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January,
2001
CD Reviews
INSTRUMENTAL
REVIEWS
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DWEEZIL ZAPPA
Automatic
(Favored Nations)
Coming back after ten years away
from the recording scene, Dweezil Zappa returns with his first primarily
instrumental album. Like his dad, the late, great Frank Zappa, Dweezil’s
music really shows how diverse a medium rock and roll really is. Just
check out Dweezil’s two covers of the amazing "Hawaii Five-O"
theme and a multi-tracked opus of "Les Toreadors" from the opera
Carmen. The lone vocal on the album is a song from Doctor
Seuss which features some inspired Zappa-esque vocals by brother Ahmet
Zappa. Sandwiched in between these jewels are further sonic
extrapolations of Dweezil’s own instro muse. Adding in players like Terry
Bozzio (drums), Mike Keneally (rhythm guitar) and Joe
Travers (drums) is another fine move by Dweezil. The trademark of the
Zappa sound has always been about transcending stereotypes and genres. It
must be great to have a father who is still considered one of the 20th
Century’s most innovative and challenging rock musicians. No doubt Frank
is somewhere digging Dweezil’s impressive new foray into the world of
instrumental guitar. www.zappa.com
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BEN TREXEL
Under The
Radar
(Tiny Kingdom)
A mix of scorching jazz-rock fury
and hair-raising guitar pyrotechnics, the new album from Alabama-based
guitarist Ben Trexel is one of the best instrumental jazz-rock fusion
albums of 2000. On his second solo album, Trexel is joined by John
Williams (drums) and Geoff Sides (percussion) although, clearly
the star here is Trexel’s formidable guitar chops and compositions. Some
have compared Trexel’s playing to that of masters like Ronnie Montrose,
Steve Hunter and even Jimmy Page, yet on Under The Radar Trexel
tackles new musical ground with noteworthy ease. Performing on Fender
electric guitar and Ovation and Gibson acoustic guitars, Trexel comes
across like a one man guitar army. In addition to his guitar work, Trexel
adds fuel to his fire with his own first rate accompaniment on bass and
keyboards. Each song is cleverly crafted and is well balanced with studio
wizardry, memorable arrangements and tasty melodic touches. Under The
Radar is proof that the best hard-hitting guitar fusion albums can
amaze with both might and mastery. www.guitar9.com
/ tinykingdom@mindspring.com
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PAT METHENY
TRIO
Live
(Warner Bros.)
Guitar great Pat Metheny unites with Larry
Grenadier (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums) for a new live double CD
set that hearkens back to early Metheny trio recordings such as his 1975 album
Bright Size Life, an album recorded with Jaco Pastorius and Bob
Moses. Metheny’s live albums have always presented a structured musical
balance where melody and improvisation merge into one sonic blast of pleasure.
Recorded during 99-00 in America, Europe and Japan, Live continues the
long line of great Metheny in concert albums. Recorded in the aftermath of a
two year stretch of recording and touring with his regular Pat Metheny Group, Live
finds the guitar legend leading a potent guitar-based trio ensemble.
According to Metheny, "It’s true that as much as I enjoy the open-endedness
of the Group and the incredible freedom that exists in that world, I also love
the sort of mobility and day to day flexibility that playing in a trio affords
me. Actually, playing in a trio, is the easiest thing for me because it is
actually the situation that I have played in the longest." Amid new live
versions of Metheny classics like "Bright Size Life"and
"Question And Answer" are trio covers of "Capricorn" by Wayne
Shorter and "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane. Coupled with
an ample display of Metheny’s acoustic guitar prowess and impressive 24-bit
sound quality, Trio is a rewarding live document from one of the guitar
world’s most respected masters. www.wbjazz.com
/ www.patmethenygroup.com
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ERIK LUNDMARK
Canadian
Impressions
(Leo Mark)
Hailing from Sweden and now
writing soundtracks in the L.A. area, guitarist Erik Lundmark continues
the prominent tradition of Scandinavian jazz-rock guitar great Janne
Schaffer. In some ways similar to Pat Metheny’s best recordings,
Lundmark’s fifth solo album is loaded with convincing compositions,
first-rate guitar skills and inspiring arrangements. Recorded in
Stockholm, Canadian Impressions finds the guitarist backed by a
band of Scandinavian superstar musicians including Andreas Aarflot (keyboards)
and Mikael Hadenquist (drums). Like both Metheny and Schaffer
before him, Lundmark is masterful at mixing mysterious and moody jazz
guitar settings with a more upbeat, almost funky instrumental guitar-based
jazz-rock sound. A refreshing new guitar album filled with enchanting
musical grooves, Canadian Impressions will be the ticket to further
establishing Lundmark with a whole new market of American guitar devotees.
