MWE3.COM
MUSIC NEWS & NOTES
The
SPRING 2019 RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
POP
& ROCK
BEH
MUSIC – Boston-area
guitarist Jamie Dunphy came to the attention of mwe3.com thanks
to the 2010 album he recorded with the jazz-fusion band called Mill
City Trio. Jamie’s 2019 album, called No More Waiting,
was recorded and released by his new rock project called Jamie
Dunphy And True North. In a completely new direction, on the 25
minute, six-track No More Waiting, Jamie proves his merit as
a guitarist, songwriter and lead singer. Speaking about the shift
from his jazz-rock 
instrumental
band to the country rock sound of his 2019 album, Jamie tells mwe3.com,
"I’ve always considered myself a guitarist who sings,
but I really enjoy singing. In earlier bands, I wrote primarily with
other members of the group, contributing riffs and chord changes while
leaving the lyrics to someone else. But over time I got more comfortable
presenting full songs, particularly when I started leading that eight-piece
group. After graduate school, I became immersed in jazz, and I didn’t
sing publicly or write songs for many years. It’s been great
fun getting back to it. I was surprised how long it took to get my
voice back into shape, but I feel pretty strong now." Very
much rooted the Dylan-esque Americana, country-rock style, the six
track No More Waiting CD features Jamie’s excellent electric
and acoustic guitar work and singing, backed up by the fine rhythm
section of Seth Peterson (bass) and Tod Salmonson (drums,
percussion). Produced by Brian Charles, the first CD by Jamie
Dunphy and True North, No More Waiting shows the expansive
range of talent and diversity from an excellent guitarist with a whole
lotta varied musical influences and styles. www.CDbaby.com
BLUE
GENTIAN RECORDS – New England based Birdsong At Morning
are making sonic waves of joy with their 2018 album called Signs
And Wonders. Produced by group mentor Alan Williams,
the sprawling masterwork album features the songs and vocals of Alan
backed-up by Darleen Wilson (guitar) and Greg Porter (bass)
along with a number of collaborators. A 20-piece string orchestra
adds much sonic luster to the overall progressive alt-rock vibes.
Musically, Williams’ vocals are reminiscent of the late, great
Greg Lake while a number of multiple influences find their way into
the band’s orchestral rock sound. One can only add more accolades
for the superbly packaged double disc set of Signs And Wonders,
that pairs the CD with a Blue-ray disc featuring a number of alternate
mixes in surround sound, while the CD booklet enhances the experience
with superb art and complete lyrics. A haunting cover of the Supertramp
song classic “The Logical Song” and a progressive Hawaiian-sounding
instrumental called “Kehena Shuffle” caps off the brilliant
sonic vibes of Signs And Wonders by Birdsong At Morning. www.birdsongatmorning.com
BLUJAZZ
PRODUCTIONS / SPIRIT RECORDS - Combining the talents of
Bob Baldori (piano, blues harp) and Arthur Migliazza (piano),
The Boogie Kings stomp into town with their 2018 CD Disturbing
The Peace. Bob and Arthur’s specialty is their
fourhanded approach to piano based boogie-woogie riffs and rhythms.
Both are ace musicians and with Bob doubling on blues harp, the sound
of the 12-track CD blends blues, boogie, stride piano, rock ‘n’
roll, blues and much more. Produced by Bob Baldori and recorded in
Michigan, the album is kind of evenly split between vocals and instrumentals
that mostly features their fourhanded boogie-woogie stride piano sound.
The CD is neatly packaged and features interesting liner notes by
esteemed musicologist Bill Dahl. Some of the tracks are rarities
but some are quite well known among blues fans and roots music enthusiasts,
especially new takes on Huey Piano Smith’s “Rocking Pneumonia
And The Boogie-Woogie Flu” and the Louie Prima big band favorite
“Sing, Sing, Sing”, done here as a boogie-woogie. After
hearing the Boogie Kings’ Disturbing The Piece, you’ll
discover a renewed respect for the venerable boogie-woogie sound.
www.boogiestomp.com
CLEOPATRA
RECORDS – Sounding like a throwback to the mid 1980s, Chilland
is an interesting, subliminal sounding work of lo-fi dream
pop from San Diego based Shindigs. Ostensibly, the work of
Korean multi-instrumentalist Beejay, the 10- track, 30 minute
long Chilland (spelled as ch ill a nd on the CD)
merges latent disco elements with minimalist, processed guitars
and obscure vocals that are basically all over the map. Some references
include the mid 1980s band Love Tractor just before they started to
add vocals. Interesting for guitar fans is the way Beejay treats his
guitar sound with all kinds of processed sounds like adding Leslie
cabinet type effects to the guitar riffs and chords. There’s
also some 1960s type exotica sounds making the tracks sound like miniature
soundtracks to a retro TV series. Either way, The Shindigs are good
and the Chilland album is entertaining in a bizarre, off the
beaten track type of way. Exotica fans will enjoy it overall while
guitar fans will be in for some kind of pleasant sonic shock. www.cleopatrarecords.com
KURT
DEEMER MUSIC – Baltimore-based
Kurt Deemer Band are turning heads with an excellent sounding
2018 CD EP called Antenna Like A Lightning Rod. Self-released,
the 6 track CD highlights the music and vocals of Kurt Deemer who
is backed up by a tight band including John Christensen (guitars),
Kris Maher (bass), Steve Rose (drums) and others. With
a catchy 
approach
to Americana pop and rock, Kurt sounds influenced by AOR giants like
the late Tom Petty and Chrissie Hynde. Speaking about his M.O. on
this brilliant mini-album, Kurt adds, "I really wanted to
make a full-length record, and in retrospect kind of wish I had. I
envisioned the EP on vinyl with a side “A” and side “B”
but it’s only on disc for now. The previous KDB records were
self-produced and then mixed. This record was recorded at Drew Mazurek’s
place as well as mixed there. The idea was to keep it as live as possible."
Kurt’s six-piece band is super tight and the whole album rocks
up quite a storm. Over the past few years, Kurt and company have released
several albums but Antenna Like A Lightning Rod is so strong,
with each track a standout. A 6 track taster of his latest recordings
Antenna
Like A Lightning Rod
may very
well be the one to put The Kurt Deemer Band band front and center
among 21st century pop-rock enthusiasts. www.kurtdeemerband.com
ECLIPSE
MUSIC – Eclipse
Music founder, guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Tapio Ylinen
proves his artistic worth as a solo artist in early 2019 with
the North American CD release of his latest solo album called Left
Unsaid (The Longstanding Problems Of Happiness). The
six-track, 33 minute CD is filled with an array of memorable, contemporary
mainstream pop and rock. Tapio Ylinen (pronounced: eÚ-Lennon)
comes from the Northern European country of Finland, yet all the Left
Unsaid tracks feature Tapio's English language vocals and guitars
backed up by the tight rhythm section of Tatu Rönkkö(drums)
and Miikkael Anttila (bass). A
skillful champion of
Finnish rock and fusion music, Tapio
tells mwe3.com, "Writing in your second language is never
the same as your native language but, then again, I’ve studied
English quite a bit and I find that it usually suits rock and blues–based
music
much better than Finnish. I’ve released music in Finnish as well,
like the track “Brother Come Back”. Sometimes it’s
possible to translate previous work and sometimes it’s not and
so I have songs that either are only in Finnish or only in English
and a few that I’ve managed to make work in both languages. Finland
has a strong presence in the world of classical music and composers
like Sibelius are regularly taught in schools here, so I guess people
who listen to more than just mainstream pop are likely to find instrumental
music appealing even though it’s been proven by studies that
the human voice is the best way to grab the listeners’ attention."
A
follow up to his 2012 Finnish language vocal album called Nuoruus,
the 2019 North American CD release of Left Unsaid is international
melodic rock, and with English lyrics printed in the digipak, the
spotlight is on Tapio's hook-filled pop-rock vocals and his lively
electric guitar playing. Influenced by the classic pop-rock bands
of the past, and the cutting edge sound of today, Left Unsaid presents
a modern, state of the art-rock sound. With the entertaning sound
of Left Unsaid, guitarist / composer Tapio Ylinen establishes
himself as an ascending guitar-rock talent. www.tapioylinen.com
/ www.eclipsemusic.fi
HOOF
& ANTLER RECORDS – The 2019 CD release of Berlin
– Nashville Express should be just the ticket to bring
the name Bambi Lee Savage to the attention of music fans worldwide.
A mix of modern sounding rockabilly, country & western twang with
a very cool pop sensibility, the ten-track, 32 minute CD features
Bambi’s appealing vocals and songs backed up by a range of excellent
players, including lead guitarist Mick Harvey, Steve Nistor
(drums), Jim Wilson (guitars) and a whole lot more musicians.
