Doug Devries

Doug de Vries is one of Australia’s foremost guitarists and a significant composer for the guitar, excelling in many musical genres from jazz to choro, samba and bossa nova, and is considered Australia’s leading exponent of Brazilian guitar repertoire. He is particularly noted for his sophisticated accompaniments, deep knowledge and daring improvisations in jazz and other settings, be it solo guitar or with ensembles.

He has toured and recorded with major artists including: Don Burrows, Kate Ceberano, Anthony Warlow, Paul Grabowsky, Vince Jones, Diana Clark and Judy Jacques from Australia, Barbara Morrison and Andy Bey from the United States and Yamandu Costa, Mauricio Carrilho, Proveta and Lula Galvao from Brazil.

In 2004 Doug was acknowledged for his contribution to Australian music, receiving a two-year fellowship to continue his long-standing devotion to the study and performance practice of South American music, embarking on another research and recording venture to Brazil. There he collaborated with the Choro legend, Mauricio Carrilho recording a new album of original works ‘Jacaranda’ released by Acari Records in 2007, making him one of the select few foreigners to be acknowledged by his peers in Brazil signifying that Australia has produced a guitarist of international stature.

2009 saw him complete a national tour of Australia in trio format with Diana Clark and Stephen Grant, the highlights of which were released on a live CD and DVD, DC3. Thereafter he took up an invitation to appear in a feature concert at the inaugural Choro Jazz Jericoacoara Festival in the northeast of Brazil.

Recently having released a new CD of solo guitar compositions DdV solo featuring works he composed in a folio of daily completed pieces, he has featured in the Adelaide International Guitar Festival 2010 and been invited to present a solo concert in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro featuring Doug in a series devoted to contemporary choro composers.

Doug currently plays solo, in the DdV trio with Frank di Sario (bass) and Al Kerr (drums) also with the critically acclaimed Diana Clark Trio and the Odeon Guitar Duo – where he is joined by prominent classical guitarist Ken Murray.