Guitarist’s Simplocity Lets Melodies Shine Through

Ed Gerhard has all the right influences.

Introduced to acoustic guitar by an Andres Segovia TV performance, he later was led to open tunings and composition by the work of John Fahey, perhaps the greatest of the contemporary American guitarists.

The influences are evident on his thoughtful, beautifully played solo CDs; in concert, he is said to be witty and warm, as if playing killer guitar weren’t enough.

Gerhard will play a solo concert Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore.

His latest CD, “Counting the Ways,” continues his tradition of brilliantly recorded, hugely warm-sounding records. He records direct to digital for an in-your-living-room sound that practically vibrates with its aliveness.

But the real hallmark of Gerhard’s playing is its unhurried pacing.

“I try to trim away a lot of the excess,” he has said. “I try to not crowd in a lot of harmonies and I try to avoid a whole lot of inner movement. I think the more you crowd in, the less apparent things become.”

In other words, it’s not wise to attend a Gerhard concert hoping to hear him tear up the frets.

Gerhard’s “The Handing Down” is one of the highlights of Windham Hill’s popular “Guitar Sampler” CD. His work has won “Best Of” honors from such publications as the Boston Globe and the Record RoundUp Critics poll.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Guitarist Ed Gerhard will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Auntie’s Bookstore, Main and Washington. Tickets are $10, available at Auntie’s, Dutch’s, Petrucelly’s Violins, Street Music and the Sound Hole.