|
SIMON DUPREE
AND THE BIG SOUND
on EMI
|
DION
on Image Entertainment
|
THE PORTER PROJECT
on Kriztal
|
JANUARY
/ FEBRUARY 2005
MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
A
PRIORI RECORDS - Combining folk, New Age,
acoustic, jazz and World Music, Drifting Into Oblivion is
the fifth independently released CD from Nashville-based, Alabama-bred
fingerstyle guitarist John Danley. With his Taylor acoustic
guitar Danley weaves quite a spell on the twelve track CD. Almost
cinematic in scope and further inspired by painters Dali, Ernst and
Chagall as well as composer Philip Glass, the all instrumental CD
achieves rare levels of sonic depth and reflection. The follow up
to Danley’s 2002 CD, Cemeteries, Missed Trains & Blue
Skies, the 2004 release of Drifting Into Oblivion echoes
the spirits of Leo Kottke and Tommy Emmanuel while also making a unique
statement and presence of it’s own. www.johndanley.com
ANGEL AIR - Over in the U.K., Angel Air Records continues
giving some music legends long awaited retrospectives. One the label’s
best in 2004 is a reissue of a 1988 release entitled Why Not
Now by U.K. guitarist Ray Russell. An atmospheric and
expertly recorded album showcasing Russell on electric and acoustic
guitars, classical and tenor guitars and guitar synth, the 12 track
CD features accompaniment by some great English session players including
Mo Foster (bass), Tony Hymas (keyboards) and Simon
Phillips (drums). Also making several appearances on Why Not
Now are Mark Isham (on trumpet, flugelhorn and keyboards)
and the late, great Gil Evans (on Fender Rhodes). Mostly recorded
in England, with further recording done in NYC and L.A., the all instrumental
album is very much in the spirit of Isham’s work with Group 87
and further solo works and makes for a splendid jazz-rock album with
spatial overtones. Other Russell related remasters on Angel Air includes
Centennial Park and Live At The Venue 1982 by
RMS (a 1982 set featuring Russell with Mo Foster and Simon
Phillips), Rock Workshop and The Very Last Time
by Rock Workshop (two early ‘70s albums pairing Russell
and the late, great singer-actor Alex Harvey) and last but
not least Ready Or Not (a 1977 jazz-rock date with Phillips,
Foster, Hymas, Andy MacKay (on sax) and the string arrangements
of Gavin Wright). In addition to fine liner notes and artwork,
each Ray Russell CD remaster on Angel Air is filled out by ample bonus
tracks. www.rayrussell.co.uk
BACKBEAT BOOKS - Coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the first
number one Beach Boys hit (“I Get Around”), and the 2004
CD release of Smile, Backbeat Books released a vital book entitled
The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary Of America’s Greatest
Band On Stage And In The Studio. Regarding the 2004,
400 page soft cover edition, no less than Brian Wilson has
commented, “It’s great to see the details of the best years
of our career collected with such love in one place.” Detailing
just about every move made by The Beach Boys during their fabled heyday—1961-1976—author
Keith Badman has left no stone unturned. This authoritative
guide covers a song by song index, a Smile recording index,
as well as detailed studio logs from classic recording sessions, long
lost press reviews and an array of archival photos and interviews
with band members and their close associates. Badman has written a
modern masterpiece on America’s greatest pop band. www.backbeatbooks.com
CAMBRIA - Before his work with Mary Ford, The Les Paul Trio, his
solo albums and his legendary work shaping the solid body electric
guitar and multi-track recording, Les Paul came into his own
during his tenure on the Fred Waring radio show. Between 1937-1941,
Les worked exhaustively on live performances and radio broadcasts
with Fred Waring and his orchestra, the best of which is recalled
on a 2004 archival CD release on Cambria Master Recordings entitled
Les Paul: The Legendary Fred Waring Broadcasts - Historic Live
Performances 1939-1941. As this CD points out, a decade
before anyone called it be-bop Les was inventing a new style of jazz
guitar influenced by everything from Django-style licks to classical
and country and western hillbilly licks. Sure he was only in his mid
20’s, yet on this CD you can hear the seeds of the greatness
that was soon to follow. A vital historical CD from the original pioneer
of the electric guitar, The Legendary Fred Waring Broadcasts recaptures
a fascinating period in American music history. Featuring 26 tracks
of pure Les Paul magic, the CD comes with a 20 page CD booklet filled
with background on the music and all the players featured on these
timeless tracks. www.cambriamus.com
DGM - A 2004 4 CD box set reissue by Discipline Global Mobile,
The 21st Century Guide To King Crimson is a timely
audio retrospective spanning the fabled early studio and live works
by England’s most formidable progressive rock group. While mid
