August 5, 1999

The many influences behind Rockville guitarist's music Chuck Durfor has learned his craft by listening -- and practicing

Ask fingerstyle guitarist Chuck Durfor about his music and he undoubtedly will come up with plenty to say.

To begin, he'll mention the way he blends original and British folk/jazz compositions. Then he'll probably talk about '60s British rock group Pentangle, Scottish guitarist Davy Graham and English guitar player John Renbourn.

At the same time, Durfor will refer to country, blues and ragtime greats, then casually drop the names Bach and Bob Dylan in the same breath. And just when you think he might be finished, he'll say he currently is attempting to convert John Philip Sousa's "Liberty Bell March" into a fingerstyle guitar piece.

While being a fingerstyle guitarist (i.e., someone who plays with their fingers rather than a pick) might seem pretty straightforward, Durfor is the type of musician who manages to surprise you. He will perform Friday evening at Barnes & Noble in Rockville.

The 47-year-old Rockville resident's love of music first blossomed when he was in the third grade, but his attraction was not entirely pure. Durfor says part of his interest in the field sprang from the fact that his parents didn't want him to pursue it.

"My parents used to say that the only thing they played was the radio. It felt like kind of a challenge," Durfor says. When he realized there were benefits to being a musician -- like being able to leave class early for band practice -- he decided to stick with it.

Durfor played various instruments, including the trumpet and the guitar, throughout secondary school and during his years at the College of William & Mary, where he received a degree in chemistry. While at William & Mary, Durfor also had an experience that forever changed the way he viewed his music.

"I was a student in the early '70s and the Grateful Dead were playing one night at my school," he recalls. "Early that morning, I looked into the gymnasium to see what was going on." In the midst of the hubbub of setting up equipment, legendary Grateful Dead leader Jerry Garcia sat completely alone, practicing scales on his guitar.

From then on, Durfor knew his craft would require an unwavering sense of discipline.

After graduating, he spent five years playing bass with a Charlottesville, Va., rock group called Max A/C. Eventually, though, his musical journey brought him to acoustic guitar.

"As time moved on, the circle became complete and acoustic guitar captured my heart," Durfor says.

And, like scores of other aspiring musicians, Durfor ultimately was forced to find another profession to support his passion. Today he is a scientist with the federal government, a husband and a father of two sons.

After many years of playing in bands, Durfor is pleased that he's now a solo artist.

"That's the beauty of fingerstyle guitar," he says. "It's one person and people will ask, 'Where are the other five people I'm hearing?'"

While Durfor composes, performs and prepares to release his first CD, he also continues to practice -- usually between one and three hours every day.

"Practice makes the difference between those who don't change and those who continue to grow," the musician says. "There are undoubtedly those people who can just pick a guitar up and play. But, for me, to move forward, I need the practice time.

"I'm always setting new goals," he concludes, "and I really want to move forward."