This is the epitome of vibrant acoustic guitar jazz!
Jack West/Walter Strauss – Guitars On Life – Otá Records OTA 1037 [1/23/2026] 180-gram translucent stereo vinyl, 42:37 ****1/2
(Jack West – acoustic guitar; Walter Strauss – acoustic guitar)
Acoustic guitar in jazz began in the 1920’s. An early figure in this movement was Eddie Lang, the first renowned jazz guitar soloist. Others included Lonnie Johnson, Carl Kress and of course Django Reinhardt. This was also a staple of the Brazilian nylon-stringed instrumentation that defined that genre. While many jazz guitarists transitioned to electric, a new wave of acoustic players continue to emerge, including Julian Lage and John Pizzarelli. One of the modern acoustic virtuosos is Jack West. He is regarded for his rhythmic style, achieved on custom eight-string. He has released several albums with his band Curvature. West is adept at simultaneously playing percussion-based lines, slide, chords and bass.
West has been joined by fellow guitarist Walter Strauss for a new album on Oakland-based Otá Records. Guitars On Life. features seven original compositions and one cover performed as a steel-string duet. The music is spontaneous and has no overdubbing. On most of the tracks, West provides the tempo and slide runs. Strauss contributes lead. Side A opens with “More Guitar”. West’s relentless percussive chords are complemented by Strauss’ precise lead. West lays down bass lines and Strauss delivers forceful notation on his solo. A shared up tempo (with occasional harmonizing chords) makes this jam incendiary. The lone cover (Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”) captures the funkiness and grooves of the original.
Both West and Strauss excel at finger picking and exchange with seamless chemistry. Both take solos, and West’s hook-filled bass lines and “drumming” are compelling. On “Youth”, the basic instrumental roles are intact, but there is a softer bluesy undercurrent. Strauss’ runs are fluid and have deep complexity. West manages to create a substantial rhythm section. In a change of arrangement on “Across The Bardo”, Strauss plays rhythm and West takes the early lead. He has several nimble slide runs and eventually reprises the “finger drumming” and chords countering Strauss’ lead.
Blues grooves and hooks permeate “Double Bounce”. West’s unique bass-oriented riffs establish this jam against the lyrical translation of his musical partner. Again, the slide work adds texture to the cohesive interplay. After a signature drum/chord intro, “New Way Up” unfolds with a nuanced, melodic resonance. The pulsating undercurrent is still palpable, but there are delicate accents. Syncopated jazz timing is a strong undercurrent on “OO”. West frames this jaunty exploration with his furious bass picking while Strauss injects exotic motifs into his solos. There is a nice modulation at the end. The finale (“Follow The Water Down”) is a distinct change-of-pace. The instrumentation is atmospheric and exudes an airy hypnotic essence.
Guitars On life is an exuberant collection of acoustic guitar jazz. The sound mix (Adam Muñoz) is balanced and blends the dual guitars. (Note: Another Jack West album, Essential Curvature will also be released on the same date). Microphone placement is precise. This Bernie Grundman-mastered vinyl (Chris Bellman) is pristine with little surface noise and no hisses or pops.
Highly recommended!
—Robbie Gerson
Jack West/Walter Strauss – Guitars On Life
TrackList:
Side A:
More Guitar;
I Wish;
Youth;
Across The Bardo
Side B:
Double Bounce;
New Way Up;
OO;
Follow The Water Down
