Vin Downes began studying guitar at the age of eleven. His early interests were in electric guitar, but this all changed when he heard the opening notes of David Cullen’s “Along the Way” on a Windham Hill Records guitar sampler. He immediately immersed himself in the fingerstyle music of Will Ackerman, Michael Hedges, Alex deGrassi, and David Cullen.
Greatly influenced by the music of artists on Windham Hill Records in the late 1980's, Downes furthered his interest of fingerstyle guitar technique and music composition by earning a degree in classical performance/music education from William Paterson University in New Jersey.
After college, he studied guitar with NJ guitarist, John Sheehan. Sheehan introduced Downes to roots music through the stylings of guitarists John Fahey, Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis, Davey Graham, John Renbourn, and Bert Jansch.
Inspired by his work with Will Ackerman and Tom Eaton, Vin Downes has gone on to develop a unique voice as a composer and guitarist, combining his love of classical, jazz, and folk music. His focus is to write music that is always melodic, contemplative, and deeply emotional.
Vin Downes has released nine studio albums and has performed nationally as a soloist and as Will Ackerman's touring partner. He was also a member of the group Four Guitars, alongside Will Ackerman, Trevor Gordon Hall, and Todd Mosby. He is also performs as part of a duo with Tom Eaton, and as a member of an improvisational ambient trio with Tom Eaton and Jeff Oster.
He has written, recorded, and performed music with Will Ackerman, David Crosby, Tom Eaton, Eugene Friesen, Michael Gulezian, Trevor Gordon Hall, Mai Leisz, Tony Levin, Michael Manring, Todd Mosby, Jeff Oster, James Raymond, David Watson (Chops Horns), and Kenny Withrow.
Vin Downes is a public school music teacher in New Jersey, where he currently teaches an award winning classical guitar program at Bayonne High School. Many of his classical compositions for solo guitar, guitar ensembles, and the guitar classroom have been published by Guitar Chamber Music Press.
What people have said about his music and playing…
“It's rare for a musician to have equal parts technical skill and emotional range, and even more rare for that musician to a be brilliant composer. Vin continually hits all these marks while simultaneously expanding his vocabulary and sound. Over the last decade he's been quietly crafting some of the best new instrumental music being made, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.”
~ Tom Eaton - Grammy Nominated Composer, Musician, Engineer, & Producer, Sounds & Substance
“Vin Downes is a brilliant guitarist and a heart-felt composer. He is a consummate player who draws upon a wide range of styles. The marvelous thing is that his musical voice is unique enough and powerful enough to hold these different threads together seamlessly. His abilities as a player create an even broader palate from which to draw in his performances.”
~ Will Ackerman - Grammy Award Winner/Founder of Windham Hill Records
“Just beautiful. I love the way you play…really fine touch…and you swing!”
~ David Crosby – The Byrds, CSN, CSNY, CPR
“Wonderful playing. Melodies for days. Bravo!”
~ Peter Frampton
“Unbelievably gorgeous touch, tone, and phrasing…understated yet breathtaking voicings. My heavens - I'm blown away.”
~ Michael Gulezian
“Really nice…there are moments that bring to mind acoustic Metheny without sounding too much like him.”
~ Alex Skolnick - Testament, Alex Skolnick Trio, PAKT
“Downes' playing manages to mesh obvious technical mastery of his instrument with an uncomplicated and accessible approach to melody. He exhibits an uncommon control of nuance and shading.”
~ Bill Binkelman - Zone Music Reporter
“Vin Downes is an extraordinary guitarist and he has a paucity of albums on the market, but every one of them has an abundance of evocative and emotional rewards. This is mood altering music that placates the soul and adds lift to the impending journey, no matter what the destination. Highly recommended.”
~ R J Lannan - Artisan Music Reviews
“In a previous life I am convinced that Vin Downes was a pastry chef, creating exquisite desserts, artisanal delights and delicate diminutive morsels that satisfied the sweetest of culinary desires. To our great fortune, Maestro Downes is a guitarist and composer.”
~ James Filkins - Minor 7th Magazine