MUSIC
NEWS & NOTES SPOTLIGHT
JULY
2010 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
ALIVE
ENERGY - Will pop wonders ever cease to amaze? Out in beautiful
downtown Burbank, Alive Records have a 2010 CD from 
pop
pundits Outrageous Cherry called Seemingly Solid Reality.
The eleven cut CD is a most scenic spin. The title song starts
the CD off in outrageous fashion—a Kraftwerkian / Bowie kind
of instro intro that sets the sound stage and the CD quickly gets
down to pop brass tacks. Ten O.C. albums in, multi-instrumentalist
Matthew Smith has penned some of his best pop tracks to date
here and he gets solid support form bandmates Sean Ellwood (bass),
Larry Ray (lead guitar) and Samantha Linn (drums). Bowie
and Lennon isn’t a bad comparison as well for track two, “Unbalanced
In The City” either, with some inventive Revolver-era
guitar tricks adding in some slick pop sizzle as well. Rock fans will
dig the chugging beat of O.C.’s way cool and new for 2010 pop
sleeper of a CD. www.alive-totalenergy.com
ANGEL AIR - Like the Rubinoos to a certain degree, The Rubettes
take the best of the past and bring it forward with a 2010 album
called 21st Century Rock & Roll. Although the Rubettes
scored a bunch of hits—their first single in 1974 sold more than
three million 
copies
globally—and they made eight studio albums, the band never really
made it in the U.S. That’s strange in itself as they sort of
model themselves after a kind of futuristic version of American ‘50s
rock and roll. Not to be outdone, Rubettes main man Bill Hurd is
back with a 13 track, 2010 CD release on the U.K. based Angel Air,
a label never afraid to be eclectic to say the least! The lead off
title track “21st Century Rock ‘n’ Roll” sounds
like Buddy Holly coming back in time to sing in Roy Wood’s Wizzard
band. With Hurd singing lead and handling keyboards, he receives effective
support from a tight band including five different guitarists. The
songs are the key to the album's groove and what might pass for some
as an oldies road show, is actually quite deep and is also reminiscent
of the mid ‘70s work of T. Rex with Flo & Eddie. A cover
of the all time oldies favorite “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
gives good indication as to where this band is coming from. www.AngelAir.co.uk
CLUTTER BEAR RECORDS - In an age when the “major” record
companies are cutting back on both music and the actual CD itself,
promising and gifted bands such as Rabbit Children are going
the other way. Not only does their 2010 CD Thou Shalt Have A
Time Machine sound great but the CD packaging is smashing
too making this a real collector’s item.
There’s even a fantastic poster that sends a signal as to the
vast musical intelligence on hand here. Get it before the downloaders
take over! Even though this album is their debut, Rabbit Children
sound like pretty seasoned pop pros here. The IPO (international pop
overthrow) crowd have likened RC to anything from Elliott Smith to
Blur and even The Beach Boys, but these guys have their own M.O. and
they make good on it all with this album of pure, eclectic pop genius.
Fashioned by childhood buddies, Michael Danaher and Blake
Hand, Thou Shalt Have A Time Machine features the two singer-songwriters
along with Rabbit cohorts Steve Tartaglione (bass), Natalie
Catron (keys) and Noah Rotello (drums). They may be young
and rising but there’s some wicked pop smarts in the grooves
here and don’t forget that great CD packaging and embossed artwork.
To hell with downloads. Keep the CD alive! I usually don’t like
to promote right winger Rupert Murdoch or his wife, but because I
don’t know their actual web site right now, you can catch RC
on the Murdoch’s myspace. www.myspace.com/rabbitchildren
INSIDE RECORDINGS - Back in 2008 Jackson Browne amazed
the music world with Time The Conqueror and in 2010 he digs
into 
the
vaults for a 2010 2 CD set of a live performance from 2006. Released
on Jackson’s own Inside Recordings label, the double CD set is
actually culled from a 2006 live concert tour in Spain with long time
pal, guitar hero David Lindley. Entitled Love Is Strange:
En Vivo Con Tino, the mostly acoustic set features
Jackson’s best songs backed up by Lindley’s legendary guitar
prowess with celebrated Spanish percussionist Tino di Geraldo,
and other guest players from Spain. Superbly recorded, you also get
some stadium like applause from the Spanish crowd who eat this up.
There’s a little Spanish music edge here but the set clicks and
is a peaceful, easy look back at a highlight of 2006. Never thought
I’d be nostalgic for 2006! www.ShowMeThePolyester.com
KSCOPE - Some people are touting Pineapple Thief as new
prog-rock but I also hear elements of late ‘70s post-punk rock
and even shards of avant-garde rock in the mix of their 2010 CD, appropriately
titled Someone Here Is Missing. There’s
no doubt bands like Genesis and Van der Graf Generator had huge impact
on today’s young U.K. bands and that lineage of sound design
comes full circle on the new Pineapple Thief CD. The CD sound is really
startling and the cover art of Someone Here Is Missing is equally
fascinating, especially considering it was designed by long time Pink
Floyd album art conceptualist Strom Thorgeson. Featuring key
contributions from PT singer-songwriter and guitarist Bruce Soord,
Someone Here Is Missing also spotlights a smashing recording
from the entire PT band and overall, the entire album makes for a
jarring, shock-rock experience. The spirit of the 21st century prog-rock
sound is changing, that's for sure, but its alive and well on Someone
Here Is Missing. www.ThePineappleThief.com
PINK HEDGEHOG - Okay label freaks, with a name like Pink Hedgehog
it better be good right? Well established and operated by Simon
Felton, Pink Hedgehog have a number of classy, classic pop CD
and download releases on its roster, including Felton’s own 2009
CD called Failing In Biology. With his decidedly
English pop bent, Felton sounds very much influenced by the likes
of Ray Davies and even the embryonic genius of Syd Barrett. Felton
also has trouble hiding other major music influences like various
artists associated with Beach Boys honcho Brian Wilson. Assisting
Felton’s singing, songs and bass guitar on the CD are Californian
cult superstar Anton Barbeau (guitars, keys) and psych-pop
maven Alan Strawbridge (drums, keys). Also out on Pink Hedgehog
are a number of CD titles including Plastic Guitar from
Anton Barbeau, and, now only on download, other albums featuring one
time Beach Boys accomplice Stephen John Kalinich joined by
Peter Lacey. Interesting titles all from a small but beautiful
English label! www.PinkHedgehog.com
RAGAZZA MUSIC - Once in a blue moon a great L.A. style pop album
comes around. For sheer pop genius this time out, it’s the 2009
CD release of Tangle-Free World by Anny Celsi.