www.cdbaby.com / www.cdlimits.com
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Z-WORKS
Sleeping
Angels
(Z-Works)
The recent album by guitarist Randy
Z is a veritable feast for guitar fans of all ages. More New Age in
scope than say jazz, Sleeping Angels covers the bases when it comes
to merging a wealth of guitar genres. Mixing acoustic / electric guitars
and drum programming to great effect, the CD ranges from dreamy,
meditative New Age instrumentals to a more compelling and progressive
instrumental sound. Never overpowering or concerned with musical might, Sleeping
Angels sort of descends on your listening space, drawing the listener
in rather than forcing the ear. The music ranges from a pastoral Windham
Hill kind of vibe to music echoing the spirit of Pink Floyd and Jimi
Hendrix with some soaring melodic guitar leads. Very few guitarists mix
acoustic and electric playing within the frame of one song as well as
Randy Z and his Sleeping Angels project. Let’s hope he gets to
further cultivate his audio ideas. www.z-worksrecords.com
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DAVE BEEGLE
A Year
Closer
(Hapi Skratch/Avant Acoustic)
Colorado-based guitar ace Dave
Beegle follows up his wide ranging Clear The Tracks compilation
from last year with a new solo acoustic guitar set called A Year
Closer. Entirely different in scope from his work with the progressive
rock band Fourth Estate, A Year Closer is the perfect
showcase for Beegle’s acoustic steel string guitar virtuosity as well as
his love of Flamenco and classical guitar. In the spirit of icons like
Steve Howe and Phil Keaggy, Beegle demonstrates that diversity is his
great strength as a guitarist. Within the realm of Flamenco and Classical
guitar skill is often paramount to innovation, yet it’s quite clear that
Beegle’s prodigious talent and training makes A Year Closer much
more than just another solo guitar CD. The 10 track album is filled with a
number of Beegle originals as well as covers of the Spanish guitar
favorite "Malaguena" along with a splendid Beegle cover of the
Bach favorite "Joy". Several like-minded players add some
fitting touches, although the spotlight is clearly on Beegle’s one of a
kind guitar craft. www.hapiskratch.com/davebeegle
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MICHAEL SPRIGGS
Without
Words
(Agnes / Music Design)
Subtitled Reflections From The
Isle Of Man, the most recent CD from Nashville-based guitarist Michael
Spriggs is a supremely relaxing album of pastoral instrumental
guitarscapes further orchestrated by strings, fretless bass and soft
percussion. Born in London, Spriggs moved to Nashville in 1971 and
following his tenure as lead guitarist with Eddie Rabbitt he went on to
become a highly sought after studio and session musician. Accompanying
himself on acoustic, electric and baritone guitars as well as guitar
synths, Spriggs is ably assisted by Jonathan Yudkin (violin, viola
and mandolin), Steve Brewster (assorted percussion) and Richard
"Spady" Brannan (fretless bass). A series of tender musical
memoirs of Spriggs’ early years growing up on the Isle Of Man, Without
Words effortlessly crosses over into the realm of New Age, easy
listening and new acoustic instrumental musics. In addition to the
picturesque cover art, the CD booklet features guitar tuning facts and the
artist’s own track-by-track reflections of his life’s journey. www.cmspriggs.com
/ www.michaelspriggs.com
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MATTHEW KENNEDY
Azure
Play
(Thunder Lizard)
One of those albums to just wind
down to or relax to as soothing background music, Azure Play is a
fine new album from Indiana-based steel string acoustic guitarist Matthew
Kennedy. The big influence Leo Kottke has on Kennedy’s music can be
detected here, yet the CD manages to break new ground within the new
acoustic and instrumental guitar genres. The album features supplemental
instrumentation from Kennedy’s cohort Gene Ort. Kennedy balances
his musical reveries with some fine melodic ideas and guitar wizardry
making the album a satisfying spin for New Age and light music followers
alike. macakennedy@earthlink.net
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STEVEN DILLON
First Of
All
(SD)
One of the foremost up and coming
artists in the new acoustic fingerstyle guitar genre, Steven Dillon
strikes musical gold with his CD debut. Originally inspired by the hot