‘80s CDs of the very first King Crimson album from 1969—In
The Court Of The Crimson King—sounded terrible, that problem
is completely eradicated thanks to the recent discovery of original
master tapes. For this final word on the early King Crimson, all the
music here has been ‘digitally re-mastered, edited and assembled
from the best source tapes available.’ Broken down into four
CDs—including In The Studio 1969-1971, Live 1969-1972, In
The Studio 1972-1974 and Live 1973-1974—The 21st
Century Guide To King Crimson draws upon a number of King Crimson
album classics including In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969),
In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), Islands
(1971), Epitaph (live 1969) Ladies Of The Road (live
1971-1972), Earthbound (1972), Larks’ Tongues In Aspic
(1973), Starless & Bible Black (1974), Red (1974),
USA (1974), The Great Deceiver (live 1973-74) and
The Night Watch (live in Amsterdam 1973). Released with
a seal of approval no doubt by legendary KC ringmaster Robert Fripp,
through DGM and it’s newly formed U.S. counterpart Inner Knot,
The 21st Century Guide To King Crimson features excellent sound,
packaging, booklet and graphics and can be considered the final word
on the early King Crimson lineups. Coinciding with the box, a 2004
DVD release on DGM/Inner Knot, Neal And Jack And Me combines
a pair of concerts from the ‘80s lineup of King Crimson featuring
Robert Fripp, Tony Levin, Bill Bruford and Adrian Belew. Pairing Three
Of A Perfect Pair: Live In Japan 1984 and The Noise: Live In
Frejus 1982, the DVD tags on a range of extras including a 1984
promo video for KC’s “Sleepless” single, a fab booklet
and road photos from Tony Levin. www.disciplineglobalmobile.com
DAVE HILL MUSIC - A relaxed album of contemporary jazz guitar
sounds, Two Seasons was released in 2004 by L.A. based
guitarist Dave Hill. Citing influences like Pat Metheny and
John Scofield as well as jazz pianst Vince Guaraldi, Hill strikes
a fine balance between melodic and improvisational instrumental jazz.
In Hill’s own words, “I enjoy bridging the gap between jazz
purists who like really daring performances and newcomers to jazz
who simply enjoy great songs played by musicians who know how to both
groove and entertain.” Recorded between 2001-2003, the eight
track Two Seasons features Hill’s expert guitar work backed
up by a range of fine players including keyboardist Gregg Karukas.
www.davehillmusic.com
EPIC - A gifted pop band who’ve amassed sales of over 8 million
units since ‘96, Travis released a best-of collection in 2004.
A compilation of their singles releases, the 18 track Travis: Singles
offers a fine intro to one of England’s best new bands. In addition,
the CD booklet features complete discography information. Simultaneously
released is a companion DVD compilation of Singles. Although
you don’t need to see these songs to understand how good they
are, the 17 track DVD presents an amiable video companion to the Singles
CD, the only difference being that the CD boasts a new Travis
song, “Walking In The Sun”. In addition to all of the band’s
videos for the songs, the DVD also tags on unseen footage, home videos,
live footage and a VH1 clip. Keep an eye out in 2005 for the band’s
fifth and follow up studio album to their critically acclaimed 12
Memories. www.travisonline.com
EMI - Over in London, EMI Records continues plumbing the
vaults with intriguing artifacts the heyday of London back in the
swinging ‘60s. Look no further than a 2004 double CD set from
the fabled ‘60s pop ensemble Simon Dupree And The Big Sound
entitled Part Of My Past. Of course, there was
no Simon Dupree, instead the group was actually a springboard for
three brothers, Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman and Phil
Shulman. Although they changed their group name to Gentle Giant
in 1970, rising to incredible success as progressive rock innovators,
here and abroad, early on the Shulman brothers kicked things off with
a mid ‘60s cabaret sound with an R&B / psychedelic style
used so successfully by other rock groups of the era including Small
Faces and even the early Procol Harum band, The Paramounts. 55 Simon
Dupree tracks spread over two discs—including an impressive booklet
with hard to read text—make it clear that even pre-Gentle Giant
the Shulman brothers were right up there, rocking out with the best
of them. www.blazemonger.com/GG/
EMPYREAN RECORDS - From the San Diego area, Silver Sunshine
are making waves with a 2004 self-titled CD on the Empyrean label.
These guys live up to the hype on a moody set of effective psych-pop
rockers that blend the best guitar-centric elements of early Move
and Pink Floyd, mid-period Kinks and Emitt Rhodes. On their way to
the toppermost of the poppermost, the quartet of up and coming rockers
flash back to the ‘60s with 11 toe-tapping, mop-topping, paisley-popping
vestiges, evoking that proverbial kinder, gentler time in music history.
