Charlie Christian, and also Johnny Smith and Wes Montgomery, inspired my playing greatly and a later influence was Pat Martino. During a trip to the States in 1988, I interviewed Pat for the jazz guitar magazine, "Archtop", on which I was a regular columnist.
I greatly admire the musical genius of the late Ike Isaacs and of Louis Stewart. I toured Britain with Louis in 1989, their guitar duo being heard in, for example, the Band on the Wall in Manchester, Glasgow's Musicians' Institute and at the Soho Jazz Festival.
I've have many festival appearances to my credit, including several at Cork International Jazz Festival. In 1990, myself and fellow guitarist Adrian Ingram conducted the prestigious jazz workshop there.
In 1992, I was short-listed for the Daily Post Award for Jazz and was awarded an Arts Council bursary for the composition of ten Latin American pieces.
In 1993, I toured the UK and appeared at Cork International Jazz Festival with International Guitar Spectacular, a four-guitar combo in which I featured with Mundell Lowe, Louis Stewart and Doug Raney.
During a 15-date British tour with Mundell Lowe in 1995, my playing was highly acclaimed wherever I appeared. I played alongside Mundell in a BBC recording made during the tour and broadcast in the Radio 3 series "Impressions" in May 1995. In the same month, I performed at the Northern Guitar Show organised by Guitarist Magazine.
1995 continued to be a highly-successful year for me. In September, my Trefor Owen Quartet presentation "A Tribute To Wes Montgomery" received a Jazz Services National Touring Support Scheme Award for its UK tour. In October, I appeared with Howard Alden and Adrian Ingram at the Arlington Guitar Show Texas USA, and became a columnist for an American publication "Just Jazz Guitar".
My 1996 festival dates included Keswick, Llangollen and Cork. Another 1996 highlight was a U.K. tour with Paris based U.S. guitarist Jimmy Gourley.
In January 1997 I played at the NAMM Show in Los Angeles, and in May appeared at the New York Guitar Show, alongside many Jazz guitar greats.
My dream of a tour of the U.S.A. came true in July 1997 when I performed concerts and workshops in New York, North Carolina and Nashville.
In October, I again toured the U.K. with the legendary Mundell Lowe, performing both concerts and workshops. Highlights of the tour included a broadcast for BBC Radio Scotland and appearances at the renowned Pizza Express Jazz clubs in London and Glasgow.
January 1998 began with appearances at the NAMM Show, Los Angeles. I also appeared with Mundell Lowe and John Pisano at the L. A. Jazz Guitar Weekend at Papashon's Restaurant, Encino alongside many Jazz guitar greats.
In April 1998 I released an album on the Crimson label. The album includes seven of my original compositions and is titled, "WALES PLAYS BRAZIL".
In May 1998 I again appeared at the New York Guitar Show, Long Island giving a workshop and concert. In July/August I performed in a guitar duo with Jim Nichols in the main auditorium, and conducted a workshop, at the Chet Atkins Convention in Nashville, followed by a return visit to Papashon's Restaurant, Encino, Los Angeles, where I played with Ron Eschete and John Pisano. On the same tour I made appearances in San Francisco at Enrico's with Jim Nichols and Ramone, also at the famous Pearl's Jazz Club with guitarist Bruce Forman, and performed at the Acoustic Guitar Show at San Rafael.
In September I made appearances with American guitarist Randy Johnston and in October paid my fourth visit of 1998 to the USA, giving performances in the Boston area.
I began 1999 by appearing at the NAMM Show, Los Angeles and in May for the third time played at the New York Guitar Show, alongside many Jazz guitar greats. In the Autumn I toured the U.K., first with Mundell Lowe in September, and then with Randy Johnston in November.
In April 2000 I was once again invited to appear at the New York Guitar Show, Long Island.
In April 2001 I again toured the U.K. with the legendary Mundell Lowe, performing both concerts and workshops. Highlights of the tour included a broadcast for BBC Radio Scotland.
In August 2007, for the seventh year, I led a team of international guitarists tutoring and performing at the North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festival and Summer School in Wrexham.
