Customer Reviews

24 Tales

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a fairly new fan of Alex Machacek's music, only becoming acquainted with him after listening to samples of "Improvisation" here at Amazon and subsequently purchasing the download mp3 CD about 5 or 6 months ago. I am a guitarist of 36 years, and a lifelong fan of progressive jazz.

For those of you unfamiliar with Alex, he has a very unique approach to the instrument, incredible technique, a seemingly endless vocabulary, and employs a variety of superb guitar tones. It's almost inconceivable that a guy could attain the level of mastery he has prior to reaching 40 years old of age. If you are a guitarist or a fan of true, pure, uncontrived jazz, you will not be disappointed by any project that bears this man's name.

Now, regarding his most recent project: I have had it for less than 2 days and have not been able to stop listening to it!! For fans of Frank Zappa -- especially during his heyday (while utilizing such great talents as Steve Vai, Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio, Doug Lunn, Mike Keneally, etc.) -- this will immediately strike you as ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICAL PROJECTS EVER RECORDED. Since Zappa's unfortunate passing, there has been a huge musical void that only the brave (such as the aforementioned Mike Keneally) have dared to try and fill. "24 Tales" has probably got ol' FZ (wherever he may currently reside), himself, sitting up and saying "Damn!!"

Here's what one other well-known, innovative guitar pioneer had to say about this release: "You guys are f---ing nuts - this record is amazing!" - Allan Holdsworth

There is an interesting story that goes with the making of this disc. Here's a direct-copy excerpt from Alex's website:

"I have always liked drums," Machacek explains. "On so many fusion and jazz records, there is an extended drum solo - sometimes it feels obligatory. At a certain point I thought, `How would it sound if I compose something based on a drum solo? Drummers are always getting wilder with what they do in terms of meter and technique..." His fascination with drums led to several experiments with composing music based on (and performed on top of) improvised drum solos - a practice that reaches its fullest potential on 24 Tales.

"After I played my first gig with the drummer Marco Minnemann, I told him that I wanted to do an album with different drummers," Alex continues, "where they would provide me with solos, and I would write music for them. Marco said that he had recorded a solo - but it was fifty-one minutes long! At first I thought, maybe I'll take a section of it to work with...but eventually I decided to take on the whole thing." Minnemann's solo - a kaleidoscopic rush of rhythmic, textural, and even melodic devices, all improvised without a click track - became the backdrop for 24 Tales. (Minnemann also gave this solo to Trey Gunn, John Czajkowski and Mike Keneally, and their interpretations will be released subsequently.)

"An astonishingly musical effort, nearly symphonic in its vast range of timbres, use of space, and elegant sense of structure and development, 24 Tales finds Machacek breaking Minneman's solo into 24 discrete (but connected) sections. "When I decided to do this," Machacek explains, "I listened to it - several times. Sitting in front of 51 minutes of drums can be a little intimidating. So I broke the entire solo up into those 24 pieces. Whenever I heard the mood or the rhythmic foundation change, I marked it as a separate piece."

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This disc is one of the most incredible musical efforts ever recorded. I think it is the best thing to happen to jazz in a VERY long time ... I can't say enough -- words are inadequate -- to describe how superb from every aspect this release truly is. The guitar work is extraordinary; so are the drums. ... But what really blows me away is the other-worldly quality of the compositions and the dense, lush, mind-blowing arrangements. This CD firmly documents the emergence (and maturation) of true musical genius, in every sense.

Buy this CD -- and tell every fan of jazz, prog and/or jazz fusion whom you know about it, so they can buy it, too! ... You will NOT be disappointed!! (Musicians of this superlative virtuosity deserve so much more than to just sell "dozens of copies".)

This is essential listening for any fan of Zappa, acid jazz and/or progressive music.

This is EASILY the coolest--and most intense, yet humorous at the same time--collaborations/compositions I've heard in a billion years!!

I'm a huge (for lack of a better word) "fusion" fan, but I only like *some* stuff. A lot of modern "fusion" attempts strike me as trying too hard--"trying" to sound "out," or "heavy," or "spooky," or overly evasive (metric-wise, of harmonically-speaking). Those types of bands (which I won't name) usually leave me feeling like a new genre heading needs to be dubbed: "pointless fusion." But this BEAST (to me) is an unbelievable balance of: conviction, technique, finesse, darkness, hilarity (I almost drove off the road when I heard the "counting" section of that 13/16, or whatever it was, section!!!!), with great textural elements, wicked linear stuff, totally interesting variety of guitar tones.... NONE of it struck me as "pointless." I was hooked the entire time. GREAT motifs throughout, and I loved hearing things as they unfolded. Superb balance between energy and relaxed portions... Machacek's playing too, of course, is unfriggin' believable. I already knew that, but this is a great showcase of so much--composition, instrumental interaction, soundscapes... My skull's contents have been officially melted!!!

This is easily the best recording I've heard this year in any genre. The writing, playing and production are all superb. It's astounding how thematically integrated the composition is - especially considering that the entire piece is based on a drum solo (the drum improvisation, by Marco Minnemann, is an amazing composition in its own right). Machacek, in addition to being an accomplished composer, is an astounding guitarist. In an age which suffers no shortage of formidable guitarists, Machacek stands out as one of the premier guitarists with respect to both technical skill and musicality.

I can't recommend this highly enough.

This is an incredible piece of music. Even the concept is amazing - in that, all music is composed around a 51-minute drumsolo! There is a personal note on the album sleeve, which reads, "The music on this CD is composed to a Marco Minnemann drum solo, which he recorded in one take. There are no edits on the drum tracks hence no gaps between the songs. Enjoy!"

The first track is called "On your marks..." and works as a beautiful introduction for what is to come. The music is very abstract, which I like. The drumming is simply breathtaking, while remaining very musical.

Alex plays guitar (and all other instruments), and in doing so produces an awesome musical adventure, as he weaves his way through the complex maze of the incredible drum track. His style of guitar playing constantly changes, depending on the mood of the track. However, I would have to say that there are traces of Allan Holdsworth, and Zappa in his playing, which is not a bad thing at all!

I would say this is a magnificent example of what can be achieved if you have a load of talent, and a hugely expansive imagination. This is probably one of the finest, and unique musical works I have heard in a very long time. As a drummer - Minnemann's incredible drumming overawed me. Alex Machacek is clearly an inspired virtuoso musician and composer.

Fans of Frank Zappa will certainly love this work of musical genius. Indeed, I'm sure Zappa would have approved of such a monumental musical creation. If you are looking for music that's very different, and totally engaging, then buy this album.

but this album sounds a whole lot like Pat Metheny's Orchestrion.

It appears as if both of these guys are using the same technology with very similar sounding results.

That not bad,but could the technology be the driving creative force as opposed to the musician?