www.silversunshine.com
EXOTIC AQUATIC - New York-based guitarist Scott Helland
cites influences such as Blackmore’s Night, Jethro Tull and New
Age songstress Loreena McKennitt, and on his sixth solo album he has
devised an entertaining acoustic guitar masterpiece. Helland’s
earlier releases combined a wealth of guitar influences and on the
2004 CD release of Brocade he continues combining
rock, pagan folk, metal influences and neoclassical styles into an
instrumental acoustic guitar-based format. His 2000 CD, Space Age
Tranceology was likened to ‘Brian Eno meets The Cure’,
yet on Brocade, Helland flavors his acoustic guitar instrumentals
with a medieval flavor and movie soundtrack mystique spurred on by
stark, layered acoustic guitar melodies and rhythms. Although he confesses,
"I'm into the big majestic sound of metallic and classical music
and the intensity of punk," Helland breaks new ground with the
intriguing acoustic guitar visions of Brocade. www.scotthelland.com
FRIDAY MUSIC - Following the departure of guitar great Robin Trower
from the ranks, Procol Harum reformed with guitar ace Mick
Grabham for their 1973 album Grand Hotel. The
album following the band’s last Trower-fueled album—an eclectic,
rocked out affair entitled Broken Barricades—Gary Brooker,
Keith Reid, B.J. Wilson and Chris Copping reemerged,
Trower-less with Grand Hotel, a bonafide classic rock album
that still impresses 30 years on. Friday Music have done a fine job
on their 2004 Grand Hotel CD remaster, adding in liner
notes by Friday Music mogul Joe Reagoso, complete lyrics sheet
and original album artwork. As grand sounding as Grand Hotel still
does, Procol hit even greater heights with their 1974 album Exotic
Birds And Fruit. Spotlighting the same Grand Hotel
lineup—including rookie bassist Alan Cartwright—Exotic
Birds And Fruit rocked from start to finish and was an exemplary
showcase for another round of Brooker / Reid classics graced with
the pioneering (and sorely missed) rock drumming from veteran thumper,
the late, great B.J. Wilson. Friday Music is touting more Procol Harum
remasters in 2005 and along with this first round of Procol CD reissues,
Friday has also released Within Our House—a
1996 recording from The Gary Brooker Ensemble. Essentially
a Brooker solo set first released in England, the 16 track CD finds
Brooker with sparse yet effective backing from U.K. rockers, including
guitarist Robbie McIntosh and Dave Bronze (bass), offering
up stately, live Procol covers of “A Salty Dog”, “Nothing
But The Truth” and “The Long Goodbye”. Brooker rounds
things out with an array of gospel-flavored, bluesy standards such
as “Peace In The Valley” and “Jesus On The Mainline”,
while closing out the live festivities with the all time Procol classic,
“A Whiter Shade Of Pale.” www.fridaymusic.com
HANAOLA RECORDS - A historical release of historic Hawaiian music
treasures, The Wandering Troubadours captures 17 tracks
from Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders. Best known
for his signature tune, “Waikiki”, Cummings developed a
huge following in the Island State back in the ‘40s and his 2004
anthology release on Hanaola relives the magic. Considered
a Hawaiian music supergroup back in the ‘40s, the ensemble featured
Cummings on guitar and vocals along with other notable players including
Gabby Pahinui—the premier exponent of Hawaiian slack key
guitar. Digitally restored from 78 RPM, this timeless music is well
represented by a fascinating booklet filled with background notes
and vintage photos of Cummings and company. www.cordinternational.com
HIP-O SELECT - On March 24, 1975 Peter Frampton took his
band into the Record Plant in Sausalito for an ‘in the studio
concert’ that was broadcast on KSAN Radio in San Francisco. Featuring
Frampton backed up by a band consisting of Bob Mayo (keyboards),
Andy Bown (bass) and John Siomos (drums), that
concert foretold the coming successes of the soon to be released Frampton
Comes Alive, a double album also interestingly recorded in San
Francisco later in 1975. Now nearly 30 years after the Sausalito concert,
Hip-O Select have released a limited edition CD of the show
entitled Peter Frampton - Live In San Francisco March 24, 1975.
Drawing on material from Frampton’s first four A&M albums,
the 12 track live in the studio concert CD offers a tasteful mid ‘70s
snapshot of Frampton’s mid ‘70s sound, topped off by excellent
remastered sound and new liner notes by Joel Selvin. www.hip-oselect.com
IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT - When he began back in the ‘50s, his
contemporaries included Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and many others
who passed away much too early. Luckily, Dion DiMucci survived
and he lives to tell the tale once again on an 2004 DVD titles from
Image Entertainment called Dion Live. Looking
pretty jazzed on this post 9/11 gig in Atlantic City, Dion runs through
oldies hits you know like the back of your hand—”Runaround
Sue”, “Ruby Baby” and “Abraham, Martin And John”—with
a band featuring a range of competent talents, on par with yet clearly
in awe of the master of doo-wop pop. Bonus tracks include a lip-synched
b&w clip of Dion’s all time classic, “Ruby Baby”
from an early ‘60s American Bandstand and a one on one history
lesson—with one guitar and the guy who was there at the beginning.
Another 2004 DVD out on Image is The Players - Live In Nashville.
This original TNN broadcast features Nashville session legends
like drummer Eddie Bayers, guitarists Brent Mason (lead)
and Paul Franklin (pedal steel) backing up Shawn Colvin,
Peter Frampton and Vince Gill. A killer rhythm section
is further fueled the sax mastery of the great Jim Horn. A
moody blue kind of set mixing studio expertise with twangy pop, The
Players - Live In Nashville is enhanced with in depth video interviews
from The Players. As cool as these Image DVDs are, rock fans surely
won’t want to miss a live in concert 2004 DVD from The
Doors Of The 21st Century—or rather the great Ray
Manzarek and Robby Krieger joined by Ian Astbury,
who turns in a fantastic job impersonating Jim Morrison.