It’s
near impossible to escape the fantastic pop and rock music lineage
of L.A. 
From
the innocent beginningsof Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys to the great
psychedelic flourishes of L.A. and sister city San Francisco by the
end of the 1960's, California leaves a music legacy second to none.
A thoroughly modern singer-songwriter and guitarist looking to move
the California folk-rock and power pop sound into the millennium,
Ms. Celsi’s album has it all, including a valuable historical
context within which she weaves her pop magic. Critics may cite influences
like The Bangles to The Byrds within her music, but dig deeper and
the sound further unfolds with fresh covers of the Lee Hazelwood /
Nancy Sinatra track “Some Velvet Morning” and there’s
even a cover of “Sally Go Round The Roses” with a vocal
cameo from L.A. singing great Evie Sands. Key to the album’s
success is the outstanding production and arranging from Nelson
Bragg, who also mixed the CD, as well also a top band including
guitarist Rick Gallego, Brian Wilson band members Scott
Bennett (keys) and Nick Walusko, who’s also a member
of The Wondermints. Considering the ‘60s vibe throughout the
set, Wilson himself would dig this eclectic retro-rock album. The
packaging is fantastic too with its fold-out multi-panel digi-pak
design featuring all the credits amid a swirl of paisley pop art designs.
A trip into the musical time tunnel, Tangle-Free World is an
essential cross-section of 21st century L.A. pop. www.AnnyCelsi.com
SLICED TOMATO - Okay what kind of album do you get from a kid
who grew up in the family with parents that constantly played The
Beatles and Led Zeppelin? For one thing, you might get Lucid,
the 2010 CD release from singer-songwriter Graham Czach.
One look at 
the
CD cover art and it’s clear, Graham likes it way out there, but
he makes good on the bizarre cover art connotations on an album that
mixes a wild, but cogent kind of 21st century progressive rock. In
addition to producing Lucid, Graham also adds in his stellar
bass work in addition to handling all the vocals, some added guitar
parts, string arrangements and percussion parts while getting back
up from guitarist Chris Siebold, Kris Myers (drums)
and Matt Nelson (keys). Additional backing vocalists forming
a kind of chorus and a round of string players adds further sonic
dressing to this unique composite 21st century pop, rock and prog
sounds. www.GrahamCzach.com
SONGS FOR ADULTS - Louisiana guitarist / singer-songwriter Sam
Broussard strikes folk-rock and pop-rock gold with the 2010 CD
release of his 13 track Veins album. Some of Veins
is real Cajon style rootsy folk-rock while on other tracks Sam cuts
through the 
scenery
with some mean ass electric guitar work. Whatever your taste, there’s
no denying Broussard’s guitar work is impeccably recorded and
amazingly, Sam plays just about everything on the album with some
additional help from drummer Doug Belote and backing vocals
from Meera Sundram. Mostly, the album stretches across a range
of Americana styles but some tracks are real rootsy, with a sound
just like you’d expect from the Gulf states region. A modern
folk-rock classic with much fine music to applaud, Veins really
gets into your system and sets up Sam Broussard as one of the rising
heroes of 21st century American pop. Speaking to mwe3.com about the
Veins album and his unique style Sam adds, "Although I'm
South Lousiana Cajun and play in the Cajun touring band Steve Riley
and the Mamou Playboys, I've also traveled to some very far-flung
places and seen things that people down here seldom see. Our folk
music down here, full of the wisdom, soul and the French language
as it is, sometimes feel a little constraining if one thinks modern
thoughts about a wider world, so this album is mostly in English –
a surprisingly good language too – and has harmonic and literary
ambitions that my people often have no use for. They'd rather dance,
and I kept that part but went both smaller and larger. I'm a Cajun
musician, but to me that just means a Cajun who plays music. There's
plenty of it free at my website, and I'm adding more and more."