I believe that Jazz should be both beautiful and communicative and accomplishe these qualities in my own playing, with a superb sound, fluid melodic lines and punchy rhythm.
Despite a busy professional life, I find time to act as honorary director of North Wales Jazz which, since its formation in 1990, has presented numerous world renowned Jazz artistes.
I have jammed, appeared or toured with the following American guitarists:
Johnny Smith, George Benson, Jim Hall, Mundell Lowe, John Pisano, Al Viola, Sal Salvador, Randy Johnson, Howard Alden, Gene Bertoncini, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jimmy Bruno, Jack Wilkins, Ron Eschete, Anthony Wilson, Steve Herberman, Vic Juris, Ken Hatfield, Paul Bollenback, Corey Christiansen, Ned Boynton, Frank DiBussolo, Rick Stone, Jimmy Gourley, Peter Leitch, Ron Jackson, Jim Nichols, Sid Jacobs, Bruce Forman, Bobby Broom, Sheryl Bailey, Tony DeCaprio, Ron Anthony plus others.
Other American instrumentalists:
Harry Allen, Ali Ryerson, Bill Perkins, Warren Vache, Spike Robinson, George Masso, Jake Hanna, Chuck Berghofer, Kendall Kay, Luther Hughes, The Seleno Clarke Quintet in Harlem, NY.
European Jazz Guitarists: - Bireli Lagrene, Louis Stewart, Martin Taylor, Ike Isaacs, John Etheridge, Jim Mullen, Roy Sainsbury, Ulrich Hoffmeier, Tony Marshall, Gary Potter, Ulf Wakenius, Andreas Oberg and Thomas Brendgens-Mönkemeyer.
Other European instrumentalists:
Alan Skidmore, Dave O’Higgins, Art Themen, Peter King, Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, Iain Ballamy, Don Rendall, Ian Carr, Roy Williams, John Barnes, Jack Emblow, Bill Coleman, Dave Green, Martin Drew, Martin Creese, Steve Brown, Steven Keogh, Billy Thompson, plus others.
Alan Skidmore, Dave O’Higgins, Art Themen, Peter King, Bruce Adams, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, Iain Ballamy, Don Rendall, Ian Carr, Roy Williams, John Barnes, Jack Emblow, Bill Coleman, Dave Green, Martin Drew, Martin Creese, Steve Brown, Steven Keogh, Billy Thompson, plus others.
For twelve years Trefor has been a Mapson Guitars (USA) endorser. He also endorses Sonntag Guitars, Hofner Guitars, Thomastik-Infeld Strings, Mambo Amps, Evans Amps and Redstone Audio Speaker Cabinets.
Teaching Experience
I was Associate Lecturer in Jazz Guitar at Leeds College of Music for eight years. I have been a tutor at Liverpool Community College since 1984, and in 1995 began to teach at Wigan and Leigh College.
In 1994, I led a highly successful Jazz Guitar Summer School, the first of its kind in the UK, at Keech School of Music and Performance in Hull. Fellow tutors there included Martin Taylor, John Etheridge and Adrian Ingram. For the 1995 Hull Jazz Guitar Summer School, myself and Adrian were joined as tutors by American guitarists Jim Hall and Peter Leitch. In addition, I helped to launch a Jazz Guitar Diploma in Hull.
Clinics and Workshops
I've obtained considerable experience in tutoring clinics and workshops. Among the many I have conducted include the Brecon Jazz Festival, Cork International Jazz Festival, London's Guitar Institute, the Zinc Bar, New York, New York Guitar Show, Long Island and the Chet Atkins Convention in Nashville, Jazzmasters Workshops, Carmel, USA and Frigolet, France.
For eight consecutive years, I led a team of international guitarists tutoring and performing at the North Wales International Jazz Guitar Festival and Summer School in Wrexham. Currently I am resident tutor at The North Wales International Jazz Guitar Weekends at Glyndwr University, Wrexham, North Wales. See jazz workshops above.
