When 70s 'classical rockers' Sky recently re-formed for a Royal Albert Hall concert, it was Richard Durrant they invited to play lead guitar. As a role once discharged by John Williams, it was a tribute to the versatility and virtuosity of this classically-trained concert guitarist. But it was also a recognition of Richard's rare talent for popularising classical works by means more imaginative than a simple, mechanical backbeat.

It was a jazz seasoning which propelled Sky's 'Toccata' up the charts, and it's in the same tradition that Richard's new solo CD encompasses Spanish, South American and Japanese suites. It's also brought him lucrative session work, for TV commercials from Prudential Insurance to Dulux paint, and most recently for the new Renault campaign.

On that occasion, the budget stretched to a full symphony orchestra at London's Abbey Road Studios. Guitarist Martin Taylor had invoked the spirit of Django Reinhardt for the previous commercial, a re-working of 'Johnny & Mary', and Durrant achieved a similarly stylish, insouciant feel for his 'Godfather' style mandolin part.

Richard claims as his only ambition, 'to be a traditional recitalist'. If his music achieves crossover appeal, it has more to do with his eclectic repertoire than any crude counterpoint of ancient and modern. Nor does he effect any of his recordings, except now and again with a touch of reverb. As a student at the Royal College of Music, however, he was an early convert to the joys of digital mixing, when a Yamaha DMP7 arrived in the electro-acoustic department.

He's also been inseparable from an AKG C426 mic, with whose 'points of the compass' polar patterns he's become intimately acquainted. Plugged straight into his DAT recorder, there are few halls or rehearsal rooms which don't now lend themselves to an impromptu recording. Much of the new CD was recorded at a Haywards Heath dance studio near his home, then taken to Soho studio Joe & Co's to be edited (using Soundtools). Richard's technical facility enables him to control every stage of the production process.

Television has warmed to Richard, commissioning him to score a childrens' series, while The Performance Channel last year invited him to host The Richard Durrant Sessions. A showcase for his talents, the series sees Richard jamming with some illustrious partners, playing everything from baroque to folk music, on everything from tenor banjo to Appalachian dulcimer. It's scheduled for transmission later this year.

Richard's long-awaited first CD is due for release this month. Sarabande is to be launched with a gala concert at St John's Church, Smith Square, London, on April 5th. It's a highly melodic collection of baroque instrumental suites, which Richard describes as, "impressionistic without being avant garde". It also boasts the premiere of a new work by Howard Blake, best known for his award-winning score for Raymond Brigg's The Snowman.

Richard Durrant gives us a flavour of his impressionistic classical technique on this exclusive and original mandocello piece.

Errata: Notes of discord (The Mix, Jun 1995)

April's Mixing It featured classical guitarist Richard Durrant, as did the Re:Mix CD, with what we described as a mandocello recital. Owing to a communication lapse, our CD compiler transferred the wrong track from Richard's DAT tape, occasioning him some embarrassment. We all thought it sounded fine, but Richard insists it was 'a very rough demo using a DX7 and a toy drum machine!'

Anyway, to set the CD straight, we have pleasure in featuring an excerpt from Richard's new album Sarabande, an eclectic collection of guitar sketches in the tradition of Django Reinhardt and Segovia. Encompassing Spanish, Indian and Japanese compositions, it also premieres a major new work by Howard Blake, composer of the famous score for Raymond Briggs' The Snowman. Sarabande is now available in record shops, through Direct Distribution, or direct from The Original Music Company.

See The Mix, Jun 1995 for the referenced track