Customer Reviews

Nylon & Steel

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

 

 

The biggest problem with this cd is Manuel's inability to improvise or keep up with the two speed demons DiMeola and Morse. I'm actually a bigger fan of classical guitar and was looking forward to this release to see what a classically trained guitarist could come up with, but the best two tunes are the first and last where Barrueco plays solo. The set with DiMeola is taken at a much slower tempo than Al usually plays; you can tell he's holding back; and then on top of that the improvised sections are conspicously reduced, the result being a very "composed" feel that's sadly repetitive. Likewise, the Morse set opens with Barrueco playing a Villa-Lobos "standard" with Morse burning over top (possibly the most interesting track on the cd), but then degenerates into an overly sentimental "Cavatina" with Steve gently arpeggiating over Manuel's single note melody. The best match is probably with Summers, where both are free to noodle around without getting in each others way or saying much in the process. The liner notes mentions Summers appreciation of Steve Reich's music, and that's how the last set sounds; like an ECM/New Age cd. Most of the music is very gentle to hear and if you want something soothing in the background, go ahead; but if you want to hear true guitar interplay, get either Coryell/Remler's cd "Together" or Jim and Doug Raney's duet cd. This meeting of the minds doesn't do justice to any of the players and proves there's more to making great music then just putting a couple of great guitarists together.

This is a very interesting combination of the classical and rock/jazz worlds of guitar playing. All four guitarists have amazing chops and they're all quite tasteful on this recording. If you're a fan of Barrueco, DiMeola, Morse, or Summers, check out this CD. I had heard Barrueco and Summers before, and knew of DiMeola and Morse by reputation, so I had an idea of what to expect...but "Nylon & Steel" surpassed those expectations. Very cool, indeed.

I bought this CD 3 weeks ago and I would say it's a highly recommended title, but not 5 stars. I believe there is a weakness in this CD and it resides in Barrueco's duet with Al DiMeola. First of all, let me explain that Al DiMeola is one of my favorite guitarrists and Barrueco is a first class classical player. The problem is that they decided to perform songs that were already recorded by Al, De Lucia and McLaughlin in their famous Guitar Trio CD. Those three guys have a kind of interaction and synesthesia that I cannot see by listening to Al and Barrueco playing together. It's an unfair comparison, I'd say. There are lots of "gaps" in "Beyond the Mirage" and in "Azzurra", for instance, Al plays a nylon guitar, so that we miss the "steel" on that track. If I were the producer, I would certainly advise them to pick up other songs and perform something original, created specially for the disc, having Barrueco's idea in mind (Nylon and Steel). My overall impression is positive, though, and Villa-Lobos' Étude No 1 is probably the most interesting track. The duets with Steve Morse and Andy Summers are very sound as well as Barrueco's solo arrangements for Odeon and Rodeo.

This album is not disappointing. As a fan mostly of Summers and DiMeola, I can say that they perform up to their standards. I particulary enjoy tracks 4, 9, and 10. The moods conveyed in the collection of songs are everything from somber to joyful. Try and listen to the notes and the timing--not to how fast one can play. There is a huge difference...

It is simply not up to par.Having Al DiMeola as a guest artist artist on this recording made me want to listen.The music is too mono-tone. No flare to this one.No excitement.

Except for the two Barrueco solos, this CD made me nauseous!!!Listening to it reminded me why I stopped listening to most improvised music.

Throughout tracks 2 to 4, DiMeola struggles futilely to come up with anything but comical latin cliches. DiMeola's mindless noodling is an affront to Barrueco's musicality. Summers playing on the other hand, while somewhat musical, is mostly syrup.

Villa-Lobos' Etude 1 duet hurt the most. I have played this piece for years and, though an etude, I find it quite entertaining (as do most classical guitarists I think). During most of the piece, Morse simply plays scale-exercise filler and obliterates all the musical ideas in the piece. Listen, Villa-Lobos was one of the most original and masterful composers of this century. It is criminal to think that playing this electronic fluff over Villa-Lobos' etude does it justice.

A word to the uninitiated - buy Sergio and Odair Assad's "Latin Music for Two Guitars" and learn something about the depth and beauty of serious latin guitar music.

The tracks on this recording vary from exuberant latin-american jazz - like 'Beyond The Mirage' - to more introspective music like 'The Grand Passion'. 'Northern Lights'is very sensitive as well, it makes you a little bit melancholic.
Between all the noisy dance-music we have nowadays, 'Nylon & Steel' is an oasis of quality
and high standard.(Though there is no classical music played on this CD - apart from Villa-Lobos - don't let that spoil the fun).
Something about this music reminds me of the piano-music of Brad Mehldau: it sounds familiar and at the same time it's unique.

This is a very interesting combination of the classical and rock/jazz worlds of guitