guitar Archive
Julian & Roman WASSERFUHR – Landed in Brooklyn – ACT
Julian & Roman WASSERFUHR – Landed in Brooklyn – ACT 9829-2, 56:59 (3/17/17) ****½: Beautiful charts and ensemble work, highlighted by supremely confident and accomplished trumpet playing. (Julian Wasserfuhr; trumpet & Flugelhorn/ Roman Wasserfuhr; piano, marimba, seaboard/ Donny McCaslin; tenor saxophone/ Tim Lefebvre; bass/ Nate Wood; drums) It’s nice when siblings can get along, but […]
Adam Schneit Band – Light Shines In – Fresh Sound New Talent
Putting the spotlight on saxophonist Adam Schneit. Adam Schneit Band – Light Shines In [TrackList follows] – Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT 518, 48:00 [12/2/16] ****: (Adam Schneit – tenor saxophone, clarinet, producer; Eivind Opsvik – bass, mixer; Sean Moran – guitar; Kenny Wollesen – drums) The 48-minute, seven-track Light Shines In puts the focus […]
McRae – The Great American Songbook – Atlantic (1972)/ Pure Pleasure (2017) – double vinyl
McRae – The Great American Songbook – Atlantic SD 2-904 (1972)/Pure Pleasure (2017) stereo double vinyl, 71:17 ****: Jazz chanteuse delivers a versatile set on a vinyl re-mastering of a 1972 concert. (Carmen McRae – vocals, piano; Joe Pass – guitar; Jimmy Rowles – piano; Chuck Domanico – doublebass; Chuck Flores – drums) Pure Pleasure […]
Eraldo Bernocchi and Prakash Sontakke – Invisible Tracks – RareNoise
An international summit meeting between two progressive guitarists. Eraldo Bernocchi and Prakash Sontakke – Invisible Tracks [TrackList follows] – RareNoise RNR069, 48:44 [11/18/16] ****: (Eraldo Bernocchi – baritone guitar, electric guitar, electronics & producer; Prakash Sontakke – lap steel guitar) Those who think they know the RareNoise label may not know as much as they […]
Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O
B-3 trio plus classic Beatles compositions – a winning combination … Organissimo – B3tles: A Soulful Tribute to the Fab Four – Big O 2424, 67:51 ****1/2: (Jim Alfredson – Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, electric piano/synthesizers; Lawrence Barris – guitar; Randy Marsh – drums, harmonica (#9); Bill Vits – percussion (#1, 3, 5, 9, 12); Mike […]
Audio News for March 24, 2017
Chuck Berry Dies – The “Father of Rock & Roll” is gone at age 90. He was one of the first inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He combined beguiling narratives, fusing rhythm and blues with country and western to transfix the U.S. Bill Clinton called Berry “one of the 20th Century’s […]
Ross Hammond – Follow Your Heart – Prescott Recordings
Ross Hammond – Follow Your Heart – Prescott Recordings [2/27/17] stereo vinyl, 39:26 ****: Delta and Appalachian Blues get an acoustic upgrade on vinyl. (Ross Hammond – solo acoustic Resonator guitar & 12-string guitar) As a twelve-year old growing up in Sacramento, Ross Hammond’s life suddenly changed. His mother bought a guitar for him. In […]
Benson – In Flight – Warner Brothers
Benson – In Flight – Warner Brothers 0798 (1977)/Pure Pleasure (2017) stereo vinyl, 37:56 ****: Jazz guitarist’s foray into pop sounds great on re-mastered vinyl. (George Benson – guitar, vocals; Phil Upchurch – rhythm guitar; Ronnie Foster – electric piano, Mini-Moog; Jorge Dalto – clavinet, acoustic piano; Stanley Banks – bass; Harvey Mason – drums; […]
Tango Under the Stars, Blu-ray (2016)
A wonderful evening of tango-related works in the Hollywood Bowl. Tango Under the Stars, Blu-ray (2016) Performers: Gustavo Dudamel and the Hollywood Bowl Orch./ Angel Romero, guitar/Lalo Schifrin/ Tango Buenos Aires Dancers/ Seth Asarnow, bandoneon Director: Michael Beyer Studio: C Major (Distr. by Naxos) [3/24/17] Program: LALO SCHIFRIN: Concerto for Guitar and Orch. No. 2; […]
Mary Halvorson Octet – Away With You – Firehouse
Guitarist Mary Halvorson expands her band and her compositional strengths. Mary Halvorson Octet – Away With You [TrackList follows] – Firehouse 12 FH12-04-01-024, 55:53 [10/28/16] ****: (Jonathan Finlayson – trumpet; Jon Irabagon – alto saxophone; Ingrid Laubrock – tenor saxophone; Jacob Garchik – trombone; Mary Halvorson – guitar; Susan Alcorn – pedal steel guitar; John […]
Erik APPLEGATE: – Two’s Company – Artist Alliance
Erik APPLEGATE: – Two’s Company – Artist Alliance, 57:17 (2/1/17) ****: (Erik Applegate; bass/Dana Landry; piano/ Steve Kovalcheck; guitar/ Paul McKee; trombone/ Kenyon Brenner; tenor saxophone/ Tom Amend; piano) A fine bassist collaborates with five faculty members of the University of Northern Colorado on a set of duos. Sometimes I grow a little tired of […]
Baron Tymas (guitar) – Montréal
