Rob Johns
{Guitars}
27th November 2025
Reflecting
the
aims
and
spirit
of
the
Concert
Society,
Rob
Johns
provided
an
entertaining
and
informative
recital
in
the
wonderful
setting
of
the
Assembly
Room
of
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
but
this
was
not
your
usual
classical
guitar
concert.
The
concert
was
very
much
a
sincere
presentation
of
Rob
Johns
the
musician,
drawing
on
many
genres
including
English
Folk,
Blues,
Flamenco,
Classical
as
well
as
his
own
music
performed
with
the
use
of
three
guitars:
classical, acoustic and Flamenco.
Rob
opened
with
three
pieces
by
Leo
Brouwer.
With
a
rich,
beautiful
tone
and
a
crafted
performance,
Rob
performed
the
atmospheric
Danza
del
Antiplano
to
lift
his
audience
to
the
high
altitude
plains
of
the
South
American
Andes.
This
was
contrasted
by
the
rhythmic
Elogio
de
la
Danza
whose
abstract
opening
gave
way
to
an
insistent
pulse
drawing
the
listener
in.
This
section
was
concluded
by
the lively
Danza Characteristica.
In
a
section
exploring
English
folk,
Rob
began
with
the
ballad
Arise,
Arise
,
sung
without
accompaniment
and
revealing
his
pleasant,
natural,
clear
vocals.
A
melodic
introduction
to
Bushes
and
Briars
led
to
a
clear
and
sweet
tune
with
a
pleasant
bass
variation
–
a
captivating
and
thoughtful
rendition.
To
the
distinctive
sound
of
his
acoustic
guitar,
Rob
gave
a
lovely
rendition
of
the
enigmatic
She
Moved
Through
the
Fair
that
had
the
audience
holding
its
breath through to the end. A foot-tapping rendition of
Anji
completed the folk section. Returning to the Classical Guitar,
Rob
completed
the
first
half
with
his
own
piece
Chambers
,
a
“characteristic
piece”
that
he
thoughtfully
explained.
This
is
a
continually
evolving
piece
with
a
melody
developing
from
an
enigmatic
opening,
it
becomes
increasingly
rhythmic
as
it
gains
momentum
until
it
transforms
into
a
hypnotic
dance
marked by melodic chordal interchanges; this in turn gives way to an exciting percussive section utilizing all surfaces of the guitar.
Part
II
opened
with
the
classical
guitar
and
music
from
Brazil,
beginning
with
the
lyrical
Prelude
1
,
Villa–Lobos,
Rob
plucked
lush
bass
notes
and
rich
top
notes
in
an
inspiring
interpretation.
He
followed
this
with
the
delightful
Sons
de
Carilhoes,
Pernambuco,
to
complete
this
section
with
Morel’s
Danza
Braziliera
–
which
provided
a
nice
contrast.
Switching
to
the
acoustic
guitar
for
two
American
Blues
numbers,
both
sung
with
great
feeling
by
Rob
and
to
which
his
voice
and
attitude
was
well
suited.
First
another
foot-tapper
Going
Down
Slow
,
Oden;
then
Come
Back
Baby
,
Davis,
complete
with
train-
whistle sounds produced from the treble strings.
Turning
to
his
Flamenco
guitar,
Rob
performed
Danza
Mora
with
an
exotic
and
beautifully
teasing
opening
from
which
the
piece
gradually
emerged
and
developed
–
enhanced
by
changes
of
pitch,
tone
and
dynamics.
The
concert
closed
with
Soleares
&
Rumba
paired
together
to
provide
emotion
and
drama. In response to audience requests for an encore, Rob brilliantly performed
Hey Hey,
Big Bill Broonzy, ensuring all left with a smile. IM
Rob Johns
{Guitars}
27th November 2025
Reflecting
the
aims
and
spirit
of
the
Concert
Society,
Rob
Johns
provided
an
entertaining
and
informative
recital
in
the
wonderful
setting
of
the
Assembly
Room
of
Grimsby
Town
Hall,
but
this
was
not
your
usual
classical
guitar
concert.
The
concert
was
very
much
a
sincere
presentation
of
Rob
Johns
the
musician,
drawing
on
many
genres
including
English
Folk,
Blues,
Flamenco,
Classical
as
well
as
his
own
music
performed
with
the
use
of
three
guitars:
classical,
acoustic and Flamenco.
Rob
opened
with
three
pieces
by
Leo
Brouwer.
With
a
rich,
beautiful
tone
and
a
crafted
performance,
Rob
performed
the
atmospheric
Danza
del
Antiplano
to
lift
his
audience
to
the
high
altitude
plains
of
the
South
American
Andes.
This
was
contrasted
by
the
rhythmic
Elogio
de
la
Danza
whose
abstract
opening
gave
way
to
an
insistent
pulse
drawing
the
listener
in.
This
section
was
concluded
by
the
lively
Danza
Characteristica.
In
a
section
exploring
English
folk,
Rob
began
with
the
ballad
Arise,
Arise
,
sung
without
accompaniment
and
revealing
his
pleasant,
natural,
clear
vocals.
A
melodic
introduction
to
Bushes
and
Briars
led
to
a
clear
and
sweet
tune
with
a
pleasant
bass
variation
–
a
captivating
and
thoughtful
rendition.
To
the
distinctive
sound
of
his
acoustic
guitar,
Rob
gave
a
lovely
rendition
of
the
enigmatic
She
Moved
Through
the
Fair
that
had
the
audience
holding
its
breath
through
to
the
end.
A
foot-tapping
rendition
of
Anji
completed
the
folk
section.
Returning
to
the
Classical
Guitar,
Rob
completed
the
first
half
with
his
own
piece
Chambers
,
a
“characteristic
piece”
that
he
thoughtfully
explained.
This
is
a
continually
evolving
piece
with
a
melody
developing
from
an
enigmatic
opening,
it
becomes
increasingly
rhythmic
as
it
gains
momentum
until
it
transforms
into
a
hypnotic
dance
marked
by
melodic
chordal
interchanges;
this
in
turn
gives
way
to
an exciting percussive section utilizing all surfaces of the guitar.
Part
II
opened
with
the
classical
guitar
and
music
from
Brazil,
beginning
with
the
lyrical
Prelude
1
,
Villa–Lobos,
Rob
plucked
lush
bass
notes
and
rich
top
notes
in
an
inspiring
interpretation.
He
followed
this
with
the
delightful
Sons
de
Carilhoes
,
Pernambuco,
to
complete
this
section
with
Morel’s
Danza
Braziliera
–
which
provided
a
nice
contrast.
Switching
to
the
acoustic
guitar
for
two
American
Blues
numbers,
both
sung
with
great
feeling
by
Rob
and
to
which
his
voice
and
attitude
was
well
suited.
First
another
foot-tapper
Going
Down
Slow,
Oden;
then
Come
Back
Baby,
Davis,
complete
with
train-whistle
sounds
produced
from
the
treble
strings.
Turning
to
his
Flamenco
guitar,
Rob
performed
Danza
Mora
with
an
exotic
and
beautifully
teasing
opening
from
which
the
piece
gradually
emerged
and
developed
–
enhanced
by
changes
of
pitch,
tone
and
dynamics.
The
concert
closed
with
Soleares
&
Rumba
paired
together
to
provide
emotion
and
drama.
In
response
to
audience
requests
for
an
encore,
Rob
brilliantly
performed
Hey
Hey
,
Big
Bill
Broonzy, ensuring all left with a smile.
IM
