Customer Reviews

Art of the Invisible

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

 

 

This album is like a world in itself. Great compositions displaying a very wide range of good musical taste from Adam Rogers. To me this confirms the impression I have got from listening to Rogers playing with David Binney, Scott Colley, Chris Minh Doky, Michael Brecker, etc, that means he is a truly innovator in the big field of jazzguitar. His lines represent the perfect match between knowing the tradition and pointing ahead. Original modern lines, as well as his innovative guitar-technique,using alot of sweeping combined with extremely legato picking.

On this record also Edward Simon contributes with some amazing piano-playing, soloing elegantly end expressive on complex and harmonic advanced tunes. The band in itself really sounds like a band that has been playing together alot, with good communication between the players, Clarence Penn builds very well up on Adam Rogers and Edward Simons solos.

If you like jazzguitarists or if you simply like to listen to good improvising players play well together buy this record!

Adam Rogers is a wonderfully fluid guitarist, able to weave intricate lines on either electric or acoustic guitar with ease. His harmonic sensibilities and sound have been influenced by Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Jim Hall, and classical music, which he studied in depth for several years at Mannes. Although he's adept at throwing in modal or blues figures at times, he's not a slave to the Montgomery/Green/Benson/Burrell lineage that too many guitarists of late have been mining to death.

All but one tune on this disc is an original. The original numbers gives us an opportunity to really see into the mind of the musician. While the influence of classical music is noticeable on some cuts at least two of Rogers' tunes are a little too similar to Kurt Rosenwinkel, probably the most distinctive jazz guitarist on the planet right now.

Lastly, a horn on a few cuts would've been a nice change as Rogers' slightly mid-rangey Hall/Metheny tone wears thin after two selections. But, be that as it may,listen to the ideas he displays while playing at warp speed on Long Ago And Far Away. It's worth the price of the CD alone. Scott Colley sounds good (although a little under recorded) as does Ed Simon. Drummer Clarence Penn is tremendous and constantly leaves one smiling. Listen to the way he builds behind each soloist. I give this 3 1/2 but am eagerly waiting for Adam's second disc.