The multitalented, genre-bending guitar virtuoso Claude Bourbon has built a reputation in Europe and North America for his amazing performances that take blues, Spanish, and Middle Eastern stylings into uncharted territories. 

Bourbon will bring his acoustic amalgamation to Port Townsend in May with a concert at the Palindrome at Eaglemount Cidery.

Rainshadow Recording will welcome the French guitarist to the Palindrome at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10 for an exciting performance sponsored by KPTZ radio and Strait Floors.

Bourbon’s sound has been described as “a breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, jazz, folk, classical, and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso” by Altadena News of Los Angeles.

Bourbon’s inimitable style incorporates all five digits on each hand dancing independently but in unison, plucking, picking, and strumming at such speed and precision that his fingers often seem to melt into a blur. Thousands of people in the United Kingdom, Europe, and United States have enjoyed listening to Bourbon, and for the majority of his audience, it’s an experience that compels them to return again and again to hear and watch him play as his fingers lightly dance over the strings of his guitar to create a unique sound that truly is “Claude.”

Now based in the U.K., some of his influences allow a fascinating insight into this remarkable musician; Paco De Lucia, Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore, Joaquin Rodrigo, J.J. Cale, J.S. Bach, and more.

“His finger-picking is exquisite and if I closed my eyes I could clearly hear two guitars playing. Just when I recognized a theme he moved on with a mesmerizing cascade of notes, which kept on flowing,” jazz drummer Dave Bailey noted in a bio written for Bourbon. “His forte is obviously his wonderful guitar work, but he does occasionally burst into song and what you then get is something between Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens combined with a French accent! C’est magnifique.”

This concert series is produced by Rainshadow Recording as part of a new collaboration with Matt Miner, former producer of the Northwind Songs concert series held at Northwind Arts Center before the pandemic.

Proof of vaccination is required to attend the concert and tickets are $20 each from claudebourbon.brownpapertickets.com or at the door.