Like many boys, Nigel was seduced by the sound of the electric guitar in his early teens and had to have one. Following an initial period of self-tuition, copying his favourite records, his interests widened to encompass the classical guitar, which he subsequently studied at music college.
Whilst playing in various function bands he also began to work with classical orchestras, playing in symphony concerts and operas. His musical appetite led him to diversify further as he began to explore the repertoire of the mandolin and the tenor banjo.
Over the years he has worked with all the UK’s leading orchestras, having taken part in numerous concert tours, recordings and film sessions. In the world of theatre he has played walk-on parts for The Royal Shakespeare Company in The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing. He has also performed onstage parts at London’s Royal National Theatre, The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and Glyndebourne Opera Festival. He has also composed music for the theatre including productions of The Aspern Papers and Shirley Valentine.
Nigel has always been attracted to the diversity of music from South America, where both the mandolin and the guitar have flourished in new musical forms. Much of his favourite repertoire today includes Brazilian Choro and Argentinian Tango. Being invited to join the London based quintet Tango Volcano was something of a homecoming, here he is able to exercise his skills on both classical and electric guitars, as well as contributing original compositions to the group’s repertoire.
Nigel now works long hours to support his growing family of fretted instruments, which are always crying out for new strings