Recorded in Nashville, Berlin, L.A., Denver and Australia, Berlin
– Nashville Express is being described as an Americana /
Indie country collection in the tradition of Loretta Lynn and Hank
Williams with a dose of gospel and a post-punk touch and, with
the addition of multi-instrumentalist / guitar ace Mick Harvey, there’s
a definite bop-rock twist to please the ardent country music fan.
www.bambileesavage.com
KARNEY
MUSIC AND SOUNDS – Making waves in the rock world, Anna
Karney released No Mercy by her band, Karney
way back in 2018. The fifth full-length Karney album, the 12-track
No Mercy features some great band sounds with Anna’s guitar,
vocals and songs backed up a tight band including sizzling guitar
work by James DePrato and Michael Doyle and excellent
drumming by Jeff Herrero. Mixed, co-produced and engineered
by Michael Rosen, the album kind of reminds one of the early
1980s band Martha & The Muffins, yet there’s something very
much of today from the San Francisco based Anna Karney and that comes
by way of a unique sense of originality in play throughout the CD.
Pop-rock fans looking for something new and exciting in the music
world should do well to give a few good listens to Karney’s No
Mercy. www.karney.org
KING
OF FOXES MUSIC – Edmonton, Alberta Canada based rockers King
Of Foxes are back on top with their 2018 CD called Salt
& Honey. Tastefully packaged with full credits
and photo pic, the six track, 23 minute mini-album may be short on
time but it’s long on musical ideas and rockin’, guitar-centric
riffs that are truly devastating. Vocalist, guitarist and composer
Olivia Street is joined by bandmates Brandon Baker (guitars),
Reid Thiel (bass), Stew Kirkwood (drums) along with
several other fine musicians. Hard to know exactly who to compare
the KoF sound to but 1980s pop chanteuse Marti Jones comes to mind
and fans of Marti-related titans Marshall Crenshaw and Don Dixon will
flip for King Of Foxes. Decades after Ms. Jones, King Of Foxes might
not be the most original sound but, clearly delivered with just the
right amount of style and verve, Salt & Honey is a superb
introduction to an excellent band. With her wonderful songs and stage
presence, Olivia Street is a pop-rock talent to keep your eyes and
ears on. www.kingoffoxesband.com
MOON
OVER MOUNTAIN MUSIC - Featuring the music and keyboards of Kenneth
Lee Roberts and the music, vocals and lyrics of Megan Buness,
the debut CD by Moon Over Mountain, The Colors Of Life is a
worthy musical experience that merges music from a wealth of styles.
Blending keyboards and spatial electronics, the lead track “Yes,
I Am Here” sounds like a mellotron-inspired instrumental that
Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues would appreciate. Though half of the
album is instrumental, the classically trained vocals of Ms. Buness
also brings her own unique instrument to several tracks that combine
vocals, sometimes without lyrics, making for a worthy keyboard-driven
New Age pop sound. Programmed drums contribute to a recording that
is very much DIY-sounding, yet the well-recorded sound is for the
most part both edgy and meditative. Speaking about the variety of
styles to be found on The Colors Of Life, Ken Roberts tells
mwe3.com, "You know, we’ve struggled to try to communicate
to our listeners what it is that we’re up to musically, and,
whatever it is, we don’t feel very comfortable characterizing
it in terms of any genre. Having said that, there are certainly elements
of New Age, electronica and pop in The Colors of Life but there
was never any attempt to shoehorn any given piece into a slot of that
kind. The individual tracks emerged as whatever they are from the
process of trying to work out how best to get at what the compositions
were about." A renowned vocalist in the Denver, Colorado area,
Megan Buness also performs with one of Colorado’s top five chamber
ensembles, so she also brings her classical music training to the
Moon Over Mountain vocal tracks. Compared to neoclassical electronica,
Moon Over Mountain also brings a sense of humor and humility to their
music. While it would be no easy feat for Moon Over Mountain to become
as well-known as vintage electronic music artists like Jean Michel
Jarre, it's clear that fans of Jarre, Pinder and Vangelis will be
sure to enjoy The Colors Of Life, if they could only hear it.
www.cdbaby.com
NCOMPASS
MUSIC – California-based pop maven Jeff Larson released
a new CD called Yesterday’s Dream in 2019 on his
Ncompass Music label. Actually, the roots of the ten-track Yesterday’s
Dream CD go way back to 2001 when Jeff and musical cohort John
Blakeley released their historic Daytrips collaboration.
That album features Jeff’s vocals and music and John’s music
and guitar work along with Scott Matthews (drums), Jeff
Pevar (bass) and other musicians. Described as a brilliant throwback
to the golden era of singer-songwriters, Yesterday’s Dream
features some tracks from Daytrips, that are newly redone.
The whole Yesterday’s Dream CD is filled with catchy pop
hooks in the spirit of Jeff’s mentor’s such as Gerry Beckley
of the band America, the sound of The Eagles and other classic California
bands and noted vocalists. Music fans who thrilled to John Blakeley’s
2006 Tan Mantis album with Ron Nagle, will be in for
a treat with Yesterday’s Dream as John’s signature
guitar sound is all over this disc and Ron Nagle also designed the
cover art. Blakeley’s patented surf-twang guitar sound has rarely
sounded better and Jeff Larson’s songs still stand the test of
time on Yesterday’s Dream. www.jefflarson-music.com
TOM
NICHOLS MUSIC – Described as “a collection of ten
original songs… music to heal, inspire and unite”, Trust
makes a superb introduction to the music of Washington, D.C.
based singer-songwriter Tom Nichols. Renowned for years as
the co-producer on the many acclaimed albums by New Age piano virtuoso
Dan Chadburn, Trust, although released in 2011 remains a vital
discovery for pop music fans. Released on CD, ten track, 40+ minute
album is a momentous pop-rock album complete with introspective lyrics
and toe-tapping melodies that frame Tom’s songs with a peaceful,
easy feeling. Contributing his one-of-a-kind piano sounds to several
tracks here, Dan Chadburn makes his presence felt while other
musicians appearing on the superbly recorded Trust include
Paul Bell (electric / acoustic guitars), Holly Montgomery
(co-production, bass), Andy Hamburger (drums), Jeff
Hamlin (piano), Helen Hausmann (violin) along with other
fine players, producers and engineers. Describing his musical mission
on Trust in his album liner notes Tom explains, “Through
my own journey in creating Trust, I have realized the many gifts that
music can provide. Trust has afforded me the opportunity to confront
and conquer the many fears that have kept me from becoming the man
I am called to be and to celebrate the man I am becoming.”
A stellar example of impressive performance and production skills,
Trust shines a light on Tom’s song writing and his love
of rock and pop music. No matter how depressed or challenged the listener
is, with its message of hope and gratitude, Trust provides
the right kind of sonic spirit to uplift the listener to a more promising
place in their lives. Filled with deep and meaningful lyrics that
fills you with good vibes, Trust deserves a place in music
collections of the most devoted pop-rock fans. www.tomnicholsmusic.com
PARAPLY
RECORDS / HEMIFRÅN – Paraply Records has another
winner on their roster with the 2018 CD EP release of Monterey
Shoreline by singer-songwriter Calle Karlsson. The
5 track CD EP is excellent, filled with catchy Americana based pop-rock.
The Swedish fascination with all things California moves forward with
Calle’s disc. Backing up the vocalist and songwriter are some
of Sweden’s best session players and one of them is none other
than Paraply Records recording artist Citizen K himself, Klas Qvist,
who adds in some tasty guitar work along with Calle’s acoustic
guitar and excellent pedal steel from Berra Karlsson with additional
guitar from Martin Floberg. Commenting on his working on Calle’s
album, Klas tells mwe3.com, “The guitar work on Monterey Shoreline
is, apart from Calle’s acoustic guitars, mine, backwards and
forwards. I think I even plugged in my 12-string Rickenbacker on that
one. The Calle recordings came through Peter Holmstedt. Didn't know
him before he came to Borås to discuss the project over lunch
one day with me, Peter and his son Andreas who owns the studio. I'm
pretty much a session guy on these songs, yes, and I even came up
with some ideas for arrangements and production. But it's all basically
produced by the 
Holmstedts.
Martin (Floberg) is one of Andreas' friends, a superb, young guitarist.
The pedal steel guy is Berra, who played on a couple of tracks on
(the 2017 Citizen K double album) Second Thoughts." One can
only hope Calle Karlsson gets to release more of his toe-tapping pop-rock
songs on an even longer full-length album in the future and will Citizen
K be there? www.hemifran.com
RECOVERY
TROUBADOUR RECORDS – A guitar legend on the NYC music scene
for decades, Ricky Byrd recently released his full-length CD
called Clean Getaway. Kicking off the 12-track,
50 minute, 2017 album with an updated version of the 1966 Paul Revere
& The Raiders classic “Kicks”, Clean Getaway refers
to Ricky’s struggles and eventual win over his addiction problems.