Further assisted by (bass) and (drums) Manzarek and Krieger mercifully
get to relive their daring ‘60s jazz/pop vision as The Doors
Of The 21st Century. If you dug the fabled ‘60s Doors albums
or even those hard to find, yet intriguing post-Morrison Elektra Doors
albums, you’ll catch a retro ‘60s buzz here. Kreiger’s
guitar work is in excellent form, tastefully reenacting the guitar
licks that turned on a whole generation to a truly innovative musical
source. The whole shebang is a little creepy indeed, just the way
Morrison would have liked it. www.image-entertainment.com
INSIDE OUT MUSIC - An instrumental jazz-rock album packed with
one potent musical punch after another, the 2004 Inside Out Music
CD release of Mythology finds keyboard great
Derek Sherinian backed by some of the greatest fusion aces
on the current scene. Before he joined Dream Theater on keyboards
in late ‘94, Sherinian even thought about turning his attention
to the guitar (“I’d always loved the instrument”) but
after 200 live shows with Dream Theater his fate was sealed. Clearly
among the finest keyboard virtuosos on the U.S. scene, Sherinian has
composed some of his most atmospheric pieces on his finest solo CD
to date. One look at the credits should be enough to convince you
of the musical greatness here. For the guitar slot Sherinian receives
stellar support from Steve Lukather, Steve Stevens,
Zakk Wylde and Alan Holdsworth while the legendary drumming
skills of album co-producers Simon Phillips and Brian Tichy
drives the music with exceptional intensity. Mythology proves
Sherinian has few competitors when it comes to combining the finest
elements of heavy metal, hard rock rock and jazz fusion The CD booklet
also features a “Bandology” cataloging Sherinian’s
illustrious musical lineage. www.insideoutmusic.com
JU - A one man band album that really rocks, Straight Ahead
introduces the guitar talents of Jeff Urso. Raised in the
Chicago area on the music of Kiss and Van Halen, Urso displays a knack
for writing atmospheric hard driving rock instrumental tunes in the
spirit of modern masters like Satriani and Vai. Urso sets himself
apart from the pack with some soaring guitar tracks that also bring
to mind the cinematic soundscapes of the greats like Jan Hammer. Among
the many fine tunes on the ten track 33 minutes CD is a cool clocker
called “Warm Day” to which Urso adds, “this song is
best consumed w while listening in a quick sports car on a mid-summer
afternoon with the windows down, sunroof open, convertible top down.”
Perfect action movie music or simply rip-roaring stuff to kick back
and marvel at, Straight Ahead is a solid effort from a rising
guitarist. www.jeffurso.com
KM-GUITARSLINGER.COM - Minnesota-based guitarist Keith Miller
is receiving lots of well earned praise for his two recently released
self-produced CDs. Comparisons to Joe Satriani, Metallica and even
the Galactic Cowboys aside, with the release of Groove Train
(2003) and Chalk (2004)
Miller is staking out some unique musical territory all his
own. A virtual steamroller of hard-rock guitar instrumental guitar
sounds, Miller wrote, recorded and mixed all the sounds on both CDs,
demonstrating impressive guitar skills as well as his expertise in
the studio. Among the guitars Miller features on the CDs are a variety
of Carvin models as well as a pair of Switch models and a Cordoba
classical. Although both CDs fall into the hard rock instrumental
realm, Miller comes through with some dazzling guitar tones and techniques
to further assure his guitar stature. www.km-guitarslinger.com
KRIZTAL - Having worked with and having inspired the best in the
biz—including Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Miles
Davis, Annie Lennox and Iggy Pop—the late great Cole Porter
remains an icon of 20th Century popular music. Some of today’s
best new talent from the chillout, downtempo, Nu Jazz, Smooth Jazz,
reggae and drum and bass realms have banded together for the 2004
release of The Porter Project. More than just
a sampler CD acknowledging Porter’s legacy, the 16 track CD is
brilliant, cohesive mix of cutting-edge modern sounds. The ultimate
romantic, lounge music soundtrack, The Porter Project features
a wide range of fine musicians and vocalists including Charlotte
McKinnon and album producer / guitarist Billy Paul Williams,
the latter who turns in a dazzling vocal performance on “Miss
Otis Regrets.” Recorded in Miami Beach, The Porter Project
is the perfect soundtrack for your next real or imagined musical
rendezvous. www.kriztal.com
LOADED
GOAT - Back in the ‘80s, guitarist Jamie Hoover cut
a bunch of great sides with gifted people like Marti Jones and Don
Dixon. A member of the renowned power pop outfit, The Spongetones,
Hoover has also released some excellent pop based solo CDs and you
need look no further than his 2004 CD, Jamie Hoo-ever
for some excellent sounds. A tribute album, the surreptitiously titled
album features cool covers of icons like George Harrison, Bobby
Fuller and Bob Lind to name a few and Hoover spices it
up with an instro take of long forgotten classics like “A Summer
Place” and he convincingly sings in Japanese on “Sukiyaki”.
