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STEVE MORSE Major Impacts 2 (Magna Carta)
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ARMIK
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WILLIAM EATON ENSEMBLE
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JOE
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JOSE
LUIS ENCINAS
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
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A
fretboard master who’s been tearing it up since the mid-’70s,
guitar monster Steve Morse pays tribute to more of his big musical influences
on his long awaited second Major Impacts CD. With able assistance
by Dave LaRue (bass) and Van Romain (drums), Morse expertly
tackles all the guitars, keyboards and various extraneous instruments
on the thirteen track 2004 release. Fashioning these instrumental originals
with major rock influences in mind—including The Who (“Where
Are You?”), CSN&Y (“Wooden Music”), ELP (“Organically
Grown”) and Aerosmith (“Errol Smith”)—Morse kicks
the influence ‘pedal-ing’ into overdrive with further nods
to classical master Bach (“Air On A 6 String”) as well as
genres like Cajun, Brit-Pop, Country Bluegrass and Celtic Ballads. A
rocked-out, dynamic compliment to some of the greatest rock guitar legends,
Major Impacts 2 is further explained by Morse in his praiseworthy
liner notes. 
Both
Joe Satriani and Steve Vai released double CD anthologies
in 2003 on Epic / Legacy, and it’s equally apropos that
both guitar icons—teamed with Swedish guitar god Yngwie Malmsteen—join
forces again for the fifth edition of their celebrated G3 tour. Performing
thirty shows over a five week span, the 2003 G3 tour was caught live
for posterity on a 2004 double CD release entitled G3 Live: Rockin’
In The Free World (recorded October 21, 2003 in Kansas City) and
a single live DVD, G3: Live In Denver (recorded October 20th,
2003 at the Fillmore in Denver). The wide variety of solo material
from all three guitarists on both the double CD and DVD gives fans good
reason to check out both titles. In addition to a different track lineup
of vocal and instrumental tracks, the DVD also boasts several additions
including a ‘fretcam feature’. Following blistering live sets
from all three guitarists, backed by their ultra-tight bands, Joe, Steve
and Yngwie kick up quite a storm on The G3 Jam, with a half hour
of smoldering, hard rockin’ G3 covers of Neil Young’s “Rockin’
In The Free World” and the Hendrix favorites, “Little Wing”
and “Voodoo Child” (Slight Return). 
With
each new release on his Bolero Records imprint, Nuevo Flamenco
master Armik further establishes his name among the guitar elite. The
prodigious L.A.-based guitarist released both Amor De Guitarra and
Romantic Dreams during the past year and he swiftly follows up
with another 2004 CD release that merges his phenomenal flamenco technique
with the passionate piano sound of Joe Vannelli. Keeping pace
with Armik’s nylon string virtuosity is no easy trick, but Vannelli’s
accompaniment spices things up nicely on a CD overflowing with magnificent
flamenco soundscapes. A Latin tang continues to inspire Armik’s
sound, and the mixture of Bolero / Cha Cha and Bossa Nova sounds keeps
the musical spirit at fever pitch. Guaranteed to lighten and brighten
your mood, Piano Nights is a first class instrumental effort
from one of the best Nuevo Flamenco guitarists on the scene.
One
of the best labels when it comes to indigenous American Indian artists
and a variety of Desert Southwest musical fusion artists, Arizona-based
Canyon Records released an outstanding 2004 double CD set from
William Eaton Ensemble. Entitled Sparks And Embers, the 2+
hour instrumental set features a number of Eaton’s own creations
including Lyra-harp guitar, Koto-harp Guitar, 26 string guitar and spiral
clef all set against a swirling mist of pan flutes, pipes, mandolin,
bass and ethnic percussion instruments. Having built his first guitar
back in 1971 as an apprentice to John Roberts, Eaton is acknowledged
for his unique guitars and on Sparks And Embers he puts his fantastic
creations to excellent use. Featuring excellent audio engineering by
Jack Miller, the album also spotlights stellar performances by
Eaton on Roland GR-1 and GR-33 guitar synth modules. Quiet a pleasant
collection of Native American musical vibes flavored with the meditative
imagery of the Desert Southwest, the set contains impressive artwork
with detailed liner notes and bio material of all the players on board
here. 
Long
Island-based guitarist Joe Nardulli steps forward with a most satisfying
progressive rock fusion solo CD. It’s interesting to note that
guitarist Carl Roa, from the group Magic Elf is involved in the
audio engineering as well as taking the guitar spotlight on one track
here. In the spirit of Magic Elf, Nardulli’s approach to instrumental
prog-fusion creates a sonic landslide of sounds that stirs the senses
and demands complete attention. With his focus on melodic detail, flawless
production and fretboard precision, Nardulli’s guitar style sometimes
evokes the tone of Bill Bruford’s late ‘70s albums with Allan
Holdsworth and as well as contemporary works by Steve Vai and Steve
Morse, yet he is clearly staking out a unique ground all his own on
his self-titled, self-produced debut. Another classic example of the
great D.I.Y. digital age of self-contained musicians, Joe Nardulli
speaks wonders about the current state of the art melodic guitar fusion...all
without a word being uttered. 
Although
he hit the U.S. charts billed as a New Age and World Music guitarist,
Spain’s José Luis Encinas is actually a world class
flamenco guitar trailblazer. Back in the ‘90s he began releasing
several fine instrumental guitar albums that perfectly melded a breathtaking
blend of Nuevo Flamenco, classical guitar techniques with wide ranging
instrumental pop sensibilities that even include some well placed electric
guitar sounds. His influences—including Spanish guitar legend Paco
de Lucia as well as Metheny and Clapton—are pertinent in the meticulous
way Encinas approaches the fretboard. For the casual listener or the
seasoned guitar follower, the 2003 Encinas CD, entitled Travesura
Chill, is a perfect introduction to the essence of modern
Nuevo flamenco sound as there’s very little in the way to distract
you from the fact that Encinas is simply one of the finest guitarists
out there today. Assisted by several key players, Encinas assumes center
stage once again with the excellent Travesura Chill.