With the style of Veins sounding equally influenced by folk,
pop and rock, Sam's meaningful lyrics dot the terrain and the overall,
the CD sound is excellent. www.SamBroussard.com
SPACE
COWBOY RECORDS - One of America’s greatest living musical
heroes, guitarist Steve Miller returns to the limelight with
the 2010 CD release of Bingo! Featuring the Steve
Miller Band and released on Miller’s new Space Cowboy Records
label, Bingo! was recorded at the famous Skywalker Ranch studios
and it just sounds great. I was a huge fan of Miller going back to
his first album in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Steve Miller
Band albums like Your Saving Grace and Number 5 still
remain hugely influential rock music artifacts and Steve’s early
albums made with fellow SMB member Boz Scaggs are a vital part of
rock history. Miller is a fabulous songwriter, yet for Bingo! he’s
put together an album of classic covers that reflects his early years
on the Chicago blues scene. Even with the accent on the blues, the
lead off track on Bingo!, “Hey Yeah”—written
by Paul Henry Ray & Jimmie Vaughan—boasts one of Miller’s
best ever vocals and the fun’s just starting. A couple other
Vaughan covers—along with other covers of Jimmy Reed, Chester
Burnett, B.B. King, Otis Rush and more—shows that Miller’s
main M.O. these days is really about cutting loose and having fun
and the album really reflects that. With such an illustrious lineup
of classic blues-rock tracks, Bingo! also 
benefits
from the great backup Miller gets from his band including Norton
Buffalo (harmonica, vocals), Gordy Knudtson (drums), Billy
Peterson (bass, vocals), Sonny Charles (vocals), Joseph
Wooten (B3, keys) and long time Miller rhythm guitar ace Kenny
Lee Lewis. Also on hand is Santana band percussionist Michael
Carabello with added percussion from Adrian Areas and even
metal rock guitar ace Joe Satriani rocks out with Steve on
a pair of tracks. Sadly, the Miller Band's Norton Buffalo passed away
in late 2009 and fittingly, Bingo! is dedicated to his memory.
Top production from Miller and U.K. producer legend Andy Johns
seals the deal on this most welcome return to form from Steve
Miller and company. www.SteveMillerBand.com
THE ABOVE - The music and sounds of the mid ‘60s was the
coolest. Thanks to the Beatles and Stones, all the bands started growing
their hair and wearing Beatle boots, wearing snazzy suits and playing
Vox amps! American bands like The Leaves, The Standells, The Knickerbockers
all arrived in the wake of the British invasion of 1964 with one memorable
AM radio hit after the next. One group living the British invasion
dream out in modern times of century 21 is Brooklyn, NYC based The
Above, who strike pop gold with their 2010 CD, also called The
Above. The Above sound inspired by the great ‘60s
flavored mod-pop sound that everybody loved back in the ‘60s.
Really, this CD from The Above is a must for retro-rock fans who remember
how great the music world was back in 1966. Featuring the lead vocals,
harmonica, rhythm guitar and songs of David Alan Horowitz,
The Above finds Horowitz getting great backup from band members Frank
Caira (bass), Ihan Fukuhara (lead guitar), Alec Higgins
(organ, keys) and Rich Attuh (drums). Other guests pop
by but the key is the completely authentic ‘60s pop sound The
Above get in 2010. It’s uncanny but the songs perfectly lend
themselves to the genre and the era, to which they conceivably pay
tribute to. What’s the single track here? All of The Above, although
track twelve, the CD closing "It's Good" is pure pop genius!
From start to finish, The Above proves that the ‘60s pop era
sound and styles are truly timeless. www.TheAboveBrooklyn.com
THE PIER GROUP - The spirit of 1964 era British Invasion power
pop and proper rock and roll is alive and well on the 2010 CD from
The Malibooz entitled Queens English.
Interesting that The Malibooz started in Queens around the time
of the ‘64 NYC World’s Fair, which means these guys have
some serious mileage behind them them but here on CD they sound as
fresh as ever. With one toe-tapping track after the next, Malibooz
founders John Zambetti and Walter Egan ramp up their
penchant for cutting British Invasion era sounds on disc.
A little history...Funny how the NYC World’s Fair—an elaborate
extravaganza that was designed as a global event that JFK was probably
excited about in ‘63, actually opened in April 1964 and it turns
out the early Malibooz actually played at one of the famous Pavilions
at the Fair itself. Wow! The British Invasion brought the Beatles
to NYC just two months before the Fair opened so it was an incredibly
exciting time to live in New York City. My father, the late great
Arnold Silverstein actually helped build the '64 World’s Fair—or
it was his food services, Interplant Foods, that fed the workers who
built the World’s Fair and the elaborate buildings and structures,
including many that still exist there and have actually become icons
of Queens. And when my dad took me there a few times, I watched it
grow bigger and bigger till it finally opened in all its glory. It
was so cool, we’d go many times and the biggest thing there,
especially as my dad was in the food business, was the food! Pavilions
from every country, I remember the Indonesian pavilion and Belgian
pavilion that introduced us to Belgian waffles, and featuring history
and a restaurant in each pavilion! It's a smallw world after all.
Anyway, back at the ranch, how come nobody ever heard these guys,
The Malibooz is beyond me but, with so much pop and rock goodness
on their Queens English CD, this is a good time to catch up
with The Malibooz. Loads of famous British Invasion all stars join
John and Walter and cameo the recordings, and the list has to be seen
to be believed! Anyway if you dig the hot sounds of the greatest ‘64
British Invasion giants—Beatles, Kinks, Stones—you will
dig these two cool guys from Queens NYC, who lived and breathed the
British Invasion while it happened and live to tell the tales. Press
to play and some time with The Malibooz. Recorded in Malibu, mastered
at Abbey Road. www.Malibooz.net
TULSI
RECORDS - Marking the solo debut of Harper Simon, the self-titled
Harper Simon establishes the son of NYC folk-rock genius
Paul Simon as a unique modern day pop-rock talent in his own right.