A self contained accapella version of the We Five ‘65 classic
“You Were On My Mind” further demonstrates Hoover’s
unyielding affection for these much revered songs. Track by track
notes from the man sheds more light on the genesis of these power-packed
pop nuggets. www.jamiehoover.net
NHCD - Honing his craft on sessions for Bo Diddley, The Platters
and The Lawrence Welk Orchestra guitarist Jon Novak steps out
with a 2004 jazz date from his group, Novak & Harr. Spotlighting
Novak in the studio with bassist Mark Haar, A Summer’s
Carol also features percussionist Joey Guluzia.
Jazz guitar buffs will dig where Novak & Haar are coming from
on A Summer’s Carol. Novak displays his compositional
expertise on his own title track, while other treats here are instrumental
covers of some much loved songs and jazz standards. Mixing timeless,
jazzy covers of “On Green Dolphin Street” and “All
The Things You Are” with newer pop classics like “Black
Magic Woman” “Wichita Lineman” and Van Morrison’s
“Moondance” proves to be a stroke of genius. A renowned
guitarist teacher, Novak’s guitar chops are in fine form while
Haar’s spirited string bass work rounds out this very appealing
jazz guitar CD. www.novakandhaar.com
NO
HAIR - High Octane instrumental fusion played with skill and pizzazz,
Caffeine Racer, by U.K. born / San Diego based
guitarist Taz Taylor hits hard and fast with some mighty impressive
fretboard maneuvers. Taylor handles all the guitars—and assisted
by drummer Calvin Lakin—also tackles the bass and keyboards
while sharing production chores with Richard Livoni. Recorded
in his adopted home of San Diego, Taylor combines his love for the
Euro-tinged pomp and circumstance of Yngwie Malmsteen and the jazzy
compositional mastery of Joe Satriani while injecting his own fluid
guitar style and ideas into the mix. Also influenced by metal rock
pioneers Richie Blackmore and Michael Schenker, Taylor’s Caffeine
Racer is an excellent first step from a rising guitar talent.
www.taztaylor.com
RF - Although he’s best known as a chicken-pickin’ Tele
master who’s done sessions with Nashville’s best, including
Marty Stuart, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs, U.K. native Ray
Flacke released a superb self-produced solo acoustic guitar album
in 2004. Recorded in Nashville, Songs Without Words
is a masterful ten track CD filled with Ray’s expert playing
on his Guild D-60 flat top acoustic guitar. The packaging of Songs
Without Words is great and filling in some missing pieces, in
the liner notes, Flacke credits guitar heros such as Hank B. Marvin,
Ritchie Blackmore, Big Jim Sullivan and or course the late, great
Chet Atkins, who recorded one of Ray’s classic tracks, “Tahitian
Skies” both with Mark Knopfler and again with the Irish band,
The Chieftains. Inventive, meditative and highly listenable are just
a few adjectives used to describe the guitar craft in play on Songs
Without Words. www.rayflacke.com
RANBACH / MAXIMUM JAZZ - Rock icon Randy Bachman is most
remembered for his pioneering albums with The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner
Overdrive, yet on the other hand he’s also a solid jazz buff
who spends a good deal of time towards reissuing the music of his
first guitar mentor, the late, great Lenny Breau. Breau might not
have been a huge fan of the grunge rock sound of BTO yet he’d
be at home on Bachman’s 2004 solo CD Jazz Thing.
Backed by some fine musicians, Bachman summons his best jazz vocal
performance to date, conjuring images of singers like John Pizzarelli,
Mel Torme and Mose Allison. Subdued, dimly lit cocktail jazz at it’s
most sublime, the eleven track Jazz Thing works best when Bachman’s
guitar takes charge like on a smokey version of the Johnny Cash classic
“I Walk The Line” or the swingin’, uptempo “Dead
Cool”. Through the power of modern technology, jazz icon Lenny
Breau even makes a return from the great beyond, appearing in the
guitar slot on Bachman’s revival of the Gershwin classic, “Summertime”.
www.randybachman.com
RESONATOR RECORDS - Australian guitar master Roland Chadwick
released his latest solo album, One, on the
U.K.-based Resonator Records. Hailed by a range of guitar masters—including
fellow Australian Tommy Emmanuel (“thrilling compositions)—Chadwick
steps into the light on One, his first solo CD of contemporary
classical guitar. A gifted composer / performer equally adept on steel
string acoustic, Dobro and electric guitar and guitar synth as well
as nylon string classical, Chadwick readily establishes himself as
a classical fretboard master with 2004 release of One. The
well rounded Chadwick is also featured on the 2004 release of Surider
Sandhu's critically acclaimed world beat CD, Saurang Orchestra also
available on Resonator Records. www.rolandchadwick.com
REPRISE - Best known for a string of acclaimed blues rock albums
beginning with his ‘95 debut, Ledbetter Heights, guitarist
Kenny Wayne Shepherd returns in 2004 with The Place Your
In. Inspired early on by the blues, Shepherd’s
latest on Reprise Records ushers in a harder rock / pop sound enhanced
by Shepherd’s new found presence as a lead vocalist. Earlier
Shepherd albums featured Noah Hunt who returns here on a couple
tracks, yet for the most, the spotlight is on Shepherd’s vocals
and white hot guitar chops. According to Shepherd, “Once I had
the musical direction and the confidence to sing what I had written,
it was like nothing could stop us.” Moving to L.A. and hooking
up with producer / bass ace Marti Frederiksen (“he just
stepped back and let it happen”), Shepherd takes his bluesy rock
vision to the next level on The Place Your In. www.kennywayneshepherd.net
/ www.repriserecords.com
RHINO HOME VIDEO - A celebration of the groundbreaking music Jack
Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton made back in
the ‘60s Strange Brew is a fascinating DVD retrospective
/ biography of the rise and fall of Cream. From a historical
perspective, Cream was England’s first and foremost rock power
trio supergroup. Originally filmed back in 1991, the hour long Strange
Brew features a fine crosssection of live video clips of Cream
in action, as well as revealing interviews with Baker, Clapton and
Bruce. Rounding things out are further segments with blues icon John
Mayall, guitarist Robert Cray and more. Although Cream
held sway over the pop world for a fleeting time frame, between 1966-68,
there’s no denying that the impact they made on all musical genres
will last eternally. And it’s all here, warts and all, on the
fittingly titled Strange Brew.
