept between occident and orient, collecting many impressions and forming them – with tolerance and open-mindedness - into his unique world style, in which he artistically and playfully combines elements from very diverse (music-) cultures.
 

„ ....He is a storyteller, as sensitive as Sheherezade, as frightening as Cicero – a virtuoso, who elevates the accordion to the status of a

IAN MELROSE (guitar, whistles, vocals), from Ayr in the Southwest of Scotland, belongs to the cream of Europe's acoustic guitarists. He is also an internationally acclaimed composer and arranger. He has been  lead guitarist with Clannad (World Tour, Grammy Award winning CD "Landmarks"), and plays also in Kelpie, Talking Water and The Island Tapes.  The Duggan brothers of Clannad hired him as producer, arranger and guitarist for their album “Rubicon”. As a solo guitarist he has played many of the worlds major festivals, including the Montreal Jazz festival (CAN) and Celtic Connections (Scotland). His 5 solo CDs on Acoustic Music Records have gained him rave reviews in the international music press. He is official endorser for DR strings and Avalon guitars.

„ ... a top-class guitarist ... brilliant  fingerpicker“ The Times (GB)

„ ...one of the best Celtic-influenced fingerpickers on the scene today“  Acoustic Guitar (USA)