licks of shred-guitar masters such as Joe Satriani and Eddie Van Halen,
Dillon was tragically sidelined by a near fatal car accident. That
unfortunate twist of fate lead him back to his first love - writing music
and playing the acoustic guitar. A truly inspiring and well-crafted
instrumental set of acoustic guitar compositions, First Of All is
clearly influenced by fingerstyle masters like Don Ross and Billy
McLaughlin although Dillon is quick to point out, "I believe that my
style and sound have been shaped by my past as well as musicians who were
inspired by Michael Hedges. I’m sort of a second generation
Hedges-influenced player." Written, recorded and produced by Dillon, First
Of All is at once serene and stimulating - an album filled with eleven
impressionistic guitar settings punctuated by clever compositions and
god-given talent. www.stevendillon.com
- http://mp3.com/stevendillon
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SCOTT HELLAND
Space
Age Tranceology
(Exotic Aquatic)
Sort of a cross between Robert
Fripp and Brian Eno, the latest CD from NYC-based guitarist Scott Helland
is a journey into ‘ambient acoustic instrumental space folk’.
Described by the artist himself as "catching the melodies and riffs
that are floating in the air", the album was written, performed and
recorded by Helland on an assortment of acoustic, electric and bass
guitars. Inspired by some of Eno’s earlier albums such as the New Age
classic Music For Films, Helland’s Space Age Tranceology is
a mystical trip into introspective and hypnotic guitar music. The
minimalist techniques of Helland’s guitar performance really allows the
notes ample breathing room. Space Age Tranceology immerses the
listener in their own private zone and provides the perfect pause for
musical meditation and relaxation. www.scotthelland.com
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HELLBORG,
LANE, SELVAGANESH
Good
People In Times Of Evil
(Bardo)
A mainstay on the jazz-fusion and
World Music scene for nearly three decades, Swedish bass guitarist Jonas
Hellborg recently joined forces with guitarist Shawn Lane and
India’s percussion wiz V. Selvaganesh for the newest release on
Hellborg’s NYC-based Bardo Records. Anyone familiar with his
resume will point to Hellborg’s impressive track record of works with
giants like John McLaughlin, Ginger Baker and Bernie Worrell to name a
few. Shawn Lane of course was the teenage guitar great who came of age
with Black Oak Arkansas and went on to work with Joe Walsh and The
Highwaymen. For their new trio CD, Hellborg, Lane and Selvaganesh
consummate a dizzying set of improvisational music that defies
categorization while also making a strong case for the current popularity
of World Beat jazz-fusion. Similar to Hellborg’s earlier work with
guitar great John McLaughlin, Good People will appeal to the same
audience first captivated by McLaughlin’s acoustic World Beat ensemble
Shakti. Equally mesmerizing and mysterious sounding, Good People In
Times Of Evil strikes a compelling pose between agile World Beat
fusion and acoustic jazz. www.hellborg.com
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KEVIN FERGUSON
& TESHKOTO
Exotic
Extremes
(Debone)
As guitarist Kevin Ferguson proved
on his last CD, Strad To Strat - an album featuring electric
guitar adaptations of classical violin music by Paganini, Bach and Vivaldi
- no genre of music is safe from the electric guitar. Nor should it be as
the guitarist points out on his new album of instrumental guitar
renditions of various folk and dance musics from The Balkans, The Middle
East and beyond. On his World Beat sound safari Ferguson receives top
support from Chris Goldthorpe (bass) and percussionist Craig
Carney. The accent here is squarely on Ferguson’s lightening quick
guitar reflexes as he skillfully mirrors the daredevil time signatures
required in executing these rousing folk tunes. Exotic Extremes is
a lively, colorful musical rendezvous for World Beat fans and guitar
enthusiasts alike. Ferguson’s web site is filled with number of strange
and intriguing World-Beat main plays and side shows. www.debone.com
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Attention
Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed by mwe3.com. Send to:
MWE3.com CD Reviews Editor Robert Silverstein,
P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail:
info@mwe3.com
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