Although it may be nearly impossible to live up to the legacy of a
father as legendary and iconic as Paul Simon, Paul’s son Harper
Simon comes pretty darn close on an album that takes the ‘60s
sound of Simon & Garfunkel as nudges it up a notch thanks to some
outstanding singing, song-writing and backup musicians. Commenting
on the ten track Harper Simon CD, the younger
Simon adds, ‘The long playing album is not just ten songs thrown
together randomly. It has an arc, It has a structure. It is the attempt
to make ten songs that are all as good as each other, and fit together
in a seamless whole.’ A pretty daunting task indeed, yet Harper
makes his solo debut click with a range of music and moods that welcomes
you back time after time. Legendary producer Bob Johnston worked
with giants like Simon & Garfunkel and Bob Dylan and here, Johnston
lends his midas touch as a co-producer to the Harper Simon CD
while also bringing some legendary Nashville session players such
as Charlie McCoy, Lloyd Green and more. From Nashville,
Harper brought it all back home again—first to L.A. and then
finishing up the album in his hometown of NYC with younger generation
superstar musicians such as Sean Lennon, Petra Haden,
Yuka Honda and others while also managing to have his dad Paul
Simon featured on a few tracks as well. Commenting on the all star
crew of musicians on the Harper Simon album, Harper adds, ‘The
people that came together to contribute to this album are a totally
bizarre and wonderful collection of people that will never come together
again. There are players that represent every era of Rock & Roll
from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s...every decade up until now
really. People like Bob Johnston and my dad and the Nashville A Team,
these people started making records in the ‘50s. And many others
from today like Inara George, Sean Lennon and Adam Green
to name just a few. I always wanted to blend these great session
players from the ‘60s with my friends and contemporaries...that
was always part of the concept. I think I may have gotten carried
away, but it sure was fun.’ Fun here is an understatement, indeed
as Harper Simon is a most welcome debut album from the offspring
of one of the ‘60s greatest songwriters. One can hardly wait
to see what musical tricks Harper has in store for the 21st century
music world. www.HarperSimon.com
WRASSE RECORDS - Part of the new wave of World Beat artists exploding
on the global music scene, Sa Ding Ding released her second
album on the London based Wrasse Records. The eleven cut Harmony
continues on with a new breed of Chinese pop music that skillfully
blends in folk and traditional sounds amid a lush, dynamic synth driven
rock accompaniment. Quoting Mojo mag, ‘Yoko Ono would be proud.’
I guess Mojo is comparing Sa Ding to Yoko, and clearly Ding can wail
one to one with Yoko, but Ding Ding is of Chinese Mongolian
descent and, while there is a definite Asian music bent here, owing
to its iconoclastic Chinese origins, Ding’s world beat, hip-hop
groove sounds much more exotic at least to my ears. A new icon of
China’s future sound, Sa Ding Ding is representative of both
China’s 21st century future and its rural past, and in the process,
she’s really is turning out to be the 21st century Chinese version
of Madonna. Just like Ding Ding’s 2008 CD on Wrasse, entitled
Alive, her new music on Harmony incorporates a wide
array of rock and World Beat musicians and arrangers. Throughout Harmony
she receives top assistance from producer Marius De Vriese as
well as the mixing skills of Paul Oakenfold. With Harmony,
Sa Ding Ding becomes a key component in the future of 21st century
Chinese World Beat pop music. www.WrasseRecords.com
INSTRUMENTAL
ESC
RECORDS - Based over in Frankfort, Germany, ESC Records have a
great new instrumental jazz-rock fusion CD from NYC based guitarist
Barry Finnerty. Entitled Manhattan Sessions,
the seven track CD features jazz-rock the way it used to be made
in the late ‘70s, only the album was recorded in 2008, so it’s
got a vital new edge to it. Finnerty’s guitar work has a solid
Scofield and Carlton kind of influence but clearly, with much history
behind him already, Finnerty is hardly a newcomer to the jazz world.
Although he has a pretty impressive track record—including working
with Miles Davis—for his first recordings in ten years, Finnerty
has put together a pretty impressive band including Randy Brecker
(trumpet / flugelhorn), Victor Bailey (electric bass),
Graham Hawthorne (drums) and David Kikoski (keyboards).
The recording quality is splendid throughout and overall, the CD gives
a good overview of Finnerty’s tactful approach to modern mainstream
jazz. In addition to his impressive jazz guitar skills on electric,
Finnerty also adds in some ethereal synth keyboards as well as singing
on the lone vocal on his primo instrumental album—a catchy, jazzy
romp called “Clarita.” www.BarryFinnerty.com
FLOATING
FEATHER MUSIC - Finger style acoustic guitar is among the most
challenging of all guitar styles because it encompasses classical,
jazz chord melody as as well time honored 
traditions
like ragtime. All of the above can be found in abundance on Many
Moods, the eleven track 2010 CD release from Minnesota
based guitarist Ben Woolman. Commenting on his choice of guitar
techniques, Woolman claims, ‘I played in bands for quite a few
years, but it is difficult to sustain common goals, so when my third
band broke up, I gravitated to playing finger style acoustic guitar
because it allows me to create much of an ensemble sound all by myself.
True to form, Woolman’s sonically pleasing guitar palate provides
plenty of common ground for fans of guitar icons—as well as Woolman's
own heroes—such as Leo Kottke, Pierre Bensusan, Michael Hedges,
Tim Sparks and other top practitioners of acoustic guitar wizardry.
Many Moods is superbly recorded and the packaging is quite
good as well. Summing up his guitar aspirations, Woolman adds, ‘I
pride myself in trying to play as many styles of music as I possibly
can, and solo finger style acoustic guitar is the perfect instrument
to give me the freedom to pursue that.’ www.BenWoolman.net
FREMEAUX
& ASSOCIES - Swing time and the music of Gypsy Jazz guitar
hero Django Reinhardt continues moving full steam ahead as is evidenced
by a great new instrumental jazz album from guitarist Marcel Campion.
