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 ALAN LENNON |
 SCOTT BRADOKA |
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MARTIN BARRE Stage Left (Fuel 2000)
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LAIKA
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ALAN
LENNON
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SCOTT BRADOKA
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KOTARO
OSHIO
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ARMIK
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed
in mwe3.com and 20th Century Guitar. Send to P.O. Box 630249, Little
Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
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So
much of what makes rock legends Jethro Tull so great can be heard
on Stage Left, the third solo album from long time Tull guitarist,
Martin Lancelot Barre. The most recent chapter in a career that,
commencing in 1969, went on to define the artistry of progressive rock
guitar playing, Stage Left is filled with that electrifying Jethro
Tull hallmark sound. With one vocal track—featuring Martin’s
friend Simon Burrett—on an album of instrumental classical
rock-fusion gems, the 14 track 2003 CD release of Stage Left
finds Martin supported by top players like Tull bandmates Jonathan
Noyce (bass) and Andrew Giddings (keyboards) and drummer
Darren Mooney. Interestingly, Jethro Tull founder Ian Anderson
has also just released his own 2003 solo CD on the L.A.-based Fuel
2000, entitled Rupi’s Dance, making 2003 a banner year
for long time Tull fans. 
Finland’s
great instrumental combo gets back to what they do best on their first
U.S. CD in a while for North Carolina-based Yep Roc. In a major
move inspired by musical trendsetters, L&TC early on sought musical
inspiration from the colorful sounds of the ‘60s on their mid ‘90s
albums such as Instruments Of Terror and their 1996 Absurdistan
album. Instead of looking to fellow Finns and jazz-rocking
groundbreakers like Pekka Pohjola and Jukka Tolonen, Laika instead picked
it up from where Joe Meek (the late great composer of “Telstar”)
left off in the ‘60s. Just imagine if Martin Denny or Enoch Light
was producing Davie Allan or Dick Dale back in the late ‘60s...in
other words, this ain’t your mother’s surf music, unless you
were born before 1958, then you will really appreciate it! One listen
to the oddly titled Local Warming and it’s clear that Laika
guitarists Mikko Lankinen and Matti Pitsinki sound as
sharp as ever and—in perfect synchronicity with the driving beat
and rhythm of master drummer Janne Haavisto and thumping Tom
Nyman on bass—Finland’s greatest twangtastic surf
band of all time continues to propel their musical dynamic over the
top with dazzling guitar energies. 
Making
the most out of his Ibanez RG 550 and Ibanez 150B guitars, Ireland-based
guitarist Alan Lennon breaks new ground on his 2003 CD. Best described
as celestial gothic metal, Lennon’s eight track all instrumental,
hard rock opus clocks in at just under a half hour, yet there’s
quite a lot of fine musicianship to marvel at. The guitarist cites Jason
Becker, Shawn Lane, Jeff Beck and George Lynch among his chief guitar
influences and he’s quick to point out that “When there is
a billion notes happening in a song it’s hard to just sit there
and enjoy it. Very few players can shred with melody. It should always
be about the song and not the ego. Thats why I love Becker and Lane.”
While recording Heaven’s Call—with assistance from
Shane McCullagh (bass), Bryan Walsh (drums) and Richard
McCullagh (keyboards)—Lennon had candles burning in the studio.
That eerie, majestic sense of atmosphere coupled with divine melody
cuts straight through to the center of Heaven’s Call, making
the entire CD a vital, otherworldly listening experience. In other recent
Alan Lennon news the guitarist adds, “I just got an endorsement
from Sovereign Guitars, which is a UK based guitar manufacturer.
They are building me two guitars to my specifications. They are going
to be the first guitars I have owned which will have everything the
way I want it.” 
Based
in Pennsylvania, guitarist Scott Bradoka starts off 2004 with
a bang. After releasing several excellent instrumental guitar albums—including
his 2003 classic Create Your Own Reality—Bradoka’s
new one is a fine live in the studio CD that takes a good look back
at his earlier recordings. The guitarist adds, “Live & Loose
is an attempt to capture the vibe of the live band on CD. It includes
selections from my first two records (Without Words & Swamp
Party) and my fourth record, Create Your Own Reality.”
Scott is joined by some fine players and guest guitarists, including
his band, The Staggering Evil Geniuses and producer Eric Bazilian.
With a number of musicians on hand, guitars abound throughout. Further
commenting on his gear, Bradoka adds, “For the recording I used
my '56 Les Paul Gold Top and my '54 Fender Stratocaster into my 1963
Vox AC30. Eric Bazilian used an old Rickenbacker Combo plugged into
an old Gibson GA20, Craig Thatcher used a Gibson ES335 into a
Working Dog amp, and Graham Perry used my Taylor 812CE.”
Live & Loose is excellent CD from a guitarist that I’m
sure we’ll be hearing much more about in the days to come. 
An
amazing solo guitarist who made quite an impression at the 2002 Montreux
Jazz Festival, Kotaro Oshio released his second solo album for Narada
in 2003. Filled with jazzy, meditative instrumental sounds in the spirit
of Metheny and Jobim , Dramatic picks up from where Oshio left
off on his U.S. debut CD Starting Point. An impeccable fingerstyle
acoustic performance on steel string guitar, Dramatic features
a round of Oshio originals along with inventive, relaxing solo guitar-based
adaptations of Ravel’s “Bolero” and Pachelbel’s
“Canon In D”. Describing his own music, Kotaro adds, “The
guitar music I make is also filled with drama. At times strong, at time
gentle, it is the type of drama that changes form depending on the listener.”
A master of the steel string acoustic, Oshio gives his Greven D-Herringbone
Custom guitar quite a workout on his impressive 2003 solo release. 
Hot
on the heels of his critically acclaimed 2003 CD, Amor de Guitarra,
California-based Nuevo Flamenco guitar master, Armik unveils his
latest CD masterpiece, Romantic Dreams in January 2004. An
inspiring homage to love and romance, the eleven track instrumental
CD is the guitarist’s most impressive recording to date. On Romantic
Dreams, Armik’s breathtaking flamenco guitar technique sets
a new standard of guitar excellence. Rarely has the nylon string guitar
been so well integrated into the realms of rumba, bolero and bossa nova
rhythms as it is on Romantic Dreams. Much like the colorful cover
art depicting his hand crafted Spanish flamenco guitars, Armik’s
intriguing music and phenomenal guitar playing will transport you to
a blissful World beat destination. If the thought of coming weeks and
months of cold, snowy wintry weather has got you down, be sure to check
out the bright, uplifting Romantic Dreams.