Early Light of September

My newest single, “Early Light of September”, will be streaming on all platforms on September 29, 2023

Downloads and TABs available here on my website.

Downloads also available on my Bandcamp.

Mixed and Mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance.

Melodies from a Short Walk Home - for Guitar Trio

Guitar Chamber Music Press has published my piece, “Melodies from a Short Walk Home”, composed for guitar trio. The edition comes with score and parts in standard notation only.

You can purchase a copy here.

New Single - Where the pictures used to hang

Streaming on all platforms on August 25, 2023. 

"Where the Pictures Used to Hang" is a short, haunting solo for guitar. This piece was originally written for my August newsletter, but after receiving lots of positive feedback and messages about the piece, I decided to record and release it as a single. I will post pre-save links closer to the release date. Stay tuned...

Mixed & Mastered by Tom Eaton @ Sounds & Substance.

New Single - New Beginning

Duet with Denis Turbide

I connected with Canadian guitarist Denis Turbide years ago. So long ago, that it may have even been on MySpace. It may have taken almost fifteen years, but we have finally collaborated on a couple duets.

The first duet titled "New Beginning" will be released on August 4, 2023. It's a lovely little duet for two nylon string guitars. We hope you give it a listen, add it to your favorite playlists and share with lie minded listeners. 

“New Beginning”

Stay tuned for our next single that will be released in September. Hopefully, there will many others after that!

A Year to Remember - for Guitar Quartet 

Now available from Guitar Chamber Music Press Publishing 

"A Year to Remember" was composed for my 2022 - 2023 Bayonne High School Honors Guitar Ensemble. I wanted to write a piece of music that would accentuate my students' technical abilities as well as push them to a higher level of playing together. It also had to immediately hook my students' ears and be fun to play. 

I gave the piece a lighter pop vibe by keeping the harmony simple and I tried to make the melodies catchy. The piece is very rhythmic and syncopated, and it helps teach ensemble members to listen to each other while playing. I hope your ensemble enjoys playing it as much as we did. 

The music is dedicated to the following students, with gratitude for their hard work and dedication to the BHS guitar program: Victoria Betances, William Castro Roman, Thomas Gray, Perptwa Khalil, Jesus Rosario, Andrew Quinonez, Naairah Scott, and Emily Thompson

New Single - Song from an Open Window

My newest single, "Song from an Open Window" will be released on 4/01/23.

Mixed & mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance.

Downloads & TABs available here.

Downloads also available on Bandcamp.

Singles - March 2023

I will be releasing two singles in March. Both were mixed and mastered by Tom Eaton at Sounds & Substance. Downloads and TABs will be available here on their release days. Downloads will also be available on Bandcamp.

"Sun on the West River" - Release date 3/01/23

“As August Fades” - Release date 3/15/23

Kian's Blues & Landini's Nightingale 

Guitar Chamber Music Press Publication

Guitar Chamber Music Press has published two of my solos in one book. "Kians's Blues" & "Landini's Nightingale" are offered together in standard notation only.

You can find my GCMP publications here : https://www.guitarchambermusicpress.com/vin-downes/

Tones & Drones Podcast

I had a wonderful talk with ambient musician Jason Miller for his Tones and Drones podcast. We discuss guitar, composing, tunings, teaching, Windham Hill Records, Tom Eaton, Will Ackerman, Crosby…You can follow the podcast and hear our talk over on NPR.

NPR - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/970686188/tones-drones

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1EZ8ya0oAr8kCECRKMr9QT?si=a73f0eaf583b4b15