Customer Reviews

Guitar Harvest 1

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

 

 

What I like so much about this album is that it tells a story, with the guitar as "hero". From the grace of Ralph Towner's aristocratic "Sarabande for two guitars," to Vernon Reid's relentless nightclub animal in "Camille," to Andy Summers 50's hipster in "Fables of Faubus," to Joel Harrison's deeply emotional 60's folkie (that's 1860's mind you) in his rendition of "Black Muddy River," to even David Patterson's occident tinted magician on a Led Zep standard, the guitar is revealed as a Candide, enthusiastically, confidently, twanging its way across border, class, style and century. My favorite piece is the final one: it's a version of "Amazing Grace" that is probably one of the most soulful renditions I have ever heard - this alone is enough to get this recording. This disc deserves a sequel. Bravo!

Buy this. So many colors and textures to choose from on this treat of a set. Wooden to electronic while never turning into backrgound music. Took me more than a few plays of disc one to move past the wonderful arrangement of one of my favorite songs -- Alex de Grassi's reworking of Hendrix's "Angel." I would buy the disc for that gem alone. Another immediate highlight for me is Arlen Roth's intense Upstate Rag. On disc 2. Henry Kaiser and Michael Manring brew up some twisted electronic madness to contrast the already varied acoustic picking that dominates this set. Lest we not forget the intense tracks contributed by Vernon Reid and Andy Summers, respectively. I would have much more to say about the many other hot tracks if I had my discs here with me to match the tune with artist. Buy this. You will not regret it.

What an amazing compilation of music written for and arranged for guitar. The pieces on this double CD will not cease to amaze not only the guitar afficianados out there, but music lovers in general. Hearing a common instrument speak in so many tongues is just fabulous: from Renaissance dulcet tones to Vernon Reid's screaming urban-electronica. This is definitely worth the $$ and part of the proceeds go to a good cause as well. Way to go! & looking forward to GH II