Another classic RHV DVD retrospective worth checking out, ZZ
Top - Greatest Hits combines 12 classic video clips including
made for MTV classics like “Legs”, “Gimme All Your
Lovin” and “Velcro Fly”. ZZ Top are still giants among
American rock bands and tune in here to find out exactly where all
that jazzy gumbo originated from! Liner notes from publicity legend
Bob Merlis gives a succinct commentary on these tracks that really
changed the way we viewed music videos in the ‘80s.
35 years ago in 1969, Steve Stills, David Crosby and
Graham Nash formed the first American pop supergroup of the
‘60s. Crosby Stills & Nash need know introduction although
the 2004 Rhino Home Video release of The DVD Collection is
a great introduction and a great way to recall the group’s heyday.
The center piece of this 3 DVD box set is never before released documentary
of the band entitled Long Time Comin’. Pairing
classic live performances, TV appearances, recording sessions and
interviews, the DVD also adds in historical footage from the three’s
early work with The Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and The Hollies.
Rhino’s triple CSN DVD box is rounded out with the inclusion
on The Acoustic Concert (CSN live in San Francisco 1991)
and Daylight Again (live 1983 in L.A.) www.rhino.com
ROCK & GROOVE RECORDS - A new label making waves with some
serious pop collectables, N.J.-based Rock & Groove Records
reissued four new CD titles in 2004 bound to make collectors quite
happy. Perhaps the most significant R&G reissue, the self-titled
debut from ‘70s U.K. folk-rock ensemble Tranquility is
a fitting reminder as to just how good they were. Featuring the songs
and vocals of Terry Shadick, Tranquility made some sizable
inroads at the start of the ‘70s with a couple of critically
acclaimed albums released Stateside on Epic Records. One of the great
undiscovered bands from the heyday of the early ‘70s, Tranquility
made a pair of excellent albums, and Rock & Groove have just released
one. Further plumbing the Columbia / Epic vaults, Rock & Groove
have also reissued the self-titled pop effort from Bell & Arc.
Featuring the vocals of Graham Bell, this Rock & Groove
reissue features guest drumming spots from Alan White and Mike
Tait. Rock & Groove have also reissued Live ‘N’
Kickin’, a 1974 live set from ‘70s
power trio supergroup West, Bruce & Laing. Leslie West
and Corky Laing were two thirds of the great Mountain
and their early ‘70s works with Cream founder Jack Bruce
are still prized by collectors. Finally from Rock & Groove,
Tales Of The Exonerated Flea, finds fusion drummer
Horacee Arnold paired with musical icons such as Jan Hammer,
Rick Laird, guitarists John Abercrombie and Ralph
Towner and more on a reissue of a Columbia Records classic from
1974. Keep your eyes on Rock & Groove for more reissues in 2005.
www.rockandgrooverecords.com
S3L GROUP - One of the gifted new acoustic guitarists making waves
out of Rome, Italy, Forastiere released his 13 track CD Rag
Tap Boom during 2004. Trained classically, but obviously inspired
with the infinite possibilities the acoustic guitar offers, Forastiere
merges an affinity for lilting Brazilian folk music, ‘60s jazz
and minimalist music, measured out by the teachings of the late great
Michael Hedges. Inspired by the celebrated Hedges approach to instrumental
guitar performance, Forastiere augments his acoustic work with various
techniques like tapping, muting, hammer on / off, the percussive use
of the guitar’s wooden parts and various tunings. Recorded without
overdubs or special effects, Rag Tap Boom is a fitting showcase
for Forastiere’s superb acoustic guitar approach. www.forastiere.it
SANCTUARY - Free-form freaky jazz executed with depth-defying
speed and precision, the third Banyan CD teams Jane’s
Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins with ace fusioneers Mike
Watt (bass) and Nels Cline (guitar). Further buoyed by
Willie Waldman (trumpet), Live At Perkins’ Palace makes
for a harrowing set of experimental instrumental fusion that sometimes
sounds like an eccentric Middle Eastern wedding band on hallucinogenics.
