Mistico

Charlie Hunter Trio

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 31, 2007)
• Original Release Date: July 31, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fantasy
• ASIN: B000PKG7JS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,264 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Bay Area-born guitarist Charlie Hunter burst on to the scene in the '90s with his eight-string guitar, which enabled him to simultaneously play solos, melodic lines, and basslines. After collaborating artists like Norah Jones, Kurt Elling, and Mos Def, Hunter returns to his familiar triad format with drummer Simon Lott and keyboardist Erik Deutsch. Armed with a filed-down, seven-string axe, Hunter's edgy, twangy tones owe more to grunge than to Grant Green. This 10-track CD spotlights the leader's jazz-fluent soloing, counterpointed by some spirited rock-friendly fusion, as especially on the Crescent City syncopated "Wizard Sleeve," the super-swinging, multi-tempo "Spoken Word," and the cavernous melodic mood on "Ballad." Hunter doesn't break musical barriers per se; he redraws them, and in doing so, writes his own sonic signature on the open stylistic canvas that covers this still-young century. --Eugene Holley, Jr.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars well worth the wait, September 3, 2007

By	The Delite Rancher (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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For months now, I've been listening to live shows of this band with two deeply held aspirations. First, I've been wishing that the group would play in my town and second, I've hoped for an album. (We never did get a trio album from the charmed Hunter, Chopek and Lovejoy trio.) While this group hasn't played in my town, here's the long awaited album. One out of two ain't bad. Why do I love this group? As with "Mistico," my favorite Hunter work has been in environments without brass. In this trio, Hunter is accompanied by drummer Simon Lott and one of the most exciting keyboardists these days, Erik Deutsch. This is a rock friendly excursion. Hunter is in top form as much of his lead work reflects a fresh phrasing style. He employs his typical arsenal of effects and sonic trickery to maximize the psychedelia and funk factor. The anthemic 'Speakers Built In' is one of the best songs that I've heard since I can remember. It is catchy and rockin' -it offers complete listening satisfaction. Other highlights include 'Wizard Sleeve' and 'Chimp Gut.' While the rockin' tunes may be the most compelling, songs like 'Mistico' 'Drop a Dime' and 'Estranged' offer a relaxed breather. So was it worth the wait? Absolutely. That written, I believe that "Mistico" could have been better. Compared to the live sets, some of this material sounds a little over produced and many tunes were abbreviated. I also would have preferred for Erik Deutsch to get some more time in the spotlight. All in all, "Mistico" stands as a deeply satisfying experience.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High Energy and Great Songs!, August 17, 2007

By	Kevin Currie-Knight "Education Grad Student" (Newark, Delaware) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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If someone who knew nothing of jazz used this as their introduction, I doubt they would have an easy time putting their finger on exaclty what jazz is. I don't think that they would be clear on how jazz qualifies as a genre, rather than a very loosely hanging amalgomation of every type of musical sound imaginable.

This, though, is meant as the highest compliment to Chalie Hunter and his trio. This CD is so dang eclectic that it is very hard not to find tons of things to love (and only a few not to love) in this disc.

First and foremost, Charlie has found his groove. The last few albums have been all over the place and, at least to me, the tracks often felt contrived. Here, though, the trio plays with so much spirit and engergy that I find myself wishing I were in the room.

Lady! is an appropriate leading track, giving us a "lounge" feel with a sharp and gritty edge. From there we get a few really good rockers - Speakers Built In and Balls (with a bashing drum solo that is unrelenting and, unfortunately, quite unmelodic).

And there is some good stuff for the fusion lovers. Wizard Sleeve and Drop a Dime are what Tony Williams Lifetime would sound like in 2007. But one of the biggest winners on the CD is the track that, on first listen, is the most out of place - a heavy ballad (reminiscent of EST and Bad Plus called Estranged.

The last thing to mention is the unique recording. I am quite sure it is all analog and live. The playing is loose and fluid (bordering on a very pleasant sloppiness). The keyboard is, I believe, one of those old Casio's that, believe it or not, only comes off as occasionally cheesy (the rest of the time, very appropriate to the unique feel of the record).

You can tell that when this record was recorded, it was done with big ear-to-ear smiles by all involved. Really good, thoroughly unique, and absolutely, listenable fun!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Charlie plays 'classic rock', January 12, 2008

By	Anthony Cooper (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD isn't literally classic rock, but Charlie Hunter's grooves, song forms, and bluesy playing is close to it for a jazz CD. For this one, he has a keyboardist and drummer. He also downsizes his guitar -- no longer an 8-string guitar, it's a 7-string. It also sounds like he isn't playing as much self-accompanied bass. It sounds like the keyboard plays a lot of bass lines. I consider that an improvement, because unfortunately having the bassist and guitarist share the same brain (in past Hunter CD's) and hands hasn't worked out to more mind-blowing improvisations than a more traditional setup. "Lady!" and "Speakers Built In" are both jaunty songs, and a nice way to start. "Estranged" is bluesier and slower. "Balls" is very classic rock sounding. The guitar riff and Kenny Aranoff-style drums almost scream "John Cougar!". The song is mainly a drum solo. "Wizard Sleeve" is funkier than average. "Drop A Dime" is somewhat sludgy. "Spoken Word" is a faster song, with a very worried feel to it. "Special Shirt" is another jaunty one, with a nice blues piano solo. "Mistico" is slow and bluesy, and "Chimp Gut" is another jaunty strut. This is a pretty good CD, though I feel its simplicity works against it, it's really a 3.75 star CD.