The thirteen track Copain Django features Marcel on
guitars along with two guitarists including his son Chriss Campion
and another guitarist here called Romane. The three fretboard
aces get nice backup from André Charlier (drums)
and Marc-Michel Le Bevllon (bass), along with sublime strings
on several key cuts including the beautiful “Premier Rendez-vous.”
The music is instrumental so there’s no words to get in the way
between you and this beautiful music. Several Campion originals dot
the landscape and there’s also key covers from the pen of legends
like Kurt Weil, Michel Legrand and even Charlie Chaplin, feted here
on a cover of his “Limelight.” With so much fantastic Gypsy
Jazz style music on hand, you’d be hard pressed to find a recording
as well done and as tastefully put together as this one. He may be
getting up in years but Marcel’s ears and hands are still in
primo form on Copain Django. www.fremeaux.com
GREYDISC - A pretty amazing album of adventurous yet harmonious
guitar duets, Returning is the 2010 CD from guitarists
Sándor Szabó and Kevin Kastning. Reviewers
have already compared Returning to the early ‘70s classic
ECM sound of legends like Ralph Towner and John Abercrombie, but,
what benefits this album even more is the 
modern,
innovative recording approach, wider dynamic range and expert sonic
care that is skillfully implemented here. A masterful guitar inventor
and designer who works closely with the Calilfornia-based Santa Cruz
Guitar Company, Kevin Kastning performs on his own 12 string extended
baritone guitar as well as 6 string bass baritone guitar while Sándor
Szabó shares the recording sound stage with his 12 string baritone
guitar playing. Szabó and Kastning released their 2009 Greydisc
album called Parabola, to great acclaim and now surely they’re
poised for more accolades with the 2010 CD release of Returning.
Interesting to note, the perfectionists these guys obviously are,
the album was recorded on July 5, 2008 (two years to the day this
review is being written by the way!) and was engineered by Kastning
while the recording was expertly mixed and mastered for CD by Szabó
in his native Hungary. Fans of the finest acoustic jazz fusion guitar
masters—from Abercrombie to Metheny to Kottke and Hedges—will
appreciate the guitar expertise in play on Returning. www.KevinKastning.com
/ www.SandroSzabo.com
PATRICK HEALY - A monster guitar player who displays a seemingly
endless parade of brilliant musical ideas, Canadian fretboard genius
Warren Robert can also take credit for producing, playing on,
and in general being a source of inspiration behind the 2010 CD release
from fellow Canadian guitar wizard Patrick Healy, entitled
Narmen 1. Sci-fi connotations aside, on Narmen
1 , Healy sets himself up not only as an illustrious protégé
of Warren Robert, but the 11 cut CD carves out a pretty amazing niche
all its own. What’s even more amazing is that—handling all
the guitars, bass, drum programming and voices—Healy establishes
himself as a one man guitar army. Creating a vibe that encompasses
hard rock, shred metal, neoclassical progressive rock and more, Healy
defies the odds on Narmen 1 and just smokes the hell out of
his guitar on an album that is truly an unbelievably creative and
depth-defying attack of instrumental guitar sounds in general. Even
if you hate rock instrumental music, there’s no denying the valid
and vital approach Healy brings to the guitar world. There’s
always room for one more guitar genius in the world of 21st century
instrumental rock and Patrick Healy fits the bill perfectly. Thanks
to Warren Robert for turning mwe3.com on to the brilliant sounds on
Narmen 1. www.Guitar9.com/narmen1.html
SAWGRASS
CAFÉ MUSIC - We’re talking Sawgrass as in South Florida
type vibes that are at the heart of the music of guitarist John
Fifield. Based down in Hollywood, Florida, Fifield is coming from
a quite unique space in 21st century guitar based instrumental sounds.
Combining white hot instrumental fusion, straight ahead jazz, funk
and even rap/bass stylings, Fifield’s guitar approach is really
eclectic and for a good taste of his unique guitar sounds take a spin
inside the 2010 CD release of It Is What It Is... Besides
DiMeola and Connors, there’s a definite Zappa like guitaristic
influence here, with Fifield spinning out speedy runs and fluid fretboard
concepts while getting ace backup from Ric Fierabracci (bass),
Joe Locke (vibes, synth), Joel Rosenblatt (drums), violinist
Christian Howes and others. The CD studio sound is great and
the packaging is also first rate with its colorful psychedelic graffiti
gatefold. For fans of daredevil fusion guitar pyrotechnics, John Fifield’s
It Is What It Is... is a pick to click. Fans will note that
hot on the heals of It Is What It Is... Fifield has also another
CD out entitled All Shades Of Blue, recorded with his
wife singer Beverly Lewis-Fifield and a number of top session
players. Commenting on the release to mwe3.com in June 2010,
Fifield adds, ‘All Shades Of Blues was just released within
the past few weeks. I produced and played on this one and, although
it's totally different than my solo album, we shot for the same level
of quality throughout.’ www.JohnFifield.com
SOULFOOD MUSIC - Having already released a couple of compilations
in their Guitar Meditations series, the Soulfood Music label
released Guitar Meditations Vol. 3 in 2010. Thankfully,
New Age music still exists in 2010, and it’s alive and well in
the grooves of Guitar Meditations Vol. 3. The premise of this
fascinating music series is to present soft and meditative instrumental
guitar music backed up by flutes, woodwinds and a variety of soothing
soundscapes, making the music perfect for yoga, massage, meditations
and more. Still on board here are top guitarists Ron Cohen,
Robert McEntee and Ricky Fitzpatrick along with synthesist
DJ Free and others. Superb as both background music or as active
listening, the guitar-based ambient / electronica soundscapes make
the Guitar Meditations series well worth spinning again and
again. www.soulfoodmusic.com
TELARC INTERNATIONAL - One of the hippest drummers on the 21st
century instrumental jazz and funk music scene, Stanton Moore is
back in action with a 2010 CD called Groove Alchemy.