Baron Tymas (guitar) – Montréal [TrackList follows] – Self, 50:30 (Avail. as MP-3 from Amazon) ***: They should be encouraged to continue on their creative journey. (Baron Tymas – guitar; Joshua Rager – piano; Sage Reynolds – acoustic bass & bass guitar; Jim Doxas – drums; Guests: Jeri Brown – vocal on track 5; Charles […]
Jonathan Finlayson and Sicilian Defense – Moving Still – PI
Strategy and movement from a jazz master. Jonathan Finlayson and Sicilian Defense – Moving Still [TrackList follows] – PI Recordings PI67, 52:15 [10/15/16] ****: (Jonathan Finlayson – trumpet, producer; Miles Okazaki – guitar; Matt Mitchell – piano; John Hébert – bass; Craig Weinrib – drums) Trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson is like an expert chess player. He […]
Al Muirhead – Northern Adventures – The Canada Sessions Vol. 1 – Chronograph
Al Muirhead – Northern Adventures – The Canada Sessions Vol. 1 (TrackList follows) – Chronograph CRO 46, 57:58 [1/27/17] ***: A Canadian excursion into the Great American Songbook. (Al Muirhead – trumpet, Flugelhorn & bass trumpet; Tommy Banks – piano 2/6/10; Guido Basso – Flugelhorn 2/6/10; Mike Murley – tenor saxophone 4/9; Chris Andrew – […]
GIULIANI, CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO & VILLA-LOBOS: Guitar Concertos – Narciso Yepes, g./ London Sym. Orch./ English Ch. Orch./ Luis Antonio García Navarro – PentaTone
GIULIANI, CASTELNUOVO-TEDESCO & VILLA-LOBOS: Guitar Concertos – Narciso Yepes, g./ London Sym. Orch./ English Ch. Orch./ Luis Antonio García Navarro – orig. quadrophonic recordings from 1977, remastered in 2014 – Pentatone SACD PTC 5186-202, 61:49 (4/14/15) ****: Beautifully restored and played four-channel guitar concertos by Yepes and the London Symphony. What a treat this disc […]
Aretha Franklin – Yeah!!! – Columbia LP /Pure Pleasure vinyl
Aretha Franklin – Yeah!!! – Columbia CS 9151 (1965)/Pure Pleasure vinyl (2016) PPAN CS9151, 35:23 ****: This vinyl re-master captures the early career of an iconic artist! (Aretha Franklin – vocals, piano; Teddy Harris – piano; Kenny Burrell – guitar; James “Beans Richardson – doublebass; Hindell Butts – drums) She was known as The Queen […]
Nate NAJAR – This is Nate Najar – Candid
Nate NAJAR – This is Nate Najar – Candid 79979, 50: 58 (10/31/16) ****½: (Nate Najar; nylon string guitar/ James Suggs; trumpet/ Matt Home; drums/ John Lamb; bass) An odd nylon string guitar/trumpet combo makes for a unique bossa-swing ensemble. On this eponymous debut, Nate Najar plays jazz on an unamplified classical guitar in the […]
WOLF! – 1-800-WOLF! – Royal Potato Family
Canis lupus rockus. WOLF! – 1-800-WOLF! [TrackList follows] – Royal Potato Family 020286222316, 35:14 [10/14/16] *****: (Scott Metzger – guitar; Taylor Floreth – drums, percussion; Jon Shaw – bass, keys) The wolf is a potent symbol. It’s no wonder the wolf has been used as a musical name by blues shouter Howlin’ Wolf; hard rockers […]
Tim GARLAND – One – Edition Tim GARLAND – One – Edition
Tim GARLAND – One – Edition EDN1072, 56:11 (6/6/16) ***: (TIm Garland; soprano and tenor saxophone/ Asaf Sirkis; drums & percussion/ Jason Rebello; piano, keyboards/ Ant Law; nylon string guitar and 12 & 8-string guitar) Energetic tenor playing on a muddled, fusion-flavored session. I first encountered Tim Garland as part of an unusual but fine […]
Richard Pinhas and Barry Cleveland (guitars etc.) – Mu – Cuneiform
Two iconoclastic guitarists weave together an experimental, improvisational session. Richard Pinhas and Barry Cleveland – Mu – Cuneiform, Rune 426, 48:20 [1/16/17] ****: (Barry Cleveland – producer, mixer, guitar, Moog guitar, bowed guitar, bowhammer guitar, E-Bow guitar, sitar guitar, M-Tron, Vocalizer 1000, kalimba, zither, gong, incidental percussion, percussion programming, samples; Richard Pinhas – guitar, guitar […]
Stephen Crump – Stephen Crump’s Rhombal – Papillon Sounds double vinyl
Stephen Crump – Stephen Crump’s Rhombal – Papillon Sounds PS51514 stereo double vinyl, TT: 59:33 ****: Jazz bassist and composer releases an unusual tribute album. (Adam O’Farrill – trumpet; Ellery Eskelin – tenor saxophone; Stephen Crump – doublebass; Tyshawn Sorey – drums) Stephen Crump has established a solid reputation as a musician, composer and bandleader. […]
Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits – Sazi
Camaraderie and friendship on full display. Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits [TrackList follows] – Sazi sr004, 47:39 [10/7/16] *****: (Scott Amendola – drums, cymbals, co-producer; Wil Blades – Hammond B-3, Hohner Clavinet, co-producer) What is the sound of deep-rooted friendship? Cajoling and jokes. Finishing each other’s sentences. And in case of drummer Scott Amendola […]