"PETER LANG IS ONE OF THE WORLDS PREEMINENT 6 AND 12 STRING FINGER-PICKING GUITAR PLAYERS...He cites the work of such country bluesmen as Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Blake, Rev. Gary Davis, and Mississippi John Hurt as the principal influences on his dizzying finger-picking. His newest CD explores and revels in the DNA of American music. He has returned in the new century with magnificent playing that mines the roots of his original inspiration. Peter talks about the music, saying: 'Historians say blues was full blown by 1890 with centuries of African-American oral history behind it the whole world loves it and the lyrics seem ageless -- sex and power, betrayal and redemption. It was the southern working man's pop music, what made Elvis and Dylan and Springsteen possible, also made Tupac and Nirvana, for that matter.' Chuckling, he adds, 'the incredible musicians who'll be with me at the Dakota know early blues was serious red-hot pop.' The band will include Bad Plus and Happy Apple drum great, Dave King. . . "/ THE DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB April 2008
PETER LANG along with the other Takoma guitarists are considered to be founders of modern American Finger-style Guitar. Lang was part of a handful of guitarists who would bring the instrument to the stage and redefine it as a serious concert instrument.
Like his labelmates at Takoma, John Fahey and Leo Kottke, Peter Lang used the techniques and vocabulary of country blues guitarists to create his own compositions in a variety of alternate tunings. Lang made a name as a guitarist and composer of exceptional ability and originality. His bright sound, driving rhythm, and whimsical compositional sense were already well-defined by the time of his first record, which was made in 1972.
Lang toured, and recorded as one of the top acoustic players of his day. In the 70's he was in good company, having recorded or performed with Ry Cooder, John Fahey, Jerry Garcia, Chet Atkins, John Hartford, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris, Leo Kottke, Freddie King, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Hammond, Keith Jarrett, Phoebe Snow, Maria Muldaur, The Yellowjackets, Robben Ford, and host of others.
Peter is back touring after a twenty year hiatus.
WHAT THE PRESS HAVE SAID:
A TRUE MASTER- Lang is one of the finest acoustic finger-style players in the nation. . .His songs are complex, mercurial, lyrical, and fluid. THE VILLAGE VOICE
ABSOLUTELY GROUNDBREAKING - One of a handful of acoustic guitarists who defined new American styles in the 1960s and '70s. Poetic, elegant, and deeply moving. . .To say that Lang's Guitar is literate is to far understate the case. This is guitar music that matters because it is played not only with technical acumen and a sense of history, but with an aesthetic that celebrates and pushes the tradition in new directions." ALL MUSIC GUIDE / Critics Pick
"Testament is beautifully recorded,capturing every nuance of Lang's peerless playing."DIRTY LINEN
"Testament is a revelatory piece of work." BLUES REVUE
"Lang may be known as one of the world's preeminent solo instrumentalists, but as his new CD Testament reveals, his approach can also propel a mean blues jam." GUITAR PLAYER MAGAZINE
"Testament (is) a masterful exploration of early blues full of the assurance and insight of a career definer." CITY PAGES
"Another offering that I can only call perfect."CHORD MAGAZINE
"Testament is kind of a PBS special for CD."