A trio featuring Moore on drums, backed by Robert Walter (B-3,
piano) and Will Bernard (guitar), the sound here is busy but
never cluttered and Moore’s trio accomplices get really down
and funky but are always tasteful. Moore has a number of acclaimed
CD releases released on a variety of labels and he’s also backed
up the 2010 CD release of Groove Alchemy with a Groove Alchemy
book and a DVD geared for aspiring jazz drummers to which Moore
adds, ‘It’s a “groove boot camp” that will vastly
increase your knowledge of classic grooves and more importantly, will
also ignite your imagination and make you a funkier and more creative
drummer.’ Sure to be a favorite among musicians and jazz lovers,
Groove Alchemy was recorded at Levon Helm’s studio in
Woodstock, N.Y. and the DVD is a fine follow up to the Take It
To The Street DVD and book—Moore’s release that focused
on New Orleans’ drumming styles. For pure jazz and funk instrumental
music guaranteed to change your mood from funk to funky, pick up on
Stanton Moore’s big rockin’ drum sound. www.StantonMoore.com
/ www.HudsonMusic.com
REISSUES & RETROSPECTIVES
BGO
RECORDS - The English are the best when it comes to chronicling
classic rock and none do it better then U.K. based BGO who continue
to mine the vaults in search of good, better and the best in CD reissues.
To their credit—in an era when most big labels just want to push
downloads—BGO continue to unearth and dust off the classics on
silver disc. First up in 2010 is BGO’s George Benson remaster
of Good King Bad and Benson & Farrell.
Before he attained superstar status with the 1976 Breezin’
album, Benson was a critically acclaimed jazz guitar giant and
his albums on the CTI label—set up by producer Creed Taylor—are
among his best. The 1975 release of Good King Bad turned
out to be Benson’s final solo album for CTI, while the 1976 release
of the Benson & Farrell featured George paired with
flautist Joe Farrell. Both of these instrumental jazz albums
feature some of the finest mainstream smooth jazz of the ‘70s.
Highlights are numerous—including the Good King Bad inclusion
of “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” along with Benson’s
cover of the Sam & Dave classic “Hold On I’m Coming,”
the lone vocal on the twelve track two albums on one CD. Both Good
King Bad and Benson & Farrell featured Benson in the
studio backed up by the best session men of the era including Eric
Gale, the Brecker brothers, Phil Upchurch, Will
Lee, Andy Newmark and more. March 2010 liner notes by Michael
Heatley goes into detail on Benson’s impeccable credentials
both as a jazz innovator and guitar genius. www.BGO-records.com
EDSEL
RECORDS - Back in the mid ‘80s, Edsel was one of the first
great CD labels in England so it’s great to see they’re
going strong and out of the box on Edsel in 2010 are a bunch of Gordon
Giltrap remasters. In the spirit of eclectic English guitar geniuses
like Steve Howe, Hank Marvin and even Gryphon guitarist Graeme Taylor,
Giltrap remains one of the mainstays of progressive English instrumental
art-rock. For lack of a better term, instrumental art-rock was huge
in the mid ‘70s thanks to groundbreaking English bands like Gryphon,
who so masterfully blended folk, jazz and classical music with acoustic
and electric rock guitar stylings—all done instrumentally, sans
vocals.
Through the auspices of the Demon Music Group, the Edsel label has
done a great job on a series of 2010 double CD releases that shines
a light on some of Giltrap’s recent recordings as well as touching
on a select grouping of his archival releases. First off is a double
CD set pairing The Peacock Party (1981) with Airwaves
(1982). Two of Giltrap’s most acclaimed solo albums,
The Peacock Party features guest appearances from guitarists
John G. Perry and famed jazz guitarist John Etheridge,
while Airwaves features the Giltrap band including founding
Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker. Edsel’s 22 track, single
CD pairing of Remember This features 16 cuts of Giltrap’s
favorite covers from the pens of J.S. Bach, the Beatles, the Shadows
and the Who—with Rick Wakeman guesting—while the
final six tracks are culled from the album Janschology—featuring
Gordon performing pieces written and/or made famous by U.K. acoustic
guitar hero Bert Jansch, and ending with his self-composed
tribute called “Roots.” Exploring Giltrap’s music from
the ‘90s, Edsel’s double CD set spotlights Music For
The Small Screen—featuring music that Giltrap composed
for the BBC and ITV—and is paired with the 19 cut The Solo
Album. Lastly, 1998’s Troubadour—Giltrap’s
self-admitted favorite album—is paired with a DVD filmed at the
Isle Of Wight on May 9th, 2008 entitled Live At Ventnor Winter
Gardens. In addition, the 130 minute, NTSC DVD features
Gordon Giltrap interviewed in 2009. Each double and single CD is packed
with loads of historical information, rare pics, press clippings and
2010 liner notes from Giltrap himself. All in all, from the early
‘80s releases to the 2008 concert DVD, these four CD sets offer
a fascinating up close and personal look at one of England’s
most underrated though, certainly most gifted guitarists. www.Giltrap.co.uk
FANTASTIC VOYAGE / FUTURE NOISE - Over in England, Future
Noise and their subsidiary label, Fantastic Voyage continues plumbing
the depths of the Ember Records catalog. Of course, Ember was a cool
little U.K. based indie label started in the late ‘50s and during
the early ‘60s and early ‘70s, they featured recordings
from early geniuses like soundtrack king John Barry and even
folk-rock stylists Chad & Jeremy. Chronicling a further
inspection of the Ember catalog, in 2010 Fantastic Voyage released
Looking 
Towards
The Sky, subtitled Progressive Psychedelic And
Folk Rock From The Ember Vaults 1969-1972. The most
significant era of music in the 20th century, ‘69 to ‘72
was the heyday of classic rock and pop and, while many of the artists