With “Kicks” ringing out as a powerful lead off message
of hope, Clean Getaway features Ricky backed up by top musicians
including Bob Stander (bass), drumming legend Steve Holley,
keyboards icon Bobby Whitlock (organ) and many other fine musicians.
With titles like “Addicts Prayer”, “High Wire”,
“Paranoid” and others, the message is clear and Ricky’s
vocals, songs, guitar sounds and lyrics drives the message home with
a rock and roll heart. A guitar icon that earned his reputation playing
electric guitar with Joan Jett And The Blackhearts, as well as rock
icons like Ian Hunter, Southside Johnny and Roger Daltrey, Ricky Byrd’s
Clean Getaway is a powerful rock and roll album with an important
message to keep in mind. www.facebook.com
ROCK
COMPANY – Over in Holland, rock impresario, guitar ace and
record company founder Peter Cox continues releasing cool modern
rock albums including the 2018 CD release of Made To Burn,
the latest from the band known as D’ercole. The album
is a great showcase for singer / bass player and keyboardist Phil
Vincent paired here with electric guitarist Damian D’Ercole.
Backed up by drummer B.F. D’Ercole, the modern rock sound
evokes classic rock bands like ELO, Aerosmith and ZZ Top and more
ultra tight rock 
sounds.
The ‘70s band Boston also comes to mind no doubt thanks to Phil
Vincent’s spectacular vocals and production. Several other notable
rock guitar heroes drop in, adding an even more electrifying sonic
edge to the album. The more melodic tracks shine through the sonic
hardness but the album gels nicely and puts the power back in rock.
Music fans looking to check out Rock Company can also take a listen
to their other recent CD releases including The Essential Claudio
Delgift, which is kind of in the same ball park as
the D’Ercole album, making it another fine choice for fans of
mid 1970s punchy power rock and arena rock. www.rockcompany.nl
WEST
OF MUSIC – Led by Jenny Schaub and Martin Schaub,
the Swedish band West Of Eden turned out their most international
flavored album in 2019. The 12-track Flat Earth Society was
inspired by the group’s 2017 anniversary tour that found them
performing in Beijing China. When West Of Eden returned to Sweden,
the idea hit them to record their next album with some of the best
folk and traditional musicians from the U.K. The resulting Flat
Earth Society features the six-member band alongside some of the
best fiddlers, whistle blowers and pipe players in the British Isles.
Recorded in the U.K. and in Gothenburg, Sweden, the album was superbly
produced by Martin Schaub. Anyone familiar with Swedish folk
music will be aware that the differences between Swedish folk music
and U.K. traditional music aren’t that big and on Flat Earth
Society, West Of Eden has recorded a highly entertaining album
that will appeal to fans of traditional music from both countries.
The CD is superbly packaged with excellent artwork and complete lyrics,
while pictures of the U.K. guest musicians are also featured. As the
album producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Martin Schaub
works wonders and with his wife Jenny Schaub adding in female
lead vocals, Flat Earth Society proves to be a truly entertaining
album of acoustic-based folk-music magic. www.westofeden.com
WHITE
SWAN RECORDS – Recorded in Australia, Deva is
a fantastic album by German-born singer Deva Premal. A very
spiritual musical experience, the seven-track, 65 minute CD features
Deva adding her unique vocalizations and melodies to a number of Hindu
mantras and chants, all set to music and the result is both haunting
and captivating. Contemporary vocal music to celebrate and illuminate
timeless spiritual concepts, including the seven chakras, the sacred
feminine spirit, time-honored archetypes Buddha, Krishna and Lord
Ganesha, Deva was produced by multi-instrumentalist Joby
Baker (keys, guitars, bass and more) and features a range
of excellent musicians who fill out the sound space including, Miten
(vocals), Manose (vocals, bansuri) as well as guest Anoushka
Shankar (sitar). Deva made her debut album way back in 1998 and
on Deva her latest musical offering of these versions of the
most famous ancient mantras of India and Tibet is quite fascinating.
A perfect find for fans of the great spiritual Indian Gods, and a
must for New Age music fans, Deva is one of the most spiritual
sounding albums in recent memory. Listening to the Deva CD
is like taking a trip to the sacred temples of India without leaving
the comforts of your living room. www.whiteswanrecords.com
INSTRUMENTAL
ARK
MUSIC – For
their third duo album together Jeff Johnson and Phil Keaggy
return with Cappadocia. Although a sonic
tribute to a haven in Turkey for Christians fleeing persecution, the
all-instrumental Cappadocia is truly a masterpiece of modern
day New Age and Celtic flavored contemporary instrumental sounds.
Haunting melodic themes are fleshed out and brought to life via Jeff’s
magisterial synth keyboards and Phil’s one-of-a-kind electric
and acoustic guitar sound. Both musicians add in tasteful percussion
backing and occasional vocals. Fans of both of these world-class musicians
that were blessed enough to hear their earlier albums—Frio
Suite (2009) and Watersky (2012) —will be amazed at
the wealth of musical concepts on Cappadocia. Speaking
about the depth and variety of music on Cappadocia, Jeff Johnson
tells mwe3.com, "One of the biggest challenges that I’ve
always faced with the music that I make is how exactly to categorize
it. With the collaboration that I’ve had with Irish flutist,
Brian Dunning, it’s a bit easier with using the label, “Contemporary
Celtic.” Yet with the music that Phil and I make, there are so
many different elements and genres represented here that I honestly
don’t know what to call it other than “contemporary instrumental”
which doesn’t begin to describe the details! I believe that this
music has a fairly broad appeal. There really is no “targeted
market” other than reaching the fans that have enjoyed our music
on the past two recordings and expanding it to new listeners. Since
it’s instrumental and contemporary, it’s going to get put
in the “New Age” genre category which is fine. But because
there’s an inspiration from the Christian heritage and spirituality
of Cappadocia it might also be appreciated by those who enjoy Christian
music. And, because there’s a sophisticated structure and thoughtfulness
in both the compositions and the recording production, it might appeal
to a “new classical” audience. And finally, since there’s
that tinge of “progressive rock” here and there, it might
also be something the prog rock folks enjoy when they want to chill
a bit!"
Although New Age and neoclassical in scope, the entire Cappadocia
album also presents itself as a kind of modern day symphonic-sounding
progressive rock masterpiece—albeit one that lulls you in with
a very stately rock sound, complete with unforgettable, atmospheric
musical vibes. Clearly one of the most influential and anticipated
album releases of late 2018 and early 2019, Cappadocia is essential
listening and an album not to be missed among fans of Jeff Johnson
and Phil Keaggy. www.jeffjohnsonmusic.bandcamp.com
/ www.youtube.com
/ www.arkmusic.com
/ www.philkeaggy.com
NICKY
BARBATO MUSIC – The city of N.Y. is blessed for its sheer
wealth of guitar talent. New to the scene in 2019 comes Nicky Barbato
Project with their album debut called Every Day Is A Bad
Hair Day. Covers of the Beatles’ “Norwegian
Wood” and a take on ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” are
treated with respect. The otherwise all-original album combines a
hard driving NYC style guitar noir that mixes in all sort of guitar
styles like surf, jazz and soundtrack instrumentals. Recorded in Red
Hook Brooklyn, the 11 cut CD features Nicky’s band including
Tony Mason (drums), Jon Irabagon (sax), and Chris
Anderson (bass). Track 4, “Au Pair” mixes in some sweet
strings that evokes Norrie Paramor producing The Shadows circa 1963.
Other tracks will appeal to not only surf-jazz instrumental fans but
also darker styles that sound influenced by greats like John Blakeley
of The Sandals and great guitarists of today like current NYC favorites
such as the Supertones’ guitar ace Tim Sullivan and also Bill
Frisell creeps into the mix too. Even with so many eclectic sounds,
Every Day Is A Bad Hair Day is modern day album essential for
adventurous guitar fans. www.nickybarbato.com
/ www.facebook.com/NickyBarbatoMusic/
BE
WHY MUSIC – The music ensemble known as Opium Moon won
a Grammy for best New Age album in early 2019 and clearly, there’s
some good reasons why. Featuring the talents of world-renowned violinist
Lili Haydn, the international ensemble features musicians from
Canada, the Middle East and the U.S. With Ms. Haydn’s soaring
violin scaling the sonic stratosphere, the quartet is well rounded
out with Hamid Saeidi (Santoor), Itai Disraeli (fretless
bass) and MB Gordy (percussion). With Hamid’s exotic dulcimer
like sounding Santoor trading melodic lines with Ms. Haydn’s
violin, Itai’s fretless bass keeps the sound grounded while the
percussion of MB Gordy is like icing on the sonic cake. With Hamid
and Itai, respectively from Iran and Israel, the Opium Moon sound
is quite exotic. Coupled with the New Age violin vibes of Ms. Haydn,
on this first Opium Moon album, the music on hand is truly a celestial
musical experience well grounded on terra firma. New Age fans and
World Music fans will rejoice upon hearing this first Opium Moon album.
www.opiummoon.com
BLUJAZZ
PRODUCTIONS / SPIRIT RECORDS - Combining the talents of
Bob Baldori (piano, blues harp) and Arthur Migliazza (piano),
The Boogie Kings stomp into town with their 2018 CD Disturbing
The Peace. Bob and Arthur’s specialty is their
fourhanded approach to piano based boogie-woogie riffs and rhythms.
