The Dare of an Angel

Michael Gulezian | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Timbreline Music
• ASIN: B000000O1G
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,032 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Jazz Times

"uncommonly thoughtful and provocative. Tremendous technical wizardry ... sweeping, story-like melodies, multidimensional epics, and heartland hymns. A smart, uplifting album."

Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine

"meets and exceeds anything being offered by the 'real' industry ... (what) people expected from Michael Hedges after Aerial Boundaries..."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars solo guitarist shines in synergy of master musicians, January 17, 2005

By 

Cliff Ahrens (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dare of an Angel (Audio CD)

First off, this is a beautiful CD. But if you're looking for the monster acoustic version of Michael Gulezian, I'd recommend the more recent (and astoundingly great) release, "Language of the Flame."

The Dare of an Angel features additional instrumentation besides acoustic guitar. That usually spells disaster for guitar soloists out to expand their sonic palate, but the good news is that Gulezian completely avoids that trap - this music snaps and jumps, sparkles and breathes, and is very much alive. The percussion (Ian Dogole), piano (Ira Stein), violin (Charlie Bisharat), and bass (Michael Manring!) seem wholly written and integrated into the compositions, serving as the perfect setting for an acoustic guitar that shines like a diamond. The melding of third-world rhythms to percussive twelve string guitar is especially notable. This CD is on par with some of the best work Ralph Towner did with Oregon.

There are a handful of solo pieces, and they are delivered with all the subtle authority you'd expect from Gulezian. But the real story here is the teamwork, lack of ego, and absence of showboating. These players are some of the best instrumentalists in existence, a fact made more obvious by the complete absence of gymnastics. There's more than enough energy - this is simply some of the most exquisitely understated music I've ever heard. It's as if the musicians became invisible on this outing, leaving us alone in the ether of pure sound.

Gulezian may be a solo acoustic guitar monster, but here it's much more about beauty, and the collective synergy among master musicians.

Favorite track: "Nothing Is Always Anything." Definitely recommend buying this disc.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a cool frood Michael is, October 22, 2002

By 

Bubba Fett (Gotham City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dare of an Angel (Audio CD)

I have been fortunate enough to have caught three of Michael's concerts, and every time it was a warm, glowing experience. His quirky sense of humor and mild, humble attitude makes you love him instantly. And then he plays the living hell out of his guitars. It's hard sometimes to believe there's not another guitarist hiding just offstage, because you wouldn't think so much wonderful music could come off of just one guitar. Obviously, the CD experience isn't as rich, but it's still wonderful guitar playing, whether you're listening just for pure enjoyment or you're a guitarist yourself looking for inspiration. This or any of his albums is a great buy.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gulezian plays like an angel, December 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dare of an Angel (Audio CD)

See him live if you can. Michael Gulezian is an outstanding performer, writer, musician. His music, his soul, is touched by angels.