featured on the 16 track CD are pretty unknown especially outside
the U.K., there’s still plenty of great psychedelic folk and
rock sounds to enjoy here. Included on the 15 track Looking Towards
The Sky CD are some pretty impressive tracks from groups with
names like 9:30 Fly, Knocker Jungle and Blue Beard,
along with somewhat bigger names like Blonde On Blonde,
Back Street Band and more, including Paddy Macguire,
supported here by heavy friends like Steve Winwood and folk
rockers Fotheringay. Fantastic Voyage are actually planning
a sequel to this first Looking Towards The Sky, to be released
later in 2010. All in all, fans of high quality psych-pop and rock
are well advised to hunt down this appealing package. Back in the
‘60s the sounds of those great British spy flicks and TV shows—from
James Bond to shows like The Prisoner, The Saint and The Avengers—was
everywhere. Having worked with John Barry early in his career,
Ember Records was right there capturing the big beat of the great
U.K. soundtrack masters, some of the best of which is remastered on
the 2010 28 track Ember CD release of Big Sound: Ember Soundtracks
& Themes. John Barry is just one of the legendary
English soundtrack artists represented on this wide-ranging CD, which
also includes instrumental soundtrack style sounds from lesser known,
yet equally gifted artists like Edwin Astley Orchestra, Tony
Crombie, Ronnie Howard Orchestra, Mark Wirtz Orchestra
and much more. If you ever thrilled to the big screen sounds and
productions from John Barry, you’re bound to catch a high off
of this fine collection of classic ‘60s and early ‘70s U.K.
soundtrack instrumentals. Back in the 1990’s, newly compiled
CD collections of lounge music from the ‘50s and ‘60s was
all the rage and not to be outdone—albeit a decade too late—Fantastic
Voyage / Future Noise Music rise to the occasion with a stellar various
artists collection called Happy Hour In The Ember Lounge.
Subtitled Lounge Music From The Ember Vaults, the 22 track
CD features a mix of ‘60s flavored instrumentals and vocal pop
from early Ember signings like Mark Wirtz, Edwin Astley Orchestra,
John Barry Seven with the instrumentals balanced by a touch
of vocal pop and rock from singers including the great Chad &
Jeremy. Of the two Chad & Jeremy tracks here, there’s
even a cool Chad dominated instrumental called “Only For The
Young.” Talk about ‘60s rarities! Packaged with an appealing
digi-pak design and layout, the 22 track Happy Hour CD is just
the thing to kick back with and enjoy on a sweltering hot summer day
(or night too). Like usual, Fantastic Voyage / Future Noise Music
pack up their Happy Hour collection with stellar artwork, colorful
graphics and informative liner notes, in the case of Happy Hour
by Lorne Murdoch. Close your eyes and you’d swear
it was 1963 again! www.FutureNoiseMusic.com
LINN
RECORDS - An audiophile label in England specializing in pop-jazz,
classical and electronica, Linn has a number of great CDs and new
hybrid super audio multichannel CD too. First up is a 2008 reissue
of Perfect Alibi by singer-songwriter Claire Martin.
Although released on CD in 2000, the album is one of Linn’s most
popular titles and they dusted it off for this hybrid super audio
CD, remastered for 5.1 audio. The CD sounds great and even though
geared for audiophiles, the CD is also playable on a regular CD player.
Most interesting fact here, beside the music is that the album was
produced by SYN guitarist Paul Stacey who does a great job
as usual on guitar, bass and keyboards. Also assisting are one time
SYN drummer, his brother Jeremy Stacey along with other fine
studio musicians. The album also features a guest appearance by the
now late great singer John Martyn. One of the top jazz vocalists
in England today, Ms. Martin’s forte is jazzy, pop covers evidenced
here by some tasteful band covers of the Rascals’ ‘60s classic
“How Can I Be Sure,” the Jimi Hendrix favorite, “Up
From The Skies” and Al Kooper’s “More Than You’ll
Ever Know.” Stacey’s production is on the money, filling
up the sound stage with great backing, all in all making the CD a
vital rediscovery. Ms. Martin has a number of her jazz-pop vocal CD
releases available on Linn including her 2009 album A Modern
Art, which is available as a dual layer SACD playable
in both 5.1 and 2 channel (good old) stereo. Each of Ms. Martin’s
Linn SACD / HDCD releases are superbly packaged and sound great while,
in addition to their high end CD releases, the Linn label is also
gearing up big time with a slew of download varieties including MP3,
CD quality and a very high tech studio master quality download. www.LinnRecords.com
RIGHTEOUS
23 - Okay, here’s a strange name for a record company but
at least their head and heart is in the right place. First off from
Righteous 23 is a truly wild compilation CD called Jukebox At
The Last Chance Saloon. Leave it to the England-based
Righteous 23 to figure this one out. While the huge country &
western singers of the ‘50s and ‘60s—guys like Hank
Williams and Jim Reeves—took center stage in the country music
world, there was always a slew of bad ass guitar pickers and grinners
who were quite content to let their fingers do the talking so to speak
and the 23 tracks on Jukebox At The Last Chance Saloon covers
a lot of instrumental country style guitar ground indeed. Interestingly,
the CD claims a certain web site was responsible for the music inspiration
collected here and that web site is: www.nathandgibson.blogspot.com
That music blog, written by Nathan D. Gibson, that so inspired this
instrumental collection, is filled with insights into the Starday
Studio who were recording some of the best of Nashville’s instrumentalists
back in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. The liner notes of this
Jukebox CD on the U.K. based Righteous label were superbly