Both are ace musicians and with Bob doubling on blues harp, the sound
of the 12-track CD blends blues, boogie, stride piano, rock ‘n’
roll, blues and much more. Produced by Bob Baldori and recorded in
Michigan, the album is kind of evenly split between vocals and instrumentals
that mostly features their fourhanded boogie-woogie stride piano sound.
The CD is neatly packaged and features interesting liner notes by
esteemed musicologist Bill Dahl. Some of the tracks are rarities
but some are quite well known among blues fans and roots music enthusiasts,
especially new takes on Huey Piano Smith’s “Rocking Pneumonia
And The Boogie-Woogie Flu” and the Louie Prima big band favorite
“Sing, Sing, Sing”, done here as a boogie-woogie. After
hearing the Boogie Kings’ Disturbing The Piece, you’ll
discover a renewed respect for the venerable boogie-woogie sound.
www.boogiestomp.com
BLUJAZZ
– Chicago-based BluJazz breaks into 2019 with some fine new
CD releases including View Of The City by veteran jazz
guitarist / composer Doug MacDonald. Produced by Jack Frisch
and co-produced by BluJazz founder Greg Pasenko, the 13
track album sessions dates all the way back to October 2016 and features
Doug backed up by the rhythm section of Harvie S (bass) and
Steve Williams (drums). In his liner notes, Bill Milkowski
cites influences like Wes Montgomery, Johnny Smith and Howard
Roberts and clearly Doug carries the post-bop era of jazz guitar forward
with View Of The City. The guitarist’s fifth BluJazz album
and his 13th as a band leader, View Of The City features MacDonald
originals, along with a Harvie S composition, paired with classics
written by Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and a host of great
American songbook legends like Sammy Cahn, Jerome Kern and more. Recorded
a few years back in Queens, NYC, View Of The City is a true
gift to mainstream jazz guitar fans that is simply put, better late
than never. www.DougMacdonald.com
Also on BluJazz and recorded in 2018 in the Chicago area, Sliding
On Glass is a superb introduction to the sound of Judy
Night Quintet. Subtitled, Live At 210, the eight track
CD kicks off with a stellar rendition of “Timeless”, by
the late, great guitarist John Abercrombie that slides into a wild
cover of the traditional “Scarborough Fair”, a song made
popular as a folk-pop tune back in 1967 by Simon & Garfunkel.
Another Paul Simon related track here is a cover of “Cecilia”.
There’s also a cover of “Moonchild”, from the first
King Crimson album, done here as a jazzy standard. A jazz rendition
of the Christmas classic “Do You Hear What I Hear” is a
standout as is the CD closing original title track. Backing Ms. Night
are great players including drummer Justin Kramer, two guitarists,
Brian Wilkie (electric lead) and TC Furlong (pedal
steel) and bass ace Jackson Kidder. A practicing pediatrician
by trade, Judy makes a stellar transition to bandleader as well as
being a partner / music director at the famous Chicago night spot,
210 Live. www.facebook.com/JudyNight/
BLUE
SCHIST MUSIC – Also on the current NYC guitar scene, guitar
ace Christopher Jentsch returns with Topics In American
History from Jentsch Group No Net. Key dates in history
are mentioned in the track titles but all told, Jentsch is one of
the most versatile jazz guitarists on the Brooklyn scene today. File
under modern Americana and neo avant garde instrumentals, the seven
track CD was recorded live on December 2nd, 2016 and the music is
still making the rounds and is well worth hearing. The Jentsch Group
No Net qualifies as a well orchestrated contemporary big band and
features ten musicians that performs kind of like a mini orchestra.
Song titles like “Manifest Destiny” and “Lincoln Douglas
Debates” gives the album kind of a historical context, complete
with liner notes by the guitarist himself. Several of the English
gothic chamber rock bands (Henry Cow, Gryphon) from the mid 1970s
can be contextualized, consciously or subliminally and the neoclassical
chamber music vibe gives the album a 21st Century sheen. Jentsch handles
most of the production chores and the players seem to light up on
his eclectic compositional style. Topics In American History
is bold treasure of sonic delights by guitarist / composer
/ band leader Christopher Jentsch. www.chrisjentsch.com
CONSIDER
THE SOURCE MUSIC – Back in 2015, mwe3.com featured a review
of World War Trio Part 1 and in currently in 2019, that very
same band, Consider The Source are back with a new full-length
CD masterpiece called You Are Literally A Metaphor.
Jazz-rock fans will be in orbit with this new CTS album, featuring
guitarist Gabriel Marin and the rhythm section of Jeff Mann
(drums, keys) and John Ferrara (bass). With the album very
much conceived and written as a group effort, Marin’s guitar
imagination does stand out, basking in the band’s RTF and Mahavishnu
style fusion freak-outs to even more carefully detailed melodic guitar
arrangements that sometimes evokes George Harrison and Eric Clapton.
Being an all-instrumental album, those comparisons say a lot about
the diversity of this unique and exciting NYC-based prog-jazz power
trio. The credits also say that several tracks on the CD are based
on Eastern European traditional melodies. Alight in the astounding,
high-tech glow, the musical might of Consider The Source emerges fully
formed on You Are Literally A Metaphor. www.considerthesourcemusic.com
COYOTE
FLOE MUSIC – Back in 2015, New Age keyboardist / composer
Timothy Wenzel released Summon The Wind and now in early
2019 he offers his fans another fine CD called Running Away.
Regarding his new album, Timothy says, “The title track
on Running Away was inspired by a fantasy that I think many people
have of starting a new life, escaping from problems and all your stresses,
maybe slipping away to another part of the world and creating a different
life, just leaving everything behind.” Perhaps that’s
the beauty of New Age instrumental music is that its sense of wonder
lets your imagination run wild by creating a place in your soul that
you can escape to and discover meditative and peaceful insights. The
team of players assisting Timothy’s piano and synths includes
Jill Haley (English horn, oboe), Jeff Haynes (percussion)
and Josie Quick (violin), with co-production handled by Corin
Nelsen. Featuring 12 instrumental tracks, Running Away was
inspired by dreams, films, stories and natural scenery. Timothy Wenzel
will make New Age instrumental music fans very happy with his 2019
masterpiece, Running Away. www.timothywenzel.com
GREYDISC
- Although he is renowned for his expertise as a guitarist, composer,
recording artist and designer of the most unique carbon fibre guitars
on the planet, Kevin Kastning proves his worth once again,
this time as an improvisational pianist on, Piano 1,
his sixth solo album for Greydisc Records. Throughout the 9 track
Piano 1, Kevin lives up to his reputation as one of the most
ingenius American talents on the 21st century worldwide musical scene.
Throughout his various albums, many recorded with his talented friends,
like Michael Manring, Carl Clements, Sandor Szabo and Mark Wingfield,
Kevin has always made recording quality music his top priority. Although
he has featured his recorded piano sound on earlier Greydisc albums,
including
The Book Of Crossing (2012), A Connection Of Secrets (2017)
and in 2018 on the Ethereal 1 album with Sándor Szabó,
Kevin’s first completely solo piano album has his trademark sound
all over it. Long time followers of his recording style and musical
vision will easily detect Piano 1 as clearly being an album
very much true to Kevin's own style and influences. Speaking to mwe3.com
about Piano 1, the artist explains, “The pieces on
Piano I were all improvised, all first-take recordings. I had an overall
compositional concept and direction in mind for the album, and constructed
the pieces to fit into that.” Kevin has clearly earned his
standing among the most unique modern-day American musical improvisers
and Piano 1 album also makes a strong statement of appreciation
for the great pioneering composers of the past. Regarding that last
statement he explains, “The composers by which I’ve been
influenced for keyboard works would be quite a long list. Bach, Schoenberg,
and Bartok are the first that immediately come to mind, but are certainly
only the tip of that iceberg. Keith Jarrett’s solo works have
had a massive, tremendous impact on me for sure, but far more on the
guitar side of things than the piano side. I am not trying to rethink
classical music… I just recorded a few piano pieces.”
