Customer Reviews

Bootleg Vol.1 Dedication

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

 

 

While my title might be applied to more people (and probably some astounding player in a remote corner of the world who only plays in a local restaurant), Bruce Forman is definitely a contender for this title. His most widely heard work is in the soundtrack for Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" (Clint has impeccable taste in music), but his own recordings are not easily available. I just received Bootleg Vol. 1, and it's one of my favorite CD purchases of this year. (That's saying a lot - I've finally started to replace my 1000+ LPs, which include Jimmy Raney, Wes, Martino, Jim Hall, Miles, Sonny, etc.) I'd recommend buying it immediately, since you don't know how long it'll be around - the music industry has no sense of history nor value, otherwise why would Jimmy Raney CDs be mostly OOP? And, if you're visiting the West Coast, try to find a place he's playing - apart from being a great player, he's a nice guy!

Perrenial Monterey Jazz Festival favorite Bruce Forman is a musician who deserves to be heard by a much wider audience. A powerfully inventive guitarist, who conducts an awe-inspiring amount of jazz classes, he's obliquely influenced by Wes Montgomery with his own tone and technique.

Truthfully I have only heard one song from this CD, the title track "Dedication", which has a vague similarity to the old warhorse "Raincheck". I heard it on my cable TV's "Music Choice" jazz channel and it stopped me in my tracks. And it is WONDERFUL!!! I can't say enough for this guitarist and this performance has placed this CD on my Amazon.com Wish List of things that I'm giving myself for Christmas. Check out Bruce, he's a great guitarist. Five Stars for "Dedication"!

Bruce Forman is a gem, a guitarist who I have been following from the beginning of his professional career. Having read about him 20 or so years ago in Guitar Player mag, I actually found his "In Transit" and later his "Full Circle" releases on Guam. I might even have his entire catalog. Bruce Forman's canon is very stable, all releases are of exceptional quality, both musically and production. Check him out sometime, he has a nice web site, and is really dedicated to the instrument and to his music. You won't be disappointed.

If you are a jazz guitar fan, this is a must own CD. If you are a jazz fan at all its well worth owning. Having said that, If you are short on cash and faced with the option: 1)see him play live or 2)buy the CD - SEE HIM PLAY LIVE!!!!! The memory will last almost as long as the CD. I've seen him play live half a dozen times and can't wait 'till the next. The last time he sat in with Howard Alden in an unscheduled apperance and I got to here the best two guitar players working today! Probably two of the best ever! DUDE! F............! it was AWESOME!!!!
Sorry, back to the CD. "Caribe" and "Sweet and Lovely" are outstanding versions of great tunes. No disappointments on this CD.