Emotion & Commotion
Atco
“In lieu of trying to outgroove groove … (I thought I’d) try to go the other way (to classical),” says Beck in a promotional video for his new CD. His inner child, however, wanted to “blow down buildings with loud noise.”
Tag: jazz
Reviews
Johnny A.
One November Night
Aglaophone
If a compilation of tone-heavy instrumental electric guitar music were ever issued (“Titans of Tone” would be a great title), it would have to include cuts by artists such as the Hellecasters, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Steve Morse, Johnny Hiland, Jazz Is Dead, Ronnie Earl, Steve Howe, Redd Volkaert, Albert Lee, Danny Gatton — and Johnny A.
Reviews
Waitiki 7
Adventures in Paradise
Pass Out
The Waitiki 7 are not a revivalist group like Don Tiki — which W7 drummer Abe Lagrimas Jr. was a member of before he and longtime friend/fellow Hawaiian Randy Wong co-founded the original Waitiki quartet — but rather an exotica jam band. The septet updates the genre by augmenting the requisite vibraphone with plenty of sax and violin and often employing dead-serious jazz improvisation.
Reviews
East Portal Express
East Portal Express
self-released
Some groups start out doing albums of long-form psychedelic music and later hone their craft to produce reasonably short rock songs. For others, it’s vice versa. The debut CD from Sacramento-based East Portal Express gives listeners the best of both worlds.
Reviews
Johnny Roth
Vu Jah De’
self-released
Fans of Allman Brothers Band instrumentals are guaranteed to love this tastefully executed instrumental electric guitar album with plenty of slide. But besides the southern-rock vibe, Pennsylvania-based Roth impressively channels jazz masters such as Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour and, to a lesser extent but just as effectively, funk greats like Steve Cropper and Leo Nocentelli.
