Portraits for Guitar
A groundbreaking collaboration between Dominique Le Gendre & Ahmed Dickinson blending classical guitar, Caribbean identity, and contemporary sound.
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE REVIEW
Album Launch
Join Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas at Stone Nest, London, on Friday 23 October 2026 for the launch of Portraits for Guitar, his new album featured on BBC Magazine, which celebrates the rich and diverse voices of contemporary guitar music.
Featuring works by Dominique Le Gendre, Flores Chaviano, Walfrido Domínguez and Steve Goss, the album brings together music shaped by Cuban heritage, jazz, classical traditions and contemporary sounds.
Friday 23 October 2026 · Stone Nest, London
Album launch concert
Portraits for Guitar, released by Convivium Records, is the result of several years of collaboration with remarkable composers and friends, bringing together music that celebrates the rich connections between Cuban, Caribbean and British musical traditions.
Featuring works by Stephen Goss, Flores Chaviano, Walfrido Domínguez and Dominique Le Gendre, the album explores themes of place, memory, rhythm and identity through the expressive voice of the guitar.
The recording includes the first complete recording of Stephen Goss’s Sonatina, alongside the world premiere recording of Dominique Le Gendre’s Six Sketches for Solo Guitar, written especially for me with the support of the Hollick Family Foundation. The album also features Tongoy Triptych for two guitars, performed with the wonderful Helen Sanderson.
Recorded at Holy Trinity, Hitchin, and produced by James Unwin with engineer Adaq Khan, Portraits for Guitar is a deeply personal project reflecting my lifelong commitment to championing contemporary guitar music and building musical bridges across cultures.
I’m delighted to finally share this recording with you. Thank you, as always, for your encouragement and support — it truly makes projects like this possible.