Press
Here you can find a collection of past interviews, features and reviews. Just click on your chosen article from the following list.
Articles
MU Magazine 2009
Mark S. Tucker, Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange 2009
Sam Wise, Acoustic Magazine 2009
Timothy Smith, Minor 7th 2008
Tersztyánszky Krisztina, Vas Népe 2008
Frank Gutch Jr., Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange 2007
Nicky Rossiter, Rambles 2007
Steve Franklin, Starfish 2007
J.V, Guitarra Total 2007
Guitar & Bass 2007
Sam Wise, Acoustic Magazine 2006
Owen Bailey, Guitarist Magazine 2006
Simon Bradley, Guitarist Magazine 2006
Patrick Regains, Minor 7th 2006
Giles Duffy, Rocks Magazine 2006
Henk de Veldhuis, Bridge Guitar Reviews 2006
Phil Jackson, BBC Southern Counties 2006
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"Our folk music also gives him inspiration - the acoustic voices of the 21st century...
This year the ODT (Országjáró Dalosok) became international because of a genius 26 year old Englishman. This wasn't the first time in Hungary for Lee Westwood.
Lee Westwood writes his own compositions; they don't belong to any genre. People say the're eclectic, modern lullabies, the acoustic music of the 21st century. He says his individual style balances between Classical and Folk music. When he was a teenager he learnt to play electric guitar, and tehn went on to learn acoustic. He has formed his own individual picking and compositional techniques.This year was Lee's 6th year in Hungary, and he regularly goes to the Kapolcs Festival. This was where he heard about the ODT. The young musicians were enthusiastic about him. They were curious and he answered directly -
"I feel very well here, I'm not worried about the language difficulties", he said. "I like the folk music and the gypsy songs. They give me inspiration. There are some Hungarian songs that I used in my compositions. Then I made them more colourful."
And he picked his guitar up immediately and started to play his own arrangement of Fúdd El Jó Szél.
"These songs are improvised at first, and when I can't keep them in my mind I write them down" he said, laughing. He said he often listens to Hungarian folk songs in Brighton. His favourites are Kolinda, Beata Palya, and similar performers. He can get these CDs in England, but only by order, so when he's in Hungary, he always buys some CDs. His opinion about the World Music scene is favourable.
"If someone likes the traditional music, it's not important where the music comes from. In England and I guess in the whole of Europe this trend is becoming more popular."
When I asked Lee what his job is, he looked embarrased. He's a musician, composer, and guitar teacher. But he knows in Hungary the musicians can't earn their living by playing music.
"I'm lucky because there are lots more opportunities to play gigs in Brighton than in Szombathely, for example. We can play live music in concert halls and pubs. But also the songs with lyrics are more popular than the instrumental music."
Lee's main aim is to compose music rather than to play. He often composes pieces for his own band and for other bands. From here he travels to Kapolcs, and he promised if somebody calls him to play, he'll come with pleasure. He studies the language from his Hungarian girlfriend, and it's not a surprise he has learnt the names of some instruments first." -
Tersztyánszky Krisztina, Vas Népe 2008 (translation - Tímea Németh)
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