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Si Hayden / Press

"Resonator instrumentals from the fast lane Coventry acoustic virtuoso Si Hayden has experimented in a variety of unconventional musical contexts - from live drum 'n' bass and jazz to Celtic and Spanish classical - than this solo-guitar instrumental outing lets on. All the songs were recorded on a resonator and. impressively, it was all done in just a single take. His technique shows the fingerprints of other musical forms, but for the most part, it's a mixture of blues and folk staples - with alternate picking, slide and percussive slaps evident throuout. Hayden wrings the most out the resonator's steely attack, offering up a bevy of harmonics and rhythmic possibillities along the way. Its no small feat to walk the line between accessible melody and fleet-fingered flash as expertly as this" Standout track: Time Out For fans of: Tommy Emmanuel, Bert Jansch, Isaac Guillory" (Guitarist Magazine)

"A six-string virtuoso gives a master class of one-take approach leaving no space for casual spontaneity and the whole world for emotions. With all his versatility, Si Hayden could have been a national treasure in the U.K. if only he had the rage of Rory Gallagher or the flash of Richard Thompson, but he prefers to keep it down and serious be it on his own or as foil for violinist Joe O'Donnell... the cover car is an amalgamation of the title track which marries Delta blues to flamenco to demonstrate Hayden's filigree finger-work, while the devilish slide that rides through "A Slight Tale" makes its ominous entrance in the sparse opener "Dusk" to set the agenda. Yet it doesn't prepare the listener for such deliciously lazy groove as the one under "I Roll". Whatever wide the maestro stylistic palette is, there's a wholeness to the album, a sign of Si's immaculate taste matching his delivery and making the result sharply focused and sensually riveting. Calm but cool"

"This album is refreshingly honest - UK-based composer/guitarist Hayden plays the entire program solo and with no overdubs... flawlessly executes the genre's characteristic strums, descending single-string runs and soundboard taps... Yet he typically makes things more interesting by weaving more complex harmonies and smooth jazz elements into each of the tunes. Si Hayden's appeal comes from successfully melding flamenco with more modern sounds, and doing so without gimmicks or artifice. Both guitarists and general listeners will enjoy this CD; turn it up and enjoy."

(Patrick Ragains, Minor7th) on 'Nylon... for Now'/2006

"solo guitar mastery of U.K. based Si Hayden... The music may sound vintage but on his CD Hayden puts a new spin on a timeless art form. As he points out in his liner notes, all tracks were recorded with one guitar and no overdubs and all percussion is from the right hand on the guitar body while playing. A modern flamenco master, Hayden makes excellent use of his Ivor Maraints and Jose Ramirez guitars."

(Robert Silverstein, 20th Century Guitar) on 'Nylon... for Now'/2006

"Hayden’s trademark supersonic picking is present.. the six-string virtuosity shown on this album is irrefutable.. an album that stuns with its technical brilliance, then later endears you to the soul and depth behind the flashiness"

(Peter Clayton, cdreviews) on 'Steel Roots'/2007

"fast killer chops on most tracks.. "Moondance".. a true piece of art.. at times he reminds me of Tuck Andress in his jazzy approach with a lot of rhythm and bass runs going on"

(Bridge Guitar Reviews) on 'Steel Roots'/2007

"Hayden is a very acomplished guitarist, with a good range of styles and moods."

(fROOTS Magazine)

"its a ripper cd... very, very good!"

(Steve Passiouras, PBS FM) on 'Steel Roots'/2007

"It's really nice to hear new music with real musicians, I do a lot of programmed music, but there is something organic about poetry and well tuned musicians. And Si's work is just great, the double bass playing is spot on... it really sounds like the musicians overstood the poetry. Nice one." (Album-Backra Men)

(Legandary Performance Poet Benjamin Zephaniah) on 'Backra Men'/2008

"A classical Spanish style guitarist, who will blow you away with his jazz, latin and funk infused songs. How he manages it all on just a 6 string guitar still amazes us. You will have to see him to believe it!"

(AcousticLounge, Clapham)

"Coventrys Si Hayden simply blew us away with his intricate finger skills"

(BBC C&W)