written by one Dave Henderson in 2010 and he leaves no stone
unturned on this superb mix of instrumental American flavored country
and western sounds. Most of these tracks and musicians will be unknown
to listeners these days but even so, names like Eddie Eddings,
Jackie Phelps, Herbie Remington and Arthur “Guitar
Boogie” Smith laid down some mighty impressive instro licks
and leads and deserve to be given a second lease on life and what
better way than just by spinning this way cool collection of classic,
home grown American instrumental country sounds. www.Righteous23.com
TRIKONT - The Germans are a scary lot. The same country that brought
you diabolical Nazi-ism and that single-handedly killed six millions
Jews, including members of my own family, 60+ years ago, is also home
to the ingenious minds behind so much of the technology involved in
the recording process since the WWII days. One of the most musically
conspicuous people in Europe, the Germans continue to be quite active
in the reissue CD business and the Deutschland based Trikont have
been issuing some pretty damn scary compilations of American music
lately, including the 2010 CD release of Murder: Songs From
The Dark Side Of The Soul. There’s no shortage
of gloom and doom in music but this compilation seems to go out of
its way to find more of it for you. Basically subtitled Murder
Ballads In The U.S. And The Caribbean, the 23 track CD is filled
with harrowing vintage tales of musical despair featuring a number
of American blues and Americana musical giants including Sonny
Boy Williamson, Billie Holiday, Memphis Minnie,
Ethal Waters, Jimmie Rodgers and many more. Of course,
for this writer, the main highlight here is a harrowing song called
“Seven Skeletons Found In The Yard” from a fabulous singer
from Trinidad called Lord Executor. Recorded in 1938, the song
is truly a highlight here and, in my opinion, it’s also related
to another favorite song of mine called “Money Is King”,
a great Jim Pembroke ska cover recorded on his 1980 Flatbroke
album. All the liner notes of Murder are in German, and English
as well. The artwork—with graphic descriptions that point the
finger at America’s long time fascination with guns and selling
firearms—is pretty perspicuous. The sound, considering these
are vintage, archival recordings from the ‘30s and ‘40s,
is pretty impressive. Offspring of mein fuhrer, the Germans know a
lot about murder and they deliver the goods on this amazing collection.
Ditto for Trikont’s tribute to Gyspy Jazz guitar giant Django
Reinhardt, who is feted on a 20 track 2010 CD on Trikont called
Django’s Spirit: A Tribute To Django Reinhardt.
Some big names appear here including jazz guitar great Bireli
Lagrene, The David Reinhardt Trio and of course Django
himself on the lead off track “Bouncin’ Around.”
Filled with gypsy jazz stylings and a bunch of French vocal tracks,
the CD was expertly compiled by Susie Reinhardt, who claims
to be a distant relative of Django’s on her father’s side
but the closest relative on a track here is trio leader David Reinhardt,
who is actually said to be the grandson of the great Django. Thankfully
Trikont have done another top job here, featuring both the German
and English translations of the song info. A label on the rise, Trikont
has a bunch of cool and superbly packaged CD compilations out that
are each, in their own way, bound to pique the interest of globe spanning
vintage music collectors far and wide. www.Trikont.de
VOCALION
- Back in the 1960’s, the sights and sound of James Bond and
those wacky Bond movies was everywhere—on the radio, the TV and
the movies—especially in England, where the thing originated.
Over in the U.K. Vocalion released a 25 track, two albums on one CD
called The Bedside Bond, backed up by Number One
Themes—featuring thirteen like minded Decca Records instrumental
singles from the 1965-1979 era. The 12 track album comprising The
Bedside Bond was originally released by Decca in 1966 in association
with Penthouse magazine and features the ultra hip and glossy Ted
Heath Orchestra as produced by James Economides along with
arranger Des Champs. The result is some of the hippest Bond
era instrumental themes from either side of the Atlantic. Filled with
swooping strings and potent echo tinged brass, this 2010 CD marks
the first ever release of the Bedside Bond album in stereo.
Following the original twelve track Bedside Bond on the CD
are another thirteen soundtrack style instrumentals, pitted with even
more fuzzed out guitars and deep brass echo, that would fit right
in with any episode of The Avengers or The Prisoner for that matter.
Featuring a variety of British composers and musicians—including
jazz composer Neil Ardley, The Syd Dale Orchestra, guitarist
Rhet Stoller and more, these rare Decca singles offer a unique
look at finest in soundtracks from England during the ‘60s and
early / mid ‘70s. 2010 liner notes by OLiver Lomax—along
with some cool mini graphics—puts the stamp of approval on Vocalion’s
Bedside Bond CD. www.DuttonVocalion.co.uk
WRASSE
- Another essential Wrasse CD release, Moon On A Mirrorball
is a timely look back at the career of singer-songwriter Judie
Tzuke. The U.K. songstress burst onto the pop scene after she
got signed to Elton John’s Rocket Records in the late ‘70s.
With a number of album releases to her credit, Ms. Tzuke is well represented
on her Wrasse compilation which also includes four new songs as well.
With over twelve albums of music well represented—including releases
on Rocket, Chrysalis, Columbia and Big Moon Records—the double
CD set spans thirty plus years and skillfully underscores why Tzuke
is considered to be among the most gifted pop artists in the U.K.
The CD packaging of Moon On A Mirrorball is quite superb as
well—complete with lyrics and liners—making it well worth
the time to track down. www.tzuke.com
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