Questions to the musicians: Richard Bolton

Guitarist Richard Bolton talks about the new release City Life

Why did you become a musician?

My parents were both keen musicians, and my mother was a teacher. I think she always wanted to have been a performer with ENSA, and perhaps subconsciously I have lived out her dream. Other than that, at the vital deciding-stages of my life (i.e post-school, post-college etc) there was never anything better, more urgent or (bizarrely) more financially rewarding to do. In other words, I've never had a better offer (so far...).

How different is it to work in the different environments that you do - for example, as a cellist with a dance group or with June Tabor, working with Billy Jenkins or performing your own stuff?

It's ridiculously different all the way down the line - from the personalities of the 'artistes', to their music, to the fact that the 'cello's tuned in 5ths and only has 4 strings whilst the guitar is mainly in 4ths and has 6! Doing my own thing brings the additional and unaccustomed pleasure/pressure of having to sort out rehearsals, book the band, and worry about parts and the set list.

What have you been listening to recently that you can't take off the CD player?

Flook "Rubai"; DJ Shadow "Private Press"; John Scofield "Uberjam"; Jorge Ben "Brazilian Hits and Funky Classics" compilation; Trojan reggae compilation free with August's Mojo magazine.

Tell us one amusing experience on your travels as a musician.

My travels as a musician are rarely amusing, except when they are also scurrilous, libellous and potentially damaging to my 'career', such as it is…

Who are your heroes?

My heroes are the usual suspects, musically, from Bach to the Beatles to Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Miles, Django (both of them, Bates and Reinhardt), Jarrett and almost anything Brazilian.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by my family, my colleagues, friends, pupils, my garden, movies, art, books, guitars, Robert Elms' programme on Radio London, football, sunshine, food, the intoxicating effect of wine, etc.