Don Burrows and George Golla

[AndyV]

This is one of my all-time favorite LPs and George Golla is one of my favorite "unknown" guitarists. He had such a cool solo style of strummed chords with his own rhythmic feel. Golla is still alive but retired from performing and Don Burrows died in March of 2020. He had dementia and had forgotten how to play the sax but not his second instrument, the flute. His use of multi-phonics on the flute was so cool (humming into the flute while playing). Don and George had a unique partnership and appeared on several albums together both as a duo and like here, with a full band. RIP, Don.

[sgcim]

When I heard that album on the radio, I immediately went out and bought it. I had it for about 30 years, but then it got warped from water damage. A few years ago, they re-released it on CD, but it was an import, so
I wanted to wait till the price came down before I bought it. I'm gonna chck it out now.
I always thought of Golla as the 'Australian Jim Hall' because he played a 175 and was bald, lol!
There's no piano on that live album, so Golla had to fill up the sound with just bass and drums at the Sydney Opera House. He did a great job.

My brother bought the duo album they made. I didn't like it as much as the quartet album.

[PMB]

This is one of my all-time favorite LPs and George Golla is one of my favorite "unknown" guitarists. He had such a cool solo style of strummed chords with his own rhythmic feel. Golla is still alive but retired from performing and Don Burrows died in March of 2020. He had dementia and had forgotten how to play the sax but not his second instrument, the flute. His use of multi-phonics on the flute was so cool (humming into the flute while playing). Don and George had a unique partnership and appeared on several albums together both as a duo and like here, with a full band. RIP, Don.

The drummer on that album, Lawrie Thompson is a good friend of mine (we used to teach in adjoining studios). He still performs regularly around Sydney.

Don Burrows and George Golla played a show at my school back in the '70s and George was one of the first jazz guitarists I saw performing live.

[entresz]

This is such a great album. Don Burrows was incredible. He had amazing chops but also played so melodically.

Another great Australian horn player who I really admire is Paul Furniss, well worth a listen. I sat in with him too and was blown away!

I sat in with George Golla when he visited here back in 2013 or so. He came down with a drummer and singer if I recall correctly. He's consummate player.

I'm lucky enough to own a one-off Maton Starline acoustic that he owned. It's a lovely guitar, probably comparable to something like a Gibson Johnny Smith - a 17" all carved, x braced guitar. It has an unusually slim neck, that I'm not realy used to - I'm not sure if that's the norm for Maton guitars.

A few years ago I called George, and we had a really enjoyable hour-long conversation, talking about all things music and guitar. He's a real gentleman.