With its steady flow of convincing and compelling musical ideas, all
expressed by a singular artist performing solo on the stately piano,
Piano 1 takes Kevin Kastnings’s career in a new and exciting
musical direction. www.kevinkastning.com
KAY
DAS MUSIC – In 2016 guitarist / musicologist Kay Das released
his album Anima, which was a kind of tribute album to 20th
century Italian pop music. Of course being all-instrumental, Anima
was a true blessing to fans of Kay’s steel-guitar based music.
Now in early 2019, mwe3.com is shining a light on Kay’s latest
album called Awapuhi. The 18-track album is a
superb sounding tribute album to classic Hawaiian music and features
Kay’s steel-o-caster guitar. Although the instrumental steel
guitar sound is still prevalent, the album also features several Hawaiian
language vocal tracks featuring the band called Mana, which
is essentially the husband and wife team of Joice and Glenn Alapag.
The blend of Joice on vocals / ukulele and Glenn on slack key, rhythm
guitar and bass along with Kay’s steel guitar and keyboards is
pure magic and overall, Awapuhi is surely among the best Hawaiian
based music albums of the decade. As Kay indicates in his liner notes,
music is always moving forward but looking back on the musical past
can also supply a road map for the future. Mixing traditional Hawaiian
music with a range of new Kay Das originals works like magic on the
beguiling sounds of Awapuhi. www.cdbaby.com
ESTHEMA
MUSIC – The follow-up album CD to the 2015 album by Esthema,
the 2018 release of IV, continues to break new
sonic ground for the Boston-area band. Led by guitarist / composer
Andy Milas, on their new one, Esthema features four extended
tracks separated by several short interludes. With all the music written,
arranged and produced by the band, IV features solid performances
by long time members, including Andy Milas on guitars, backed up by
Onur Dilisen (violin), Mac Ritchey (oud, bouzouki),
Tom Martin (bass) and George Lernis (drums, percussion).
One of the finest bands merging prog-rock, New Age instrumentals and
jazz with traditional music from the Balkan region and the Near and
Middle East, the modern fusion sound of Esthema is a splendid choice
for fans of contemporary instrumental music. www.esthema.com
INFINITA
RECORDS – With a number of critically acclaimed albums to
his credit, guitarist / composer Lawson Rollins is well known
worldwide among discerning guitar enthusiasts. Although his music
over the years has veered towards the World music style of Nuevo Flamenco
and Contemporary Instrumental genres, in 2019 he surprises long time
fans with maybe his most eclectic album yet called Dark Matter:
Music For Film. Combining instrumental music with a
definite slant towards atmospheric, film-oriented soundtrack style
music, Dark Matter may be dark, at least compared to his earlier
releases yet it’s also beguiling and hypnotic in the best sense
of the terms. Combining acoustic and electric guitars with electronica
and synths, violin and flute, the 25-track hour long album features
key contributions from long time Rollins associates Mads Tolling
(violin), Stephen Duros (guitars, keys, co-production)
and Guillermo Martinez (flute). Some comparisons may be made
to his earlier albums, including Lawson’s 2018 best-of album
Airwaves, yet Dark Matter also breaks new ground for
the renowned guitar ace. Even with 25 tracks, Dark Matter has
a definite sonic flow to it and the tracks seemingly merge flawlessly
into each other. Guitar fans that might have thought that Lawson Rollins
was mainly a Nuevo Flamenco / World Music artist will be in for quite
an unexpected and quite pleasant surprise with the soundtrack music
vibe of Dark Matter: Music For Film. www.LawsonRollins.com
JOHN
IRVINE MUSIC – For the follow up album to his 2015 album
Next Stop, jazz fusion guitar ace John Irvine returned
in early 2019 with his latest jazz fusion masterpiece called Metaphysical
Attractions. For this CD release John has a whole new
band featuring Rich Kass (drums) with cameo contributions from
Rob Ironside (sax) and Gwen Kelso (flute). Primarily
featuring John and drummer Rich Kass, the eight cut CD simply sizzles
with dynamic, instrumental jazz-rock fusion magic. Rounding out the
album, John also merges his keyboard and bass work into the mix making
the album even more dynamic. Mixed and mastered by Stuart Hamilton
in Pencaitland, Scotland, John Irvine’s Metaphysical Attractions
takes the 21st century guitar-centric, jazz-fusion sound in some
very astounding directions. Listeners lucky enough to have heard John
Irvine’s earlier albums will be in for a pleasant sonic surprise
with the 2019 CD release of Metaphysical Attractions. www.thejohnirvineband.com
JERUJAZZ
RECORDS – Chicago-based bass player Joe Policastro is
making inroads with his 2019 CD called Nothing Here Belongs,
released on the JeruJazz Records label. The fourth album by The
Joe Policastro Trio, Nothing Here Belongs features Joe
in the studio with band members Dave Miller (guitars) and Mikel
Avery (drums). The nine track album features the trio recording
its self-proclaimed idiosyncratic instrumental music, which combines
Joe Policastro originals along with several choice covers written
by Bruce Springsteen, Santo & Johnny and even stranger, 1980s
art-rock band Talking Heads. The JPT makes the music their own and,
although clearly influenced by jazz, swing and bebop, Joe isn’t
afraid to take music from any genre and give it his own trademark
fusion sound. Guitarist Dave Miller is a cool discovery for fusion
fans and Joe’s punchy bass backbeat gives trio a steady, fusion
and jazz-rock touch. Nothing Here Belongs is a vital sounding
album of 21st century instrumental jazz-fusion. www.thejptrio.com
DIMITRI
K PUBLISHING – Born in Sofia, Bulgaria and based in Central
Florida these days, the composer and multi-instrumentalist known as
Dmitri K strikes smooth jazz gold with his 2018 album called
7/8. Commonly referred to as a time signature
in music theory, 7/8 features keyboards, guitars and horns
and more and start to finish is a fine example of a well-thought out
solo album by a true jazz maven. On the international music scene
since the early 1980, Dimitri’s music is truly smooth jazz in
theory and scope and its lighthearted, breezy approach to contemporary
instrumental jazz-fusion is nearly faultless to a tee. A number of
players assist, including keyboardist Alvin L. Giles and guitarist
John Valeri. Dimitri K’s latest album 7/8 is a
solid find for smooth jazz devotees. www.dimitrik.com
KOGANOTE
MUSIC – Based in Minnesota, drummer / composer Peter Kogan
keeps the spirit of jazz flying high with his 2018 CD released
called The Green Album. The 11-track CD features
a range of original music along with covers of jazz icons such as
Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington and, to help Peter
realize the sound, he’s got a wide range of excellent musicians
backing him track-by-track. Not only does The Green Album swing
and groove but it also features a wealth of modern jazz ideas as well
as retro sounds running throughout the tracks. A good example of the
retro sound can be heard on The Green Album cover here of Duke
Ellington’s “The Mooche”, which sounds quite a bit
like “Minnie The Moocher”, a song made famous by Cab Calloway.
The song “The Mooche” was co-written by Irving Mills and
Duke and the story of how Duke met Irving is quite historic. Of course,
two tracks later there’s a version of Charlie Parker’s song
“Moose The Mooche”, from 1946, which is a standout Kogan
cover of another bona fide jazz classic. Kogan’s music is quite
original and one notable standout, track eight “Don’t Stop
Lovin’ Me Babe” sounds like a Jobim-flavored Bossa Nova
track. As noted in the excellent CD liner notes, Kogan’s reverence
for the legacy of the great jazz composers comes shining through the
grooves of this excellent instrumental post-bop jazz album classic.
Filled with evergreens and new Kogan classics, The Green Album
will thrill jazz buffs far and wide. www.peterkoganmusic.com
MOONJUNE
RECORDS – Moonjune continues breaking new ground for progressive
music with the 2018 / early 2019 CD release of Yuna,
by the musical team called Yagull. Essentially a duo
featuring Kana Kamitsubo (piano) and Sasha Markovic (guitars),
Yagull excel with their beguiling trademark sound comprised of intimate,
acoustic-based sonic portraits that at times encompasses both New
Age and neoclassical instrumental music. Mostly instrumental, original
music, with the lone exception being a New Age, quite sedate (and
highly unlikely) cover of a Black Sabbath song, the album also sounds
quite influenced by progressive keyboard icon David Sinclair, especially
on the second track here called “Dawn”. Recorded in New
York and New Jersey, Yuna is simply put, the best album yet
by this underrated team of musical prodigies. CD liner notes by author
Raymond Benson puts the album history into a fitting perspective.
www.moonjune.com
MOONJUNE
RECORDS – As the founding member of the band Sonar,
guitarist / composer Stephan Thelen has released a number of
intriguing musical projects over the past five years and he steps
out as a solo artist on the 2019 CD release of Fractal Guitar.