Cline—an electric guitar virtuoso who recently joined the avant-pop
group Wilco—sounds right at home on this masterful conflagration
of electrifying rock, jazz and improvised free form sounds from another
galaxy. www.hootpage.com/hoot_banyan.html
Having beaten cancer and a heroin addiction, one time member of
Jane’s Addiction and Porno For Pyros, Peter DiStefano
released an excellent pop CD in 2004 on Sanctuary. In his own
words, “This album is the story of my life. It’s therapy!”
On Gratitude, DiStefano cuts loose on ten tracks
that rock with a range of memorable hooks. “Poisoned” is
a veritable, modern pop classic. Backed by the tight rhythm section
of Michael Blue (bass) and Shawn Coullahan (drums),
DiStefano’s songs are further accentuated by his nimble electric
guitar fretboard work while and his vocals come off unique and sincere—sort
of a modern hybrid of Lou Reed meets David Bowie. www.peterdistefano.com
SHRAPNEL RECORDS - Assisted by a crack band featuring greats like
Billy Sherwood (bass, lap steel) and drummers Graham Ward
and Jay Schellen, guitar maestro John 5 blazes away
on his 2004 all instrumental CD Vertigo. One
listen to the blistering lead-off track, “Needles, CA.”
and it’s clear that 5 has a great respect for hard rock and heavy
metal, but he also demonstrates some well rounded guitar versatility
on the Steve Morse-inspired fusion workout entitled “Sugar Foot
Rag” and there’s even a cover of “Sweet Georgia Brown”.
Inspired by a ‘sitting in’ session with guitar hero Les
Paul who encouraged him to put out his own kind of record, 5 saw the
light and began work on a guitar album that showcases styles as diverse
as bluegrass, heavy metal and twangy jazz. Years of working with rock
icons such as David Lee Roth, Marilyn Manson, Judas Priest and even
K.D. Lang has seasoned 5 quite nicely and results are paid off on
the appropriately titled Vertigo. www.John-5.com
SIX DEGREES RECORDS - Guitarist Steve Tibbetts and his
longtime percussionist Marc Anderson have a unique history
of making pioneering acoustic electronic instrumental music dating
back to the ‘70s. A 2004 release on Six Degrees, Selwa
is the second collaboration between Tibbetts and Anderson
and Tibetan Buddhist nun Chöyling Drolma, whose organic
Buddhist chanting was recorded at a school for nuns that she founded
in Nepal. According to Tibbetts, “Some of her takes left me and
Marc somewhat stunned. She’d finish the song. I’d quickly
save the recording file on the laptop.” Manipulating the tapes
back in Minnesota—adding in acoustic and electric guitars, shifting
drones and subtle hand percussion—Tibbetts and company have crafted
a fascinating disc of ambient electronica and world music that
brings the ancient into the present. www.sixdegreesrecords.com
SONIC WHEEL RECORDS - Back in the ‘60s Paul Revere &
The Raiders were one of the greatest Top 40 pop bands. With 16
hit singles and 7 gold albums to their credit, the Raiders were everywhere
in addition to being a mainstay on the popular daily music show “Where
The Action Is.” Decades later, in 2004 the group’s original
bassist, Phil “Fang” Volk released a cool tribute
album to the Raiders sound entitled Fang Reveres The Raiders.
Described by the original Raiders manager, Roger Hart as
“the best remake of the Raider discography I’ve ever heard”,
the 18 track CD from Fang & The Gang features Fang on lead
vocals and bass reworking Raiders hits like “Just Like Me”,
“Hungry”, “Kicks”, his own brilliant “In
My Community” (from Spirit Of ‘67) plus a range of
rock and roll standards. A solid CD from a guy who lived and breathed
the greatness of ‘60s pop, Fang Reveres The Raiders features
a 24 page booklet adorned with memorable photos of his old band and
all the great players who helped him record this long overdue solo
album. www.philfangvolk.com
STEIGER PRODUCTIONS - Backed up by some of the hottest players
in today’s fusion world, guitar terminator Ken Steiger
takes his electrifying instra-metal rock sound to new heights on Defiance.
While the release of this 2004 Project Steiger CD does feature
a couple tracks with his touring band, the surprise here are the appearances
of seasoned studio players like keyboard ace Derek Sherinian,
drummer Virgil Donati, Jimmy Page bassist Tony Franklin
topped off by a guest spot from surf-metal guitarist Gary Hoey.
Musicians of this caliber are perfectly suited for Steiger’s
street smart approach to the hard rock instrumental guitar genre and
Steiger’s fleet-fingered shred metal guitar mastery seals the
deal on this intense sonic feeding frenzy. www.projectsteiger.com
SUNDAZED - Although
he’s still going strong with his symphonic guitar albums, back
in the ‘60s Jan Davis recorded a batch of sides that demonstrated
an affinity for The Ventures and The Shadows. Sundazed has compiled
20 of the best of Davis’ ‘60s sides on Boss Guitar!
The Best Of Jan Davis. Sundazed is a veritable treasure
trove of ‘60s and ‘70s reissues and in keeping with the
label’s tasteful reinstatement of the entire back catalog of
The Byrds, they now offer 2004 reissues from Byrds founder Roger
McGuinn. Up and out on Sundazed is McGuinn’s 1975 CD called
Roger McGuinn & Band. Highlighted by covers
of Dylan’s “Knocking On Heaven’s Door” and “Born
To Rock And Roll”, the 2004 Sundazed remaster features the original
Columbia masters, fresh interviews with Roger and live bonus covers
of “Wasn’t Born To Follow” and “Chestnut Mare”.
