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JULY-AUGUST 2005
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STEVE
HOWE
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KAMAL
MUSALLAM
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THE
BOBBY GRAHAM BAND |
VEGAS
BEACH |
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RICH ECKHARDT
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STEVE HOWE
Spectrum
(Inside Out Music)
Continuing
to echo his relevancy as the leading progressive rock guitar player
on planet Earth, Steve Howe returns in 2005 with a sound similar to
his 2003 album Remedy. Featuring sons Dylan Howe (drums)
and Virgil Howe (keyboards), Spectrum also spotlights
key contributions from bass ace Tony Levin and Rick Wakemans
son Oliver Wakeman (keyboards). Veering from prog-rock to sharp
jazz and even some Latin-flavored things, Spectrum lives up to
its title. Howe explains, I have tried to capture to the greatest
extent possible, different styles from around me and bring them into
a format which fits with my guitar instrumentals. After a few
Spectrum spins its clear Howe still has a unique ability
to combine different soundsfrom fusion to blues and even bluegrassand
that spirit is fueled by his unparalleled skills as a composer and arranger.
Add it up and you come away with an album that reveals greater detail
with each spin. Another 2005 Howe release worth checking out is his
new DVD, Steve Howes Remedy Live, coming
in 2005 on Classic Pictures.
A night of classic guitar on Long Island - a concert review...
Steve Howe kicked off the 2005 20th Century Guitar Classic American
Guitar Show with a live performance on May 20, 2005 in at the Patchogue
Theater out in the middle of Long Island. The stately theater was built
in 1923 and for a 900 seat capacity, the vintage sounding acoustics
were in fine form that night. Howe's first half of the show blended
a mesmerizing mix of various acoustic solo instrumental originals with
highlights including a regal instrumental cover of the Yes classic "To
Be Over", a classic adaptation of a legendary tune from Howes
1975 solo album called Diary Of A Man Who Vanished and a
Howe cover of the '60s chestnut "Classical Gas." Throughout,
the set defined and defied the essence of progressive, rock, ragtime
and classical rolled into a solo guitar synthesis that only Howe can
achieve. Following a bathroom break, the last third of the show featured
Steve on his electric ES175 guitar with fine backing from the 20th Century
Guitar band featuring TCG's own Larry Acunto on bass and Jimmy
Acunto on drums, Ray Matuza on rhythm and lead and an unknown
yet quite competant keyboardist named Kathleen O'Sullivan. Together,
they pulled off an amazing instrumental versions of the Yes arrangement
of "America" and a rockin bluesy instro while for closers,
Steve and the band blasted through "Roundabout". Memorable
to say the least, lets hope they return same time next year! www.tcguitar.com
/ www.stevehowe.com
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KAMAL
MUSALLAM
On
A Jordan River's Side
(K&G Productions)
A
great CD of Middle Eastern flavored instrumental jazz-rock, the latest
album from electric guitarist Kamal Musallam finds the Lebanon / Jordan
based musician backed up by fine players like Ernest Saca (bass)
and Haitham Nasser (drums). The 13 track CD is brimming with
all kinds of exotic musical sounds, but what stands out most besides
the excellent recording quality is Musallams impeccable guitar
and arranging skills. Describing his unique approach to Arabic and Oriental
jazz, Musallam adds, Im searching to reach a cross between
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean with a jazzy touch. Several points
of reference may include some of the most exotic strains of music recorded
by guitar giants like Santana and McLaughlin, with a touch of Euro-style
surf music. Theres also quite a unique atmosphere of originality
and excitement in the swinging, jazzy guitar grooves of Musallams
musical approach. www.kamalmusallam.net
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THE
BOBBY GRAHAM BAND
The
Session Man
(Broom House)
One
of the greatest drummers to come out of England, Bobby Graham is
feted on a 20 track CD fittingly called The Session Man by
The Bobby Graham Band. Back in the 60s Graham lent his
talents on recording sessions with a host of artists including Them,
Tom Jones, Petula Clark and The Kinks. He played drums on the recording
session of You Really Got Me, which is done swing jazz style
on one of the rare vocals on Grahams predominantly instrumental
set. Some great players surround Grahams big beat including guitarists
Alan Warner, John Skelton, John Clare, bassist
Jim Rodford and a number of U.K. musicians. Fittingly , the CD
kicks off with the excellent Tannhausers Mighty Guitar,
complete with its symphonic mid 70s Shadows-esque instrumental
guitar sound. The CD and accompanying booka 160 page book available
from Broom House Publishing and Grahams web siteentitled
The Session Man: The Story of Bobby Graham The UKs
Greatest Session Drummer, is a fab way to find out about a certified
60s music hero. www.bobbygraham.co.uk
/ www.thesessionman.co.uk
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VEGAS BEACH
Share
The Sand
(VB)
Just
the cover art alone of latest CD from Canadas instro rockers Vegas
Beach could stop a train. But dont let that fool you. Theres
some great guitar rock on Share The Sand, and overall, the 12
track 2005 CD is a fine follow up to their first CD, Dark Side Of
The Beach. Self-proclaimed pioneers of the Surf Noir movement, the
instro triofeaturing the sizzling electric guitar of Ricky
Las Vegasserve up a stellar mix of classic surf sounds, Goth,
old school New Orleans jazz, Southern swamp blues, a hint of country
and a healthy dose of camp. Like the liner notes say, best served
after midnight, with a shot or three of bourbon, indeed. www.vegas-beach.com
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ERNEST
RANGLIN
Surfin'
(Tropic / Telarc)
Guitar
great Ernest Ranglin has been part of the Jamaican music scene for the
past four decades and he struts his stuff on his 2005 CD Surfin.
If the island of Jamaica had a surf music scene, Ranglin would surely
be at the forefront. Instead of a West Coast sound, Ranglin mixes his
fondness of classic American surf musiclike the music from the
film The Endless Summerwith an intrinsic flair for reggae,
ska and Jamaican jazz. The end result makes Surfin a wild
hybrid of guitar instrumental genres spiked with Ranglins tropical
jazz approach. Recorded at the Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, 69 minute,
sixteen track Surfin features Ranglins guitar front
and center alongside fine players including rhythm guitarists Bo
Pee Bowen, Steve Golding and Eugene Grey along with
a number of players. The colorful CD art of Surfin is a
good indication of the vivid sounds inside. www.telarc.com
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RICH
ECKHARDT
Soundcheck
(Richlix)
One
of the most in demand session guitarists in Nashville, guitarist Rich
Eckhardt released his first solo CD 2005. Featuring Eckhardt backed
up by a number of players, Soundcheck spans eleven tracks encompassing
a wide range of instrumental guitar moods including country, rock and
jazz. Highlights include the Jeff Beck inspired kick-ass opening track
Soundcheck, the fiery Santana flavored groove of Tronar
Los Dedos, the sonic guitar panorama of I Was There
and Eckhardts melancholy cover of Sleepwalk. Currently
touring and recording with country music superstar Toby Keith, Eckhardt
has performed in nearly every major concert venue in the world and has
played on multi-platinum and Grammy winning albums. On Soundcheck,
Rich Eckhardt finally gets to cut loose and showcase his
guitar abilities and overall talents as a fine solo artist in his own
right. www.richeckhardt.com
Attention Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed
in mwe3.com and 20th Century Guitar. Send to P.O. Box 630249, Little
Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
Contact: rss54@mwe3.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
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