Live Encounter [Enhanced, Live]

Trey Gunn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Live
• Label: First World Records
• ASIN: B00005REVL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Trey Gunn is still best known as a member of the most recent incarnation of King Crimson, playing his Warr Touch guitar, a variation on the Chapman Stick. Gunn's work with Crimson carries over into his own ensemble, except instead of holding down the bass player's role, he stretches out into some scintillating lead work that owes a debt to his mentor, Robert Fripp, especially the long, undulating sustained melodies. Teaming up with another Warr guitarist, Joe Mendelson, guitarist Tony Geballe, and drummer Bob Muller, Gunn shows that 2000's The Joy of Molybdenum was no studio fluke, as he brings the same hell-bent fury and sky-scraping architecture to the live performances captured here. Jettisoning the vocals that often make King Crimson sound like two different bands--one a quirky pop group with Adrian Belew singing, another storming the gates of instrumental heaven--Gunn's band sets their sites on the instrumental heaven, with roles shifting in the band as guitars become percussion instruments and drums become melodic. But topping it all are elaborate guitar and Warr guitar leads veering from African style cross-picking to feedback frenzies. --John Diliberto

Product Description

King Crimson 'Warr Touch' guitarist Trey Gunn's live show is the ultimate balance of power & symmetry - he gracefully intersperses rock, funk, ambient & world beat elements with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker. Joined by multi-percussionist Bob Muller, guitarist Tony Geballe & second 'Warr Touch' guitarist Joe Mendelson, Gunn has finally captured the band in its true essence, raw & bursting with energy. This is an enhanced CD that includes live Quicktime footage, assembled & mixed during Gunn's early 2000's tour with King Crimson on a double-bill with Tool.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, January 30, 2002

By 

Liza Sher "decorator" (San Francisco, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Encounter (Audio CD)

Live encounter with the Trey Gunn band composed of four amazingly talented and spiritual musicians is one of the most inspiring experiences. But when that is not possible, this album Live Encounter can most closely approximate that situation. It represents live recordings of masterpieces from the band's previous albums, Third Star and The Joy of Molybdenum. Since it is recorded from live performances, it captures that special energy, depth and dimension that only live music can offer. Also, this is the first album exposing Joe Mendelson, who plays another Warr Guitar and who is already well-known to those who were lucky enough to see the band during their two last tours. The album gives us a taste of the band as it is in the present.
Trey Gunn Band' music is deeply moving and inspiring. It is hard to classify as it draws from many different genres, including rock, world music, Middle Eastern tunes, soundscapes and much more, creating a very unique blend. Gunn's solos are astonishing displaying the virtuosity and creativity of the artist. Bob Muller's drumming and use of an amazing variety of percusiion tools give this music richness and power. Tony Geballe adds his signature with his masterful play of the electric guitar and saz. Joe Mendelson gives a heavy edge to the tunes with his 8-string Warr guitar.
This music, powerful and seducing, invinting us to a whole new world, would certainly deeply move and inspire any lover of true art.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Musical Alchemy, May 9, 2002

By 

spiral_mind (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live Encounter (Audio CD)

How to describe the TGB to someone who hasn't heard them? Imagine a group of Middle Eastern street musicians with thorough jazz training and an affection for the complex interaction of prog rock. As long as we're using our imaginations here, let's have them all telepathically linked so they can effortlessly bounce and weave around each other while staying rooted in a central melody, all without a single word. This may give an idea what there is to hear on Live Encounter. Bob Muller whips up an endlessly inventive stew of percussion over which the others groove, dance and whirl. As for the others - it's hard to even tell who's playing what. The instrument of choice for both Trey and newcomer Joe Mendelson is the Warr guitar, a wide-ranged instrument capable of guitar and bass sounds. Who's playing the bass part there.. the high guitar there? No way to tell. Tony Geballe contributes electric guitar as well as mandolin, saz (a Turkish guitar) and a host of others. However, I don't think the audience is meant to pick the instruments apart. Everything about this music points toward a blending of different talents.

You may have noticed that I'm talking about the music in general terms rather than describing songs themselves; that's because they do sound similar despite the variations between each piece's individual melody. Each TGB album is meant to be an overall listening experience rather than a batch of separate tunes.

Speaking of tunes: the song list is taken half-and-half from Trey's two latest releases (The Third Star and the superb The Joy of Molybdenum) with one new track thrown in. If you have either one of those, this one won't seem redundant; if you have both, then you'll know enough to decide whether you want to hear more. For someone new to the band I'd recommend either TJoM or Live Encounter as a first choice. If the song titles sound like a bunch of New Age dreck, it's only coincidental - this music oversteps boundaries and joins east and west in all the *right* ways.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, November 21, 2002

By 

S. M. Higgins (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live Encounter (Audio CD)

There isn't much more to say that my fellow reviewers haven't said already. This lastest Trey Gunn offering is perhaps a flawless example of what popular could evolve into if more musicians take the kind of leap of faith Trey has buy charting new territory with a new kind of instrument.

I have often been critical of too much electronics used to produce music because too many people fall into the trap of using technology to cheat and make things easier... However, to actually see Trey Gunn play the Warr guitar leaves me in awe. There is nothing easy about that instrument. The level of mental discipline and coordination required to play what he plays and how he plays it is stagering.

If you don't believe me or even what you hear buy the album just for the two imbeded Quick Time movies of Kuma and Rune... If you're not totally hypnotized buy Trey, watch Bob Muller on drums. You will be stunned buy the shear, flawless professionalism of this band!