New Recordings Offer A Variety Of Mostly Fine Listening

By Ross Boissoneau

What’s new in the world of guitaring? Well, a number of recent and upcoming releases offer insights into the playing and personalities of some of our favorite artists. Whether you’re into contemporary jazz, swing, rock, ambient, burning fusion or some other variant, you’re bound to find something enticing out there.

Joel Harrison

Joel Harrison

What would a guitar sound like if it could speak? Maybe like Joel Harrison’s Guitar Talk. Or maybe not. But either way, this recording of duets provides plenty to talk about. No guitar heroes here, unless your definition of same includes adjectives such as understated, exploratory or hypnotic.

It opens with the only trio date, “It Falls On You” with Ben Monder and Steve Cardenas. Gentle and alluring, it’s reflective of the approach throughout. “Sunday Night With Vic” celebrates the late, great Vic Juris’s Sunday night residency at the 55 bar, with Pete McCann providing counterpoint with Harrison. “Song for Steve Swallow” features the legendary bassist, as does “I Keep Asking The Question.” The former is more enjoyable for the listener, the latter more traditionally jazzy. Fluid and enjoyable throughout, the recording concludes with two solo pieces, “Reflections in D” and an unrecognizable “America The Beautiful” that spoils the mood.

Paul Brown and Larry Carlton

Paul Brown and Larry Carlton

It’s not the only recording to feature dual guitars. Paul Brown and Larry Carlton team up for their first-ever collaboration, Soul Searchin’. From the first notes it’s apparent this will be a delightful outing. The gently percolating “Miles And Miles To Go” is a promising start, while the bluesy “Stomp” offers both players a chance to stretch out, with some greasy organ in the background. “Gone Fishin'” is a swinging ditty with horns. Seven more tracks follow, all engaging, all showcasing the abilities and camaraderie of two world-class guitarists.

PAKT

PAKT

PAKT is a little more out there. Well, make that a lot. Guitarists Alex Skolnick and Tim Motzer join Percy Jones and Kenny Grohowski, the one-time Brand X rhythm section. Those expecting burning fusion a la that band won’t find it here; both PAKT and PAKT Live in Pawling are often outside the realm of melody. Where Brand X fused the musings of Jones, John Goodsall, Morris Pert and the rest into a heady mix of jazz and rock, these compositions are much more inclined to free jazz – or perhaps just noodling. Both efforts are definitely only for experimentalists.

Kevin Kastning

Kevin Kastning

Talking about experimental … Kevin Kastning is the inventor of the 36-string double contraguitar and the 17-string extended classical guitar. He employs both alongside Soheil Peyghambari’s clarinet and bass clarinet on The First Realm. As you might expect, the sonics are exciting. Unfortunately, the musical results are less so, as none of the five tracks provide much of anything for the listener to remember. No, we weren’t anticipating walking away from this recording whistling the tunes, but it would be nice to hear something you could grab onto, rather than just marveling about the cool sounds.

More to come next time in swing, rock and ambient.

Ross Boissoneau is a regular contributor to Something Else! Reviews, Northern Express and Local Spins. He’s written for the All Music Guide, Jazziz and Progression Magazines, and is a member of the Downbeat Critics Poll.

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