The 68-minute release on Moonjune presents a superb overview of
Thelen’s approach to avant-garde instrumental rock music. Ever
since Robert Fripp brought the avant fusion sound of King Crimson
into the rock mainstream 50 years ago, guitarists continue to be inspired
by him by creating all forms of instrumental music that blends rock,
jazz, experimental and even classical music. On Fractal Guitar,
Thelen is joined by some of the greatest guitars on the current
scene including David Torn, Henry Kaiser, Jon Durant,
Markus Reuter, Barry Cleveland and a host of other supporting
players including Sonar drummer Manuel Pasquinelli. Recorded
in various locations in North America and Europe, the five track CD
is an all-star prog instrumental jam that breaks new ground for the
genre. August 2018 liner notes by Stephan Thelen sheds insight on
the dramatic and impressive music on hand. Fans of Thelen’s work
in Sonar will also want to track down the 2019 CD release of Live
At Moods, a 58 minute CD release on the 7D Media
label. Recorded live in Switzerland on May 24th, 2018, the disc
features David Torn once again joining the core Sonar band, consisting
of Stephan Thelen, Bernhard Wagner (guitars), Christian
Kuntner (bass) and Manuel Pasquinelli (drums). A great example
of an amazing band in concert, Live At Moods provides ample
evidence of the compelling nature of the Sonar band in live setting.
Two albums released simultaneously is a double header of sonic delights
from Stephan Thelen and his wide-ranging musical imagination. www.moonjune.com
/ www.sonar-band.ch
MOON
OVER MOUNTAIN MUSIC - Featuring the music and keyboards of Kenneth
Lee Roberts and the music, vocals and lyrics of Megan Buness,
the debut CD by Moon Over Mountain, The Colors Of Life is a
worthy musical experience that merges music from a wealth of styles.
Blending keyboards and spatial electronics, the lead track “Yes,
I Am Here” sounds like a mellotron-inspired instrumental that
Mike Pinder of the Moody Blues would appreciate. Though half of the
album is instrumental, the classically trained vocals of Ms. Buness
also brings her own unique instrument to several tracks that combine
vocals, sometimes without lyrics, making for a worthy keyboard-driven
New Age pop sound. Programmed drums contribute to a recording that
is very much DIY-sounding, yet the well-recorded sound is for the
most part both edgy and meditative. Speaking about the variety of
styles to be found on The Colors Of Life, Ken Roberts tells
mwe3.com, "You know, we’ve struggled to try to communicate
to our listeners what it is that we’re up to musically, and,
whatever it is, we don’t feel very comfortable characterizing
it in terms of any genre. Having said that, there are certainly elements
of New Age, electronica and pop in The Colors of Life but there
was never any attempt to shoehorn any given piece into a slot of that
kind. The individual tracks emerged as whatever they are from the
process of trying to work out how best to get at what the compositions
were about." A renowned vocalist in the Denver, Colorado area,
Megan Buness also performs with one of Colorado’s top five chamber
ensembles, so she also brings her classical music training to the
Moon Over Mountain vocal tracks. Compared to neoclassical electronica,
Moon Over Mountain also brings a sense of humor and humility to their
music. While it would be no easy feat for Moon Over Mountain to become
as well-known as vintage electronic music artists like Jean Michel
Jarre, it's clear that fans of Jarre, Pinder and Vangelis will be
sure to enjoy The Colors Of Life, if they could only hear it.
www.cdbaby.com
ORIGIN
ARTS / OA2 RECORDS – The 2019 CD release of East
Of The Sun by Michael Kocour will strike a positive
chord among fans of jazz piano. For the ten-track release, the artist’s
third album of solo piano, Michael cracks open the Great American
Songbook and the results are both surprising and quite ear-opening.
The liner notes by Mark Stryker are quite illuminating as it
speaks of the art of jazz improvisation and how the best improvisers
take the listener on a scenic trip into the realms of free jazz and
bebop. The title track is an unknown gem written in 1934 by Brooks
Bowman. Michael tackles great song classics, written by composing
legends like Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin
and more, including a CD closing jazz piano instrumental version of
the country pop classic “I Can’t Stop Loving You”,
composed by country music icon Don Gibson and made famous as a timeless,
chart-topping pop song by Ray Charles. Michael claims these songs
as his own although he underscores his delivery in the style of his
piano heroes, including Hank Jones, Thelonious Monk and Tommy Flanagan.
Recorded in Mesa, Arizona, Michael Kocour’s East Of The Sun
won’t fail to win over the most informed jazz music disciple.
www.michaelkocour.com
ORIGIN
RECORDS – One of the best artists on Washington State based
Origin is composer / vibraphonist Joe Locke. Joe’s 2019
CD on Origin Subtle Disguise has a creepy looking cover
but the music is as warm as can be. Joe’s vibes are all over
Subtle Disguise and he receives tight backing from a range
of players including Jim Ridl (keys), Lorin Cohen (bass),
Samvel Sarkisyan (drums), Raul Midón (vocals, guitar),
Adam Rogers (electric guitars), David Binney (sax) and
Alina Engibaryan (vocals). For the most part, the 9-track CD
is a wonderful showcase for Joe’s instrumental vibes-based musical
magic but, on a couple of tracks, Raul Midón takes the center-stage
vocal spotlight. Those tracks featuring Raul Midón—a cover
of Bob Dylan’s 1963 protest song “Who Killed Davey Moore”
and a Locke version of “Motherless Children”—are definite
highlights that seemingly hang tight with the overall feel of Subtle
Disguise. Joe’s track-by-track liner notes are fascinating
and the pics included in the six panel digi-pack CD art design are
very cool. Progressive, mainstream instrumental, vibes-based jazz-fusion,
with some cool surprises, Subtle Disguise is the best album
yet from jazz vibes maestro Joe Locke. www.originarts.com
ORIGIN
RECORDS – Originally from South Korea and living in NYC,
pianist / composer Bongwool Lee is making jazz fans happy with
her 2018 CD debut on Origin. The nine track My Singing Fingers
is an immensely pleasurable album filled with original music
that will be please the most discerning jazz fans. The all original
set does feature a cool cover of the famous jazz classic “Bye
Bye Blackbird”, written by music icon Ray Henderson. Highlights
are many including the emotive “How’s Up There?” and
assisting Bongwool on My Singing Fingers are top players including
the rhythm section of Luques Curtis (bass) and Kendrick
Smith (drums) along with guest artist Taylor Eigsti, who
appears on Fender Rhodes on the above mentioned “How’s Up
There?” Although she was a piano prodigy from age seven, the
shift from classical to jazz (after hearing Oscar Peterson on the
radio) is a boon to the jazz world and overall, will put a smile on
the many music fans lucky enough to hear this outstanding album debut
from Bongwood Lee. www.originarts.com
PROJEKT
– For New Age and electronic music aficionados the name Steve
Roach has been synonymous with great atmospheric music. At least
since the latter 1980s, Steve Roach has released one classic album
after the next and in 2018, he returns on the Projekt label with his
latest electronic music opus called Mercurius. The
four part 74 minute CD looks great, sounds great and will find across
the board interest among New Age and electronic music fans. Recorded
in Arizona and mastered by Spotted Peccary’s own Howard Givens,
Mercurius features four lengthy works that range from 7 minutes
to 28 minutes with the two other pieces clocking in at 24 and 14 minutes.
It’s hard to say exactly what is going on as the music is so
stately and subliminal that you don’t want to drive your car
with this one in the player. A master of the ambient / electronic
genre, Steve Roach has also been a ground breaker when it comes to
the art of immersive, drone-based electronica that operates in a hidden
world of profound, celestial imagery that lulls you in to its orbit
with a suspended web of cosmic sounds. www.steveroach.com
/ www.projekt.com
Also on Projekt in 2018 is a new CD called Infinite Moments
from Norwegian electronic master Erik Wøllo. Recorded
in Norway in 2018, the CD features six pieces of music that creates
a meditative journey that leaves the listener in a kind of floating
weightlessness. The perfect compliment to the Steve Roach Mercurius
album, Infinite Moments is a different kind of album in
that it was created all on electric guitars that merges the classic
Ebow sound with harmonizers. Of course it sounds like electronics
as there are no guitar solos or anything that even remotely sounds
like a guitar and sounds that only a master like Wøllo could
conjure. Wøllo himself further adds “When I listen
to these tracks with these ever-changing structures, I experience
a static state of mind that continues unchanged.” Since the
1990s, Projekt has added a remarkable series of releases to its prodigious
catalog and clearly with remarkable artists like Steve Roach and Erik
Wøllo adding to it, the label has a very bright future in recorded
sounds. www.wollo.com
RAMASOUND
RECORDS – The
distant but musically influential country of Finland continues to
impress guitar fans and case in point is a way cool 2018 musical release
by Kepa Härkönen called Spicy Tales & Spacey
Tones. The twelve track CD features ten originals and
a pair of covers by Freddie King and surf-rock legends The Bel-Airs.
