Clive Carroll Plays John Renbourn | Acoustic Guitar Sessions

Clive Carroll is one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists and instructors working today. His knowledge, technique, and passion for the art form are unparalleled. And back in 2020, when COVID put his busy schedule on hold, Carroll spent his time wisely, digging deep into the John Renbourn archives, eventually recording The Abbot – Clive Carroll Plays the Music of John Renbourn.

The two guitarists met in the late 1990s, when Carroll was the local opener for a Renbourn performance at the Red Lion Pub in Essex, which led to Renbourn bringing him on tours, and their friendship and musical collaborations blossomed. After that first opening gig “[Renbourn] took an interest in what I was up to,” Carroll recounts. “He taught me how to perform in the real world and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunities he gave me.”

The Abbot features both solo and ensemble performances, and while Carroll’s deep reverence for the source material is apparent, there is a sense of exploration and freedom in his playing, arranging, and orchestration. The album features acoustic and electric guitar, bass clarinet, tabla, flute, Tamborine, bodhrán, and more…a full-on folk baroque ensemble!

For this AG Session, Carroll performs two pieces, “The Hermit” and “The Pelican,” both can be heard on The Abbot, but here, played solo on a Ralph Bown guitar, the pieces really breathe and blossom in surprising and satisfying ways.

Support Acoustic Guitar on Patreon and get access to an exclusive video lesson with Clive Carroll! In this video lesson Carroll teaches his DADGAD arrangement of “Haste to the Wedding,” a classic jig with lots of ornamentation and variations to play and explore.