Customer Reviews

Echoes (Dig)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Another superb album from these guitar maestros. This album is a bit of a breather from their usual mind-boggling complexity and sophistication, but not for the reasons you might think - the arrangements and the music are just as complex as ever, but this time the music is very familiar. Nearly all the pieces are well-known in popular or classical music. Their arrangements are nothing short of spectacular and offer new insights into these time-tested masterpieces. Although very faithful renditions, they are not mere copies, but rather original interpretations. I particularly like Pink Floyd's Echoes, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and of course, the showcase - Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, reproduced note-for-note, solos, choruses and all - without vocals. Bethoven's 5th, first movement is done in a surf-rock style of the Ventures, whose "The Cruel Sea" is also included. There is a Celtic-like footstomper from Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and a movement from Beethoven's Pastorale arranged in a traditional classical manner. A very atmospheric song "And I Know" with vocals (can anyone comment - is it a cover or a new song?) and "Free Bird" conclude the album. The latter is a real surprise, the slide guitar and the fiery dual guitar leads are faithfully Skynyrd-like (I cannot imagine playing those leads on hard acoustic guitar strings), and the exaggerated vocals sound as if the singer downed a bottle of good southern whisky before going to the studio. Someone put in a bit of light percussion to fill out the sound, and the cover version turns out as good as any I've heard of this classic song. For me this is a special album, since I saw them do these songs live at the Montreal Jazz festival in 2007, hoping they would record them, and here we are. This album captures the magic of that concert very well. A must for CGT fans.

The exquisite notes from this project will echo gracefully through your mind and soul long after you take your first listen. California Guitar Trio have surpassed themselves once again on this latest cd. Surprise after surprise comes with some very familiar covers of some of Progressive Rocks greatest songs: Pink Floyd's Echoes and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Each with a special touch that brands it CGT while remaining incredibly faithful to the original. The classical pieces are also treated with the same panache. Two rock classics are also included that Garth and Wayne would be especially proud of: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Freebird by Lynard Skynard. Get your lighter's out folk, CGT has triumphed again. For fans and newbies this is a must have.

I was lucky enough to get my copy of this album signed when I saw the CGT in Quebec (I also got an interview with Tony Levin back stage. I got to hang around for a while before the show--they opened for The Musical Box--and I have to say that these guys are some of the nicest musicians I have ever met. Tony Levin was more than willing to talk to me despite my shoddy press credentials--I am 17 and I cited a local newspaper as my source--and it was a very insightful interview). The album is masterfully done. The mixing is extraordinary and the sound quality itself makes this a great recording (and there is no dynamic range compression--for a band that utilizes the full range of volume, this is very important).

The content itself is wonderful. The CG3 team are perfectionists--inside and outside the studio--and this album only reaffirms that claim. The chops they have developed over their years playing together have redefined modern musicianship; rather than grandiose solos tainted by the likes of modern guitarists like Joe Satriani, The California Guitar Trio treat their instruments in a way often forgotten by the modern music industry. The compositions are impressive and incredibly accurate. I often wonder what CG3 would sound like on electric instruments with lower string tension (playing this stuff on acoustic guitar I'm sure has given them incredible strength) but that thought fades quickly after I realize that would almost bastardize the band.

Buy this album. You're supporting a great band lead by great people. It's good to know that progressive music lives on. Thanks for a wonderful album.

Also: am I the only one who wants to see a CG3 release on Vinyl?

The California Guitar Trio is known for their live performances, which never fail to astound and delight their audiences. In a typical show you will hear a mixture of classical, rock, surf music, progressive rock... you name it. You will hear cover songs, but you will also hear many amazingly complex and beautiful original compositions. Audiences have grown to love their approachable performance style and the unbelievably precise manner and focus in which the three musicians play.

Then came Echoes and the rules changed.

While the precision and focus of their live performances is there in Echoes, this Collection of Great Cover Songs brings old friends and those who have just discovered CGTrio a whole new set of textures and depth to explore. I hesitate to call the album lush, because it is a word that is over-used, but that's exactly what Echoes is. There is much to discover in this album.

An earlier reviewer mentioned Tony Levin and Tom Griesgraber as two of the contributors to this wonderful album. Tony is a well know master bass player who always provides stellar performances and who has played with CGTrio for a long time. Tom is an amazingly talented Chapman Stick player whose solo albums are must-haves for any California Guitar Trio fan.

What else can I say about Echoes? Well, I'll say this much about the title track: I think The Floyd would be very pleased with the tribute The California Guitar Trio has paid them with this track.

Buy this album, go see The California Guitar Trio perform live, and you will be much richer for the experience.

As a long time fan of the CGT, my expectations are high with each release, and their latest, 'Echoes', exceeded my expectations. The Trio's technical skills always astound, but the variety of music on this disc makes it truly special. With vocals on a few tracks from Bonnie Prince Billy, this is a must have CD for true music aficionados.

The California Guitar Trio is a wonderful group with a great blend of classical and modern music. I highly recommend them! My only critique is I'm not so crazy about the last two tracks due to the vocals. I prefer their instrumental music.

I first heard CGT on XM and thought enough of them to try this CD.
The quality of the playing is unbelievable.
Echoes, Bohemian Rhapsody, Freebird and "And I Know" are all songs I have the original version's of.
The way CGT performs them are amazing.
The other songs are either classical or jazz and i am not as familiar, but they still sound good.

If i have a complaints its the couple of songs they added vocals.