The album is tastefully packaged and overall, it’s a fitting
display of Kepa’s guitar influences that run the gamut from Mickey
Baker and Freddie King to Ry Cooder, 
Shadows’
icon Hank B. Marvin and jazzers like Kenny Burrell and flamenco king
Paco De Lucia. Musically, the original fare encompasses surf, blues
and even Cuban-Mexican rhythms that will intrigue guitar fans. Speaking
about his many guitar influences, Kepa tells mwe3, "The Shadows
were my first big influence of guitar instrumentals… Hank Marvin
is just brilliant! Then I found all American surf guitarists and countless
bands. I see myself as a blues guitarist, but I always loved and played
all 1960s guitar instrumentals, too. My style is mix of The Shadows,
American surf, blues, and Finnish “Rautalanka” with Cuban
influences. When
I started to think my own release, I had some kind of movie soundtrack
album in my mind. I already decided that it should be all instrumental
with my original music."
A
number of excellent musicians back-up Kepa’s rockin’ guitar
vision, including Daniel Hjerppe (drums), Robban Hagnäs
(bass) and more. With the success of Finnish surf-rockers Laika &
The Cosmonauts and the recently acclaimed guitar based Southpaw Steel
& Twang, Kepa Härkönen now carries the musical torch
forward for classic Finnish instrumental guitar rock. www.spotify.com
/ www.facebook.com
/ www.youtube.com
REAL
MUSIC – Back in 2017 Carl Borden released his Breathe
album and following up in 2019, Carl is back with Morning
Embrace. Minus the nature and ocean sounds that were
prevalent on Breathe, the release of Morning Embrace is
pure electronic music featuring Carl’s glacial sounding New Age
instrumental sounds all played on state of the art synth keyboards.
Where Breathe was made to help deal with issues of depression
and grief, Morning Embrace suggests a way to embrace every
morning as a new beginning with the hope of better things to come.
Like Breathe, the new album is all about Carl’s slow-moving
instrumental New Age soundscapes and how they can slow the mind down,
especially after another hectic day and the general complexities and
confusions that accompany many 21st century lifestyles. Carl was diagnosed
with severe health challenges in 2018 so perhaps Morning Embrace
is a way to for him to deal with the disappointments and disasters
that we all must face throughout our lives. Interesting that Real
Music was recently sold to overseas investors and this may, perhaps
fittingly, very well be the last CD worked on by Real Music founder
Terrance Yallop. Thank you to Real Music for all the superbly produced
New Age music through the years. www.carlborden.com
RICHHEART
MUSIC – Through the years, the name Richard Shulman has
remained on the leading edge of contemporary instrumental music, from
jazz to New Age. For his 2018 double CD set, A New Awareness:
Music Of The Twelve Rays, Richard has teamed up with
author Michael G. Love. Michael’s book The Reality
Of Your Greatness: A Personal Journey Through The Twelve Rays is
a New Age guide to self-discovery, healing and empowerment through
meditation. Taking its cues from Michael’s book, Richard’s
CD set combines elements of New Age, ambient, neoclassical and even
jazz and, filled with celestial vibes, is quite relaxing. According
to author Michael Love, “The Twelve Rays allow each of us to
consciously become the creators of our own realties,” with Richard
further adding, “From my experiences with Mike I feel that the
Twelve Rays are emanations from God or Spirit meant to give us practical
empowerment in life.” To achieve the best sound for this New
Age instrumental music masterpiece, Richard employs a multitude of
electronic keyboards combining sounds of strings, horns, flutes and
more. Even though this spiritual collaboration is very much a self-empowerment
concept, the music is totally engaging on its own and the depth of
musical integrity of the entire concept will raise your spirit and
energy to a much higher level. www.richheartmusic.com
/ www.RealityOfYourGreatness.com
SEQ
RECORDS – Following
the 2016 release of the first album by Shining Pyramid, the
duo of Nick Adams (guitars) and Peter Jeal (synths,
keys) return in early 2019 with a second CD called Children
Of The Stones. Written and recorded in the same spirit
as their self-titled debut, Children Of The Stones may be a
kind of play on words yet, in fact this is instrumental, impressionistic
rock played with much precision and expertise. It's not by chance
alone that the age of the DIY artist has yielded a bumper crop of
outstanding new artists, because Shining Pyramid truly shines on Children
Of The Stones. The music is still firmly in the throes of the
finest Euro-prog elements – from Berlin style electronics in
the spirit of T. Dream, Michael Rother and current German guitar wunderkind
Alan J. Bound, yet the guitar-centric rock edge, also inspired by
Steve Hackett, also says a lot about Shining Pyramid’s theatrical
dynamic of instrumental progressive rock. Even without lyrics and
vocals, Children Of The Stones is filled with a multilayered
depth of emotion and sonic intensity. The seven tracks on Children
Of The Stones seems to flow effortlessly into each other, with
the song times ranging from three minutes to almost ten minutes in
length. A good example of the mix of musical skill and devotion to
all things prog can be heard on track 3, "Horses", also
the longest track on Children Of The Stones. That track mixes
a haunting melody with dramatic shifts in musical moods and directions
that should impress even the most hard-core progressive rock fan.
Those lucky enough to have heard the 2016 Shining Pyramid will
be amply rewarded by the sonic might and majesty of Children Of
The Stones, clearly one of the finest instrumental New Age / synth
meets rock albums of 2019. www.facebook.com
/ www.shiningpyramid.org
SPHERIC
MUSIC – In 2018 Spheric reissued Harmonic Decadence
D.MO Vol 4 – a presumed long lost electronic music opus
from synthesizer mastermind Robert Schroeder and at the end
of 2018 the label released the 39th solo album from Schroeder called
Spaceland. Very much in the realm of the legendary
Teutonic electronica masters, the 8 track, 70 minute Spaceland
album was recently recorded and offers the listener quite an intriguing
mix of spatial sounding atmospherics filled with hypnotic synth music.
Fans of classic German masters like Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schultz
and even more modern American synth masters, dedicated to the Berlin
School of music like Hollan Holmes will appreciate Robert Schroeder’s
2018 Spaceland. Spheric Music has been releasing excellent
instrumental albums for decades and Spaceland, Robert Schroeder’s
latest trip into the realms of spacy electronica is clearly one of
the label’s best CD releases yet. www.spheric-music.de
SOUNDSCAPE
PRODUCTION - One of the most comprehensive, self-contained artists
on the 21st century New Age / Electronica scene, California-based
Robert Rich released his ultimate masterwork, Tactile
Ground, in 2019. A double CD set with excellent album
art and design, Tactile Ground delves right into a range of
sounds and moods that leaves that listener in a total state of sonic
hypnosis. Back in 1976, Robert Rich started building his own synthesizers
so, his devotion to both electronic music and computer based sonic
sciences is legendary among disciples of the genre. Robert’s
devotion to electronic music is one thing, but clearly, the care that
went into the design and presentation of Tactile Ground physical
release, makes it a valuable possession to admire, both from a sonic
viewpoint but also from an artistic one. The six-panel CD packaging
is greatly enhanced by a 16-page full color booklet created by Robert
while he conceived of the creative questions that brought the album
to fruition. Mere words are not enough to describe the depth of sonic
wonders in play on Tactile Ground by electronic music pioneer
Robert Rich. www.robertrich.com
SPACE
ROCK PRODUCTIONS – Space rock is alive and well on the 2019
CD release of Ear To Space by the collective known as
3rd Ear Experience with Dr. Space. A far-out, prog-inspired
jam session of like minded musicians, the CD is superbly packaged
and features Dr. Space on analogue synths, backed up by a number
of excellent musicians, including a pair of fab electric guitarists
in Robbi Robb and Eric Ryan. Comparisons to mid 1970s
Gong and their guitar icon Steve Hillage will make the CD of interest
to long time instrumental prog–rock fans in the know. Of course,
the name Scott Heller (Dr. Space himself) must be tied in to
all this cosmic energy and fans of Scott’s work with the Scandinavian
sonic art-rock collective known as Øresund Space Collective
as well as other purveyors of progressive, drone-inspired synth music
will be in for a sonic feeding frenzy with the release of Ear To
Space by 3rd Ear Experience with Dr. Space. bandcamp.com
SPOTTED
PECCARY MUSIC – Portland, Oregon based Spotted Peccary takes
listeners out on a sonic limb with the 2019 CD release of Toward
The Horizon by the musical team of Craig Padilla and
Marvin Allen. Thanks to his many albums of electronic music,
synth maven Craig Padilla is highly regarded and world-renowned and
joining him on Toward The Horizon, guitarist Marvin Allen has
made his first album in the sphere of ambient music. While Craig’s
synth keyboards seems to dominate the sound, Marvin’s electric
guitar work is quite unique and startling—especially for a CD
on the usually quietly meditative Spotted Peccary label. That peaceful,
meditative spirit is offset and enhanced by Marvin’s occasionally
searing electric guitar work, giving the CD both a New Age sound but
also, thanks to Marvin Allen’s tasteful fretboard work, also
a kind of ambient rock edge. The lead off title track is especially
appealing and clearly draws the listener into what will surely be
regarded as one of the most unique sounding ambient meets New Age
rock duo albums of 2019. www.ambientelectronic.com
SUBLIMINAL
SOUNDS – Astute fans of the electric guitar that might also
be familiar with the 1970s progressive rock scene in Sweden must have
heard the name Kenny Håkansson before. If not from his
solo output, or the many fine albums with his 1970s band Kebnekajse,
you might remember Kenny’s early band called Baby Grandmothers
from way, way back in the late 1960s. Lo and behold in 2019, Kenny
has returned with Baby Grandmothers on a full length CD called Merkurius.
