bio
Doug de Vries (b1960) is an Australian jazz guitarist who has spent several decades working across many genres and is a dedicated composer for both 6 & 7-string guitar, excelling in choro, samba, Bossa nova, jazz and roots music. He exhibits a strong affinity with Brazilian guitar repertoire and has recorded a number of collections of original works and classic Brazilian repertoire, DdV Solo among others.
DdV is particularly noted for his sophisticated guitar arrangements and accompaniments, deep musical knowledge, and daring improvisations in solo or group settings.
He was a founding member of singer Vince Jones’s combo throughout the 1980s in which they built a loyal following and made their seminal recordings; afterwards working as resident guitarist in the house band with Paul Grabowsky on Steve Vizard's Tonight Live in the early ’90s.
Has toured extensively both internationally, (Brazil, USA, Canada, India, China, Singapore, UK, New Caledonia, New Zealand) and domestically in all states and territories of Australia, recorded with major Australian artists such as instrumentalists: Don Burrows, James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky, Joe Chindamo, Andrew Pendlebury, vocalists: Vince Jones, Judy Jacques, Diana Clark, Kate Ceberano, Anthony Warlow, and USA vocalists: Barbara Morrison, Andy Bey and Lalah Hathaway.
His performance credits in the world of Brazilian music are exemplary, having performed and recorded with Yamandú Costa, Hermeto Pascoal, Maurício Carrilho, Luciana Rabello, Jorginho do Pandeiro, Ronaldo do Bandolim, Paulo Aragão, Proveta and Lula Galvão.
He lives and works in Melbourne.
He has also toured and recorded with major Australian artists such as Don Burrows, Kate Ceberano, Anthony Warlow, James Morrisson, Paul Grabowsky, Vince Jones, Eddie Perfect, Judy Jacques and Diana Clark, as well as Barbara Morrison and Andy Bey from the United States.
Recent highlights include a solo guitar concert featuring de Vries' own compositions in Niteroi, late 2014 while in Rio for a documentary request; performing with Yamandu Costa at various Australian appearances and with Hermeto Pascoal on his Australian tour of 2012. Doug has had sell-out shows at the Melbourne Spiegeltent and Melbourne Recital Centre playing solo guitar and also celebrating the afro-sambas of Baden Powell in trio form; an acclaimed Sexteto Zona Sul choro show at the Stonnington Jazz Fest 2014 and a packed Cathedral for the Wangaratta Jazz Festival on more than one occasion.