Michael Landau & Robben Ford - Renegade Creation - April 27th

 

This week is the release of Michael Landau's Renegade Creation. An album delivered in collaboration with the great Robben Ford and featuring Jimmy Haslip on bass and Gary Novak on drums. All of them great musicians who know and have worked with each other at some point, which is always a great way to hit the studio.

About the guitar lineup, these are two institutions in the rock/blues/jazz fusion scene we're talking about. Having both Ford and Landau in the same record promises to be a delight for guitar players.

A little bit of Michael Landau's playing:

And a little of Robben Ford's:

John McLaughlin - To The One - April 20th

This week we have a new album from a guitar legend: John McLaughlin. The album is titled "To The One", which is apparently inspired in John Coltrane's A Love Supreme. 

While I am a big fan of John McLaughlin, I have to confess I find a portion of his work a little hard to listen to. Specially some parts of the Indian fusion projects. Although, I realize they have many beautiful compositions and passages. From my personal point of view, I enjoy more his traditional/fusion projects.

To The One promises to deliver in that style, which it's great news for me as a guitar player.

I have been able to listen to the tracks Discovery and The Fine Line, great tunes with all those elements that I admire in John McLaughlin's albums: virtuosity, composition, a superb band, great chemistry and a very personal style.

Enjoy!

Martin Taylor - Last Train to Hauteville - April 13th

For us guitar lovers, this is a great week when it comes to new album releases! There are very promising albums from Slash, Steve Vai, AC/DC and the great Jeff Beck.

But in the middle of this storm, there is a beautiful guitar album by acclaimed guitarist Martin Taylor: Last Train to Hauteville. If you're not familiar with Martin Taylor, Pat Metheny found a great way to describe him: "Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable"

The promotional description reads "...the ideal soundtrack to driving through the scented country roads of France on a hot lazy summer’s day...", and that's exactly what this album feels like.

I have listened to this album, and it is pure jazz goodness with a touch of gypsy jazz. From the soft opening track "J'Attendrai" listeners get the idea of what this album is about. Besides the great guitar performance by Taylor, I really enjoyed vocalist Alison Burns' work. Then you have tracks like "Roberta" and "Madame Haricot", which could be case studies on guitar phrasing.

About Martin Taylor's phrasing, it really inspires me. The smooth and fluent way in which he delivers his lines disguise their complexity. If just more guitar players (including myself) were better able to deliver on this concept.

And here is a great video: The making of 'Last Train to Hauteville'

Enjoy!

New guitar album of the week: Downchild - I Need A Hat - April 6th

I just love it when there's a new blues album out there. This week is Downchild's turn. This Canadian blues band has been around for more than 30 years and has been the recipient of multiple awards. Not to mention they're also credited with inspiring the Blues Brothers concept back in the '80s.

I guess their style can be categorized as traditional blues. They have a rich ensemble consisting of keyboards and horn section, in addition to the rhythm section and one guitar: Mr. Donnie Walsh. And since we're talking guitars, I can only say Mr. Walsh has such an enjoyable style (strat-sounding blues guitar style I should add).

"I Need A Hat" is a great blues album, with a variety of traditional blues styles. And of course, great guitar playing.

And you can get a taste of it here:

http://www.downchild.com/player.html

 

Enjoy!