Preview
DANIEL HEFFNER
Saturday, August 21
Cantos Music Foundation
Daniel Heffner is really excited about his new album. In fact, he’s so excited he can’t even find the words to describe it.
"Oh wow, I, uh… I find that… I think this is about as wide as I can go."
It’s funny to listen to this 21-year-old talk about music. While his voice sounds youthful and full of vigour, his knowledge of classical, jazz and flamenco guitar is mature and educated. Playing guitar since he was 10 years old, Heffner has never had a problem with creating a melody in his mind and bringing it to life with his instrument.
"I like a lot of different styles," he says. "I must say, listening to classical music – and I’ve just started to play it lately – it’s really influenced me a lot."
While Heffner’s first full-length CD, the semi-self-titled Heff, doesn’t sound a lot like Bach or Brahms, it carries a certain tone and dignity reminiscent of the classical genre. But more than anything, it’s his unique style of flamenco that sticks in the brain.
"It has a southern-Latin-American feel to it," he says, "like a jazzy Brazilian feel." Playing acoustic guitar on most of the album’s 13 tracks, including two live recordings, he also plays the bongos, piano and sings. "I like to play what I can," he says.
When he was 13, Heffner began busking at an Edmonton farmers’ market. Since then, he’s been no stranger to the stage. In September 2003 he opened for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of Mozart on the Mountain and the live tracks on Heff were recorded during a "Busking for Smiles" concert at the University of Calgary.
And while he’s pretty pleased with Heff and enjoyed recording the album, he would be more than happy to give up his studio time in favour of plucking a few chords in front of a live audience.
"I’ve definitely gone through an evolution, but in a way, I haven’t changed that much," he says. "Playing music – it’s only you. Nothing touches (a person) like live music. That’s what I like about playing live – you have a great time. I like the adrenalin rush."
But the U of C student won’t be putting his schoolbooks on the shelf to become a star. Instead, he wants to balance his day-to-day work schedule (he plans on becoming a pharmacist) with his life’s passion.
"I don’t want it to become my life, because I find I become too much of a perfectionist," he says. "I actually like things the way they are now. I love it." |
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