Released on Sweden's eclectic Subliminal Sounds label, the all-instrumental
album features the trio with Kenny's guitar expertise backed by original
members Bella Linnarsson (bass) and Pelle Ekman (drums).
A couple tracks feature Kenny’s wordless vocal backing, forming
a kind of sonic buffer against the onslaught of this instrumental
power trio. The Baby Grandmother sound on Merkurius runs the
gamut from Swedish folkloristic-tinged melodies draped in hard rock
mode to influences from a myriad of today’s instrumental guitar
heavy artists that may have been influenced, even subliminally, by
Kenny’s groundbreaking electric guitar work on those early albums
with Swedish instrumental art rock keyboard legend Bo Hansson. As
original fans would have wanted it, Merkurius was produced
by original Bo Hansson producer Anders Lindh and actually recorded
by Anders at his world famous Silence Records studios in the wilderness
of Värmland. A word of advice to Kenny Håkansson’s
fans through the ages, don’t miss Merkurius. www.kennyhakansson.se
TRIPLE
TEA MUSIC – The spirit of 21st century jazz-fusion is alive
and kicking on the 2019 album called The Tunnel by the
band known as Triple Tea. With their 7 track, 37 minute album,
recorded at the Berklee School of Music, the band features the expert
acoustic piano and compositions of the NYC based Tommaso Taddonio,
who is backed up in the studio by Carlo De Biaggio (acoustic
bass) and Martin Tamisier (drums). Although described as a
modern jazz album, there are clear elements of film music and Satie-inspired
minimalist neoclassical sounds pulsing throughout the tracks. Merging
elements of cinematic and progressive jazz into a stellar and stunning
stew of sonic delights, 21st century neoclassical jazzers Triple Tea
are poised for coming musical greatness. bandcamp.com
REISSUES
& RETROSPECTIVES
ANGEL
AIR RECORDS – Over in the U.K., Angel Air released a rare
album by late, great blues-rock guitarist / vocalist Michael Bloomfield.
Featuring tracks from the mid to late 1970s, the eleven-track Living
In The Fast Lane was reissued on CD by Angel Air in 2018.
This rare album from Bloomfield was produced by Norman Dayron and
features a stellar performance by the guitarist and his band including
Mark Naftalin (keys), Roger Troy (bass) and George
Marsh (drums), along with a range of other musicians and vocalists.
Although Living In The Fast Lane was originally released on
LP just after Bloomfield’s untimely passing in 1981 at age 37,
Angel Air does a great job on their 2018 CD reissue, adding in detailed
liner notes by Austin Powell along with several more tracks
and a disc-closing bonus track called “Maudie”. Funky, bluesy
and a very soulful album featuring legendary blues-rock guitarist
Mike Bloomfield, Living In The Fast Lane is a fitting testament
to his musicianship. www.angelair.co.uk
BGO
RECORDS – Recorded on November 24th, 1979 and released by
Elektra Records way back in 1980, the Oregon album In
Performance was reissued on CD by BGO at the end of 2018.
For fans of this world-class pioneer band of jazz and New Age sounds
this live album, recorded in Quebec City and New York City’s
Carnegie Hall, it is an essential reissue. BGO’s resident musicologist
and liner notes expert Charles Waring goes into great details
in discussing the band’s lengthy history and specifically the
story of the In Performance album. The 74 minute In Performance
offers a cross section of tracks written by the various Oregon
members—Ralph Towner (guitars), Paul McCandless (oboe),
Glenn Moore (bass) and the late Colin Walcott (percussion).
Interesting to note that the CD closes with a spirited Oregon performance
of “Icarus” —a track written by Towner in 1969 during
his time in The Paul Winter Consort. Fans of Oregon and their historic
and still ongoing 48+ year career will appreciate the remastered CD
sound and attention to historic detail in the booklet of the 2018
CD reissue of In Performance. www.bgo-records.com
BGO
RECORDS – One of my favorites of all time, in fact, since
I was 15 in 1969, Mountain, the late 1960s and early ‘70s
band, had it all. Even after the brief, short time they ruled and
reigned on the FM radio stations, their influence is still being felt
and relished 40 years later. On April 17th, 1983, I just happened
to stop into the Lone Star Cafe on 13th and 5th Avenue in NYC when
I was stunned by what I had just heard on the radio—that rock
pioneer Felix Papparlardi had been shot and killed. To my shock
and horror, and making the whole thing even a million times worse,
it turned out that Felix had tragically been shot to death by his
wife and songwriting lyricist and fellow genius, Gail Collins.
Both Felix and his wife were and are today essential figures in the
history of American and English progressive rock, having co-produced,
written or co-written classic songs recorded by the U.K. rock legends
Cream. After Cream waved Goodbye to the multitudes, Mountain
took the lead with the first Leslie West Mountain album from
the summer of ’69 and it just got better from there. Climbing
and Nantucket Sleighride remain the finest moments from
the Mountain catalog. Although underrated at the time it came out,
the November 1971 album release by Mountain, Flowers Of Evil
was given a new overhaul by BGO in late 2018 and it’s
well worth the time to track down the BGO reissue, especially as it’s
paired with the official last Mountain album, called Mountain
Live: The Road Goes Ever On. As they first appeared
on Climbing and Nantucket Sleighride, Leslie and Felix
and Ms. Collins are joined by great Mountain thumper Corky Laing and
the richly textured keyboards of Steve Knight on both albums
of the Flowers Of Evil double CD set on BGO. True to their
reputation as the best reissue label on Earth, BGO really pulls out
the stops of their 2018 Mountain double CD set, and the finishing
touches includes in depth, 2018 liner notes by Neil Daniels,
topped off by complete lyrics to the five studio tracks on Flowers
Of Evil. The second half of FOE album on the second CD,
features the entire music on The Road Goes Ever On, reprising
some truly great live Mountain moments, making this double disc set
a rare pairing and truly an ear-opening experience. The death of Felix
in 1983 perhaps put an end to one of the great American rock bands
of all time, yet Mountain music remains timeless and will surely stand
and, even transcend the tests of time. www.bgo-records.com
BGO RECORDS - Also released on BGO in 2018 is a double CD
set from American pop-rock singer-songwriter Gary Wright. The
2 CD set features four of Gary’s albums from the 1970s—including
his most popular album The Dream Weaver (1975), The
Light Of Smiles (1977), Touch And Gone (1977)
and Headin’ Home (1979). With 39 tracks spread
over two CDs, there’s plenty of sonically satisfying AOR sounds
on hand to please the most seasoned 1970s rock fans. Wright’s
keyboard skills were at its zenith on these albums, which blends a
thumping mix of moog bass, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes, ARP strings
and more. Wright’s choice of musicians on these albums is also
exemplary, including top-name drummers including Jim Keltner,
Andy Newmark, Harvey Mason and Alan White. Although
these albums helped seal Wright’s reputation as a key player
on the 1970s pop music scene, original fans also mention his 1970
album Extraction as being still his finest album. Excellent,
lengthy liner notes by John O’Regan mentions all the key
moments of Wright’s career, including his breakthough years with
Spooky Tooth, his longtime musical friendship with Beatles’ icon
George Harrison, his 2009 comeback album Connection
and loads more rock history from the past 50 years. www.thedreamweaver.com
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