Guitarist Gilliat Attracts Audiences Through Technique and YouTube
By Erin McKay

  Langley guitarist John Gilliat, who performs in Delta on November 7, is using his passionate playing - and a bit of technology - to reach new audiences, educate other musicians, and enhance his live performances, while preparing to release a new Christmas CD through his website.

  It’s amazing what posting a minute of fiery rumba flamenco Latin jazz virtuosity on the Internet can do for a person’s career. That’s what Langley guitarist John Gilliat discovered when he placed a short demonstration of his musical talents on YouTube, and found himself new fans, new outlets for his career, and became the winner of a national contest.

“It’s been really exciting,” he said. “I’ve been performing, writing, and teaching for years, but that one video opened up surprising new doors for me, and is allowing me to reach more and more people who are falling in love with this type of music.”

Gilliat, who in December will release a new Christmas album of traditional favourites played unaccompanied on acoustic guitar, has honed his own passionate brand of world music. Having recorded a number of albums and performed everywhere from local arts festivals to concerts in Japan, he has found that people of all ages appreciate both the relaxing ambiance and the irresistible get-up-and-dance rhythms that he creates.

Gilliat has also learned that people don’t just want to listen to his music: they want to know how to play it. In response to requests from guitarists eager to master his techniques, he created a “how to” DVD. To promote the lessons, Gilliat loaded the DVD’s flashy, impressive introduction on YouTube and was amazed not just by the number of hits he received, but by where they came from.

“I got emails from all over the world; this music is so accessible to everyone,” said Gilliat, who has since transcribed his songs to make them easier for other guitarists to learn and play.

The transcriptions, along with free lessons, videos, performance notes, audio clips, and ordering information for Gilliat’s educational DVD and CDs - including his forthcoming Christmas album - and can all be found on his website at www.johngilliat.com. Those who sign up for the mailing list will receive free downloads.

Another spin off from Gilliat’s YouTube video was that he got the attention of Roland, a company which manufactures music equipment. In his clip, Gilliat uses a Roland Loop Station, a foot-operated machine which allows musicians to record and create a multitude of sounds while playing live.

“It’s like painting a blank canvas. You can build a symphony of guitar,” Gilliat said. Roland was so impressed, the company invited Gilliat to compete in its BOSS Loop Station 2009 Championship during the Montreal Jazz Festival in July. Gilliat won the contest, which netted him some new gear, but “the big pay-off was the exposure.”

On Sunday, November 22, Gilliat will be representing Roland at the Vancouver Guitar Show at the Croatian Cultural Center, and he will return to the Montreal Jazz Festival next summer to judge Roland’s 2010 Loop competition.

Gilliat will also perform on Saturday, November 7, 8pm, at Delta’s Firehall Centre for the Arts, where he will unveil a new multi-media show that features big screens, videos, and images synched to the music. For tickets call 604-882-2112 or online at www.johngilliat.com.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Gilliat is looking forward to playing everything from concerts, festivals, and large corporate events, to private functions. “John would really like to play house concerts, where groups of people get together and enjoy live music in their own homes,” said Gilliat’s manager Chantal Labelle. “People often think about musicians playing special events or being hired to perform at company functions, but John loves to entertain audiences of all sizes and is always eager to find new ways to interact with audiences.”

For booking information, contact Chantal Labelle at 604-961-4929 or chantal@johngilliat.com.

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