Admittedly rejuvenated following his stint on the 1975 Bob Dylan Rolling
Thunder Tour, McGuinn teamed with Bowie guitar icon Mick Ronson
for the 1976 release of Cardiff Rose. One
of McGuinn’s finest albums ever, Cardiff Rose is best
remembered for McGuinn’s cover of the Joni Mitchell classic “Dreamland”
and fittingly that track is reprised as a live bonus track along with
another bonus cut of McGuinn covering the Ronson-era Bowie classic
“Soul Love” topped off by further new notes by the still
high-flyin’ McGuinn. www.sundazed.com
TERMINUS RECORDS - A way cool musical experiment blending instrumental
alternative rock, in the spirit of early ‘80s group Love Tractor
and Zappa-esque rock energy, the second CD from Slang features
expert production from Layng Martine III and Widespread Panic
bassist Dave Schools. Sort of what might happen if Herbie Hancock
and Brian Eno sat in for a jazzy electronica jam, More Talk
About Tonight features a number of great players and guitarists
including Knox Chandler and Eric McFadden. Also appearing
on the mostly instrumental set with a cameo vocal is both Lori
Carson and Vic Chestnutt. Instrumental rock is a growing
phenomenon yet Slang hit the nail right on the head with the effervescent,
groove based instro sound of More Talk About Tonight. www.slang2.com
/ www.terminusrecords.com
THREE DOTS MUSIC - After years backing music legends like Wanda
Jackson, Freddie Cannon, Eric Amble and others, Brooklyn-based keyboardist
Jim Duffy released his own CD Side One in 2004.
Backed by some truly great players including Dennis Diken (from
Smithereens on drums), Lance Doss (guitarist from John Cale’s
band) and the strings of the Flux String Quartet, Duffy channels
the spirits of Burt Bacharach and late, great piano man Vince Guaraldi
on a short but sweet CD that would make a great soundtrack to a Peanuts
cartoon. The 11 track instrumental CD makes a splendid argument for
the wonders of the 88 key piano, a noble, vintage instrument that’s
just about been forgotten in this age of high tech wizardry. From
Ray Charles style grooves to ‘60s retro and soundtrack sounds,
Side One is a joy from start to finish. jimduffy@3dotsmusic.com
UNDERHILL JAZZ - A guitar duo dream team featuring veteran jazz
master John Abercrombie and John Basile, Animations
is simply one of the finest instrumental guitar-based jazz duet
albums of 2004. In his liner notes Basile tactfully compares Abercrombie’s
guitar playing to that of a rubber band—’flexible, open
to change, but returning back to its original shape.’ Both Abercrombie
and Basile are masters at improvising inventive guitar patterns. Overall,
the CD is an excellent follow up to their earlier collaborations on
Abercrombie’s instructional video, Jazz Guitar Improvisation
as well as Basile’s ‘96 Frank Sinatra tribute entitled
Frankly Speaking. A tasty sonic showcase featuring Abercrombie’s
Brian Moore and Brian Madsen guitars and Basile’s Godin and Tom
Doyle guitars, Animations is one of those rare guitar CDs that
you can constantly savor as their ‘in the moment’ improvisations
and musical ideas retain their sparkle spin after spin. www.underhilljazz.com
WARNER BROS. - 13 albums later, all in just over twenty years,
R.E.M. continues in the tried and true pop-rock formula that’s
brought them to the top of the pops. Kicking off with a near classic
R.E.M. hummer called “Leaving New York”, Around The
Sun cooks right on with a range of memorable tunes packing
the grooves. Recording their 2004 release in Vancouver and Miami,
Michael Stipe, and guitarists Peter Buck and
Mike Mills receive fine support from top players including
Scott McCaughey, pop pundit Ken Stringfellow and even
rapper Q-Tip. Stipe, Buck and Mills may already be well on the way
with yet another new album yet long time R.E.M. watchers should just
stop and smell the roses and marvel at the pop presence in play on
Around The Sun.
www.remhq.com
WINDHAM HILL - The first in a new music series on Windham Hill,
Appalachian Picking Society features a select mix of
instrumental Americana music performed on acoustic instruments such
as dobro, flat top acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and dulcimer.
Although mostly based on American folk music, many melodies here can
be traced by to traditional music emanating from Ireland, England
and even Sweden. The place where bluegrass and country and western
instrumentals meet the future, Appalachian Picking Society showcases
performances by a number of top pickers including Béla Fleck,
Bryon Sutton, Dan Tyminski, Rob Ickes, Chris
Thile and a whole lot more. The 17 track 2004 CD captures an impressive
spectrum of traditional American acoustic music while the booklet
puts it into perspective, listing every player and make and model
of every vintage instrument. www.windham.com / www.appalachianpickingsociety.com
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed
in www.mwe3.com and 20th Century Guitar. Send to CD Reviews Editor
Robert Silverstein, P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail: rss54@mwe3.com
