Dave Reynolds
on Guitar Dave
|
Jigsaw Seen
on Vibrophonic Recordings
|
Ray Bennett
on Mintspy / Voiceprint |
LABEL
SPOTLIGHT
JANUARY
2003 MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
ADRIAN GALYSH
- A real leap forward in both sound and scope in the fusion guitar
world, the 2002 CD King Friday is the finest album yet
from L.A.-based guitar ace Adrian Galysh who broke big with
his 2000 album Venusian Sunrise. Assisted by some excellent
players including guest keyboards from Mike Keneally, Galysh
merges stylish fretboard work with memorable melodic contenton on
King Friday. The rapidly ascending Galysh sounds influenced
on some levels by ace pickers like Steve Vai and Steve Morse. Combined
with influences like melodic flair of Yes virtuoso Steve Howe and
it seems like a good case of the Steves! Interestingly the albums
one cover is smokin fusion instro of the 70s Sugarloaf
hit Green Eyed Lady and the Galysh version even features
the original Sugarloaf keyboard player and vocalist Jerry Corbetta.
There is room for originality at the top of the guitar world and Galysh
proves it with the instrumental guitar extrapolations of King Friday.
www.adriangalysh.com
ASTRALWERKS
- Back in the 60s singer songwriter Lee Hazlewood wrote
top 40 records for Nancy Sinatra (the chart-topping These Boots
Are Made For Walkin) and Dean Martin and having already worked
closely with guitar innovator Duane Eddy of perfecting his late 50s
twang. Kudos for NYC-based Astralwerks for their 2002 eclectic
pop tribute to Hazlewood entitled Total Lee! - The Songs Of
Lee Hazlewood. A range of prominent pop groups partake in
the freshly recorded 16 track set including The Webb Brothers
(the CD highlight with Some Velvet Morning), St. Etienne,
Calexico and Tindersticks to name a few. Striking artwork,
vintage photos and new interviews with the artist put a cool new face
on Hazelwoods timeless, 60s-flecked pop gems. www.astralwerks.com/total_lee/
GUITAR DAVE
- Pastoral and meditative, the latest CD from Maryland guitarist Dave
Reynolds is appropriately titled Solo. Merging his
knowledge of jazz guitar technique with his expertise as a solo classical
guitarist, his fourth CD, Solo features ten Reynolds solo guitar
originals along with covers of Prelude No. 5 from Heitor
Villa-Lobos and The Mozart Variations by Fernando
Sor. Having studied privately with Sharon Isbin and performed
in master classes for Manuel Barrueco and Christopher Parkening, Reynolds
once again proves his worth as a composing guitarist and recording
artist with the extremely listenable nylon string guitar sounds of
Solo. www.guitardave.com
HARVEY BAND
- Rocking and rolling in Upstate, N.Y. since the release of their
93 album Crossfire, Harvey Band returns in style
with their 2002 acoustic album Green Flats Road. Not
acoustic in the traditional sense, the album is well rounded and flows
like river with an abundance of scenic and melodic touches. Guitar
ace Harvey Possemato displays some inspiring fretboard techniques
and he receives strong support from fine players like Paul Hammerick
(drums), Keith Laurier (bas) and Gary Guth (guitar,
keyboards). Inspired by a beautiful country setting in the Catskill
Mountains of New York, the all instrumental, superbly recorded 11
track Green Flats Road tastefully mixes country swing, jazz
guitar techniques and pop sensibilities and overall the album makes
for really pleasant listening indeed. Employing a range of vintage
guitars including his Guild GF60NT, Possemato further establishes
himself as a guitarist to keep an eye on. www.harveyband.com
MINTSPY / VOICEPRINT
- Although hes renowned as the bass player in the great, early
'70s U.K. progressive rock group Flash, the multi-talented
Ray Bennett has evolved into a fine guitar player over the
years. So much so, that hes in the midst of reforming Flash
after nearly 30 years, although sadly without original Flash and Yes
guitarist Pete Banks. Regarding the planned 2003 reformation
of Flash, Bennett adds And the way it worked out is that Peter
Banks is not going to be involved. I'm playing guitar and we have
a new bass player. Colin Carter and Mike Hough are the
same as ever and in fine shape, and there will be a keyboard player.
Bennetts 2001 solo album Whatever Falls clearly
reflects the progress hes made since moving to NYC back in the
late 80s. A mix of atmospheric guitar-based rock instrumentals
and songs that feature his vocals, the skillfully recorded Whatever
Falls clearly falls into the progressive rock genre and is essential
listening for those who enjoyed those fabulous Flash albums from the
early 70s. Also available on CD from Bennett on Mintspy
/ Voiceprint is Angels & Ghostsa 15
track compilation including lost Flash music featuring Banks, a snippet
from a Bennett interview WLIR back in 77 as well as a range
tracks recorded by Bennett since his arrival in NYC. Both CDs feature
a wealth of historical information written by Bennett and rare color
pictures. www.bennettmusic.com
VIBROPHONIC
RECORDINGS - The 90s were kind to the spirit of 60s
rock. One of the best groups to came out of the 90s power
pop revival, The Jigsaw Seen have an excellent CD out called
Songs Mama Used To Sing on L.A.-based Vibrophonic
Recordings. A collection of five 2002 tracks, the 10 track 33
minute set also spotlights five of the groups well done tribute
recordings from the mid to late 90s, including spirited covers
of tracks by originally done by The Who (Tattoo),
The Yardbirds (Still Im Sad) and more. In
addition the CD features dazzling cover art echoing those classic
Warner Bros. Lp jackets of the late 60s. www.vibro-phonic.com
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