|
For audio
samples you'll
need the RealPlayer
|
JULY /
AUGUST 2004
|
|
|
|
|
ERIC
NORMAND
|
Z-WORKS
|
BILL
LONERO |
THE
DIAMONDHEADS |
|
LES FRADKIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
ERIC NORMAND
Songs Without Words
(Rubba Ducky)
Accurately
described by the artist as a sonic portrait, Songs Without
Words mixes a wealth of guitar-based instrumental genresrock,
blues, jazz, country and even psychedelicand comes up with a noteworthy
mix. Coming from the place where Santana meets Satriani, Normand cuts
loose on a guitar fusion CD that flexes and flows in all the right places.
The Nashville based Normand has recently worked alongside Nashville
notables like Toby Keith and Vern Gosdin and on his 2004 Songs Without
Words, Normands high energy guitar approach sounds influenced
by the multi-layered fretboard finesse of ax greats like Steve Morse
and Dicky Betts. Topped off with excellent CD cover art, Songs Without
Words is much more than a guitar shred-fest. Joined by a number
of veteran Nashville players, Normand serves up some tasty guitar instrumental
music and his new CD is a welcome addition to the jazz-rock world. www.ericnormand.com
|
|
|
Z-WORKS
A
Time Of Truth
(Z-Works)
A
few years back guitarist Randy Z released his first Z-Works album
entitled Sleeping Angels. Like its predecessor, his new
CD, A Time Of Truth is filled with lush guitar-based instrumental
soundscapes that tastefully combine all manner of meditative music complete
with deep spiritual guitar vibes. With Z handling all the electric and
acoustic guitars and bass, A Time Of Truth is further filled
out by synths, various percussion while the albums lone vocal,
Walking With The Angels, adds the vocals of a cat named
Guyzer. Zs one man band approach achieves some ethereal
results most notably on the apocalyptic, seven minute title track, the
cosmic flamenco sound of Celebration and on the bustling
New Age groove of Train To Nowhere. A fine showcase for
Zs fertile musical imagination, A Time Of Truth offers
an expert match-up of multi-layered acoustics and ringing electric guitars.
Its sufficiently revealed after several active and subliminal
spins that with even with its guitaristic propensities, Zs
melodic and atmospheric sound at times suggests the symphonic scope
of orchestral rock masters like Jan Hammer or even Vangelis. Lets
hope Z continues to refine his craft. www.cdbaby.com/zworks2
|
|
|
BILL
LONERO
Slather
(Lone Aero)
Some
guitar pundits are already comparing guitarist Bill Lonero to giants
like Joe Satriani, and fittingly, like Satch, the CA.-based Lonero is
a master of the instrumental guitar rock genre. Not to be outdone, Lonero
teams with a number of great players on Slather including Stu
Hamm (bass) and drummers Gigi Gonaway and Mike Mangini.
Making a statement by keeping the live in the studio spirit,
Lonero adds, This album was recorded in the most mimimalistic
way possible. In most cases I just used a guitar and a wah. If there
are any other effects its a whammy pedal. In the spirit
of fusion icons like Steve Morse and Eric Johnson, Lonero realizes the
inherent power of dynamic instrumental rock guitar and he plays it to
the max on Slather. www.billlonero.com
|
|
|
THE DIAMONDHEADS
The
Diamondheads
(Single Coil)
Its
surfs up 2004 and just in time for the summer fun comes the latest
CD from Baltimores greatest surf instrumental band, The Diamondheads.
Featuring the twin rockin guitars of Brian Lavelle and
Dave Grauer, the quartet have laid down some fine original instros
on their self-titled CD of surf guitar instrumentals. In the words of
guitarist Lavelle, While it seems easiest to label The Diamondheads
a Surf band, they are probably most influenced by The Shadows's Hank
Marvin and The Venture's Nokie Edwards. They do their best to pay homage
to the style by using some great vintage equipment. Armed with
vintage Fender guitars, The Diamondheads have opened live shows for
legends like Dick Dale and have rocked out on Phil Dirts famous
KFJC radio show on the left coast and now they put the pedal to the
metal on their fourteen track album. Among their originals, the
quartet summon up a blazing cover of the Ventures classic, Diamondhead
and any group that has the spunk to cover the long, lost Beatles classic
Cry For A Shadow cant be bad. www.thediamondheads.com
|
|
|
LISA
BAKER
Songs
For A New Day
(Lisa Baker Music)
A
native of California who settled in Nashville back in 1984, Lisa
Baker is a first-rate singer-songwriter, engineer and producer who
also happens to play a hot electric guitar. She even designed her own
guitarhaving Nashville ax-master Joe Glaser assemble the Fender
body, Warmoth neck, Seymour Duncan pick-ups and Floyd Rose tremolo all
retrofitted with colored lights down the neck and inside the knobs.
Baker approaches her music with telling results on her self-produced
2004 CD Song For A New Day. A mostly instrumental affair, tweaked
with Bakers accomplished guitar prowess, inviting vocals and scat-vocal
backups, Song For A New Day sounds inspired by major guitar influences
like Wes Montgomery and Jimi Hendrix while a cover of the Freddie Hubbard
classic Little Sunflower demonstrates Bakers grasp
of the classic jazz-fusion medium. Song For A New Day features
some top players from the Nashville area, including guitar ace / composer
Regi Wootenwith other Wooten clan members Joseph Wooten
on keyboards and Vic Wooten on bassalong with Allman
Brothers bassist Oteil Burbridge. Baker adds, Surround
yourself with great people and youll elevate yourself to that
level. On Song For A New Day Lisa Baker makes it clear
that shes got the guitar chops, songwriting skills and enthusiasm
to rise to the top. www.lisabakermusic.com
|
|
|
LES
FRADKIN & GET WET
A
Day At The Beach
Splash!
(RRO)
Back
in the 60s, instrumental guitar aficionados were in paradise.
England had The Shadows and America had The Ventures. More than four
decades later, few American guitarists are capable of combining the
spirit of the classic West Coast surf-rock sound of The Ventures and
the Euro-tinged guitar instrumental sound of Hank Marvin & The Shadows
better than Colorado-based guitar ace Les Fradkin. Forty plus years
after the Ventures and Shadows early 60s breakthroughs, Les Fradkin
and his band, Get Wet, are in the midst of reviving the time-honored
surf-rock instro sound and a whole lot more. Just in time for Summer
2004, Fradkin has re-launched the first two Get Wet albumsSplash!
(from 1999) and A Day At The Beach (2001)on his
own RRO Records. Huge hits on mp3.com when released on CDR a
few years back, Fradkin has shored them both up as definitive CD releases
complete with 24-bit remastering, eye-catching new artwork and liner
notes. Bonus tracks of Les Fradkin & Get Wet performing live in
California and Colorado alongside a number of top players are featured
on eachwith the Splash! reissue spotlighting Les riffing
out alongside legendary Eddie & The Showmen guitarist Eddie Bertrand.
Colorful new artwork and top remastering makes these classic albums
look and sound even better. The big, rocking guitar beat of Les Fradkin
& Get Wet is essential listening for fans of surf-rock and symphonic
rock instrumental sounds. www.lesfradkin.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
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|