Nigel Price – touring with Libor Smoldas and Lorne Lofsky

Renowned for his melodic fluency within the bebop tradition, jazz guitarist Nigel Price is set to headline an extensive UK tour, sharing the stage with two distinguished guitarists, Canadian Lorne Lofsky and Czech virtuoso Libor Smoldas. This collaborative venture, known as the Grassroots Jazz Tour, promises a distinctive exploration of jazz guitar through dual-guitar formats that underscore the genre’s harmonic and rhythmic versatility.

Price’s approach to jazz guitar, while inspired by the legendary Wes Montgomery, diverges in technique, opting not to adopt Montgomery’s iconic thumb-picking style. Instead, Price favors articulation methods that allow for greater speed and clarity, recognizing the trade-offs inherent in the thumb technique’s warmer tonal qualities. This perspective highlights the subtle technical distinctions that shape each guitarist’s signature sound.

Central to the upcoming performances is the interplay between two guitars, a configuration Price finds uniquely engaging. Unlike ensembles where certain members may have intermittent roles, dual guitar setups maintain continuous musical dialogue. One guitar may lead with melodic lines while the other anchors harmonic support, enabling a rich, cohesive sonic texture that sustains audience interest throughout the set.

Price’s admiration for guitar duos is well documented, particularly his esteem for the partnership between Ed Bickert and Lorne Lofsky. Their collaborative recordings exemplify a chilled, balanced sound that serves as a benchmark for guitar duos within and beyond jazz contexts. Other influential pairings include Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc, whose albums offer organic interplay without additional rhythm instrumentation, and the creative work of Jesse Van Rüller and Maarten Van Der Grinten, noted for their inventive contributions to the duo format.

The tour distinguishes itself by featuring two guitarists with markedly different musical approaches. Libor Smoldas is characterized by his bold improvisational style and a largely conceptual practice regimen, often learning material spontaneously during performances. His fearless musicianship injects an element of unpredictability and raw energy into the collaboration.

In contrast, Lorne Lofsky embodies disciplined technique and meticulous practice habits. Known for his mastery of harmonic nuances and a unique right-hand approach employing a thumb pick combined with long fingernails, Lofsky produces an impressive tonal control and harmonic complexity. His ability to integrate advanced harmonic techniques seamlessly into live performance adds a layer of sophistication and surprise to the music.

These contrasting methods create a dynamic tension and complementarity within the group, elevating the live experience. Price has previously recorded a live album with Lofsky, titled Live at the Globe, and plans to capture a live recording with Smoldas during the tour, further documenting these artistic dialogues.

The itinerary spans numerous venues across the UK from late October through mid-November 2026, including London’s Toulouse Lautrec and 606 Club, Swindon’s Royal Oak, Guildford’s Pavilion, and stops in Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, and beyond. Audiences can anticipate performances marked by high-caliber musicianship and a commitment to engaging directly with listeners through the immediacy of live jazz.

This series not only showcases the adept skill of three leading guitarists but also underscores the vitality of guitar-centric jazz ensembles. Through this tour, Price, Lofsky, and Smoldas reaffirm the guitar’s dual capacity as a lead melodic voice and a rhythmic foundation, expanding the instrument’s expressive possibilities within modern jazz.

While details on setlists and additional collaborators remain limited, the tour’s structure and personnel suggest a rich blend of rehearsed repertoire and spontaneous creativity, reflective of the players’ individual and collective artistry. This initiative represents a significant moment for jazz guitar enthusiasts and affirms the continuing evolution of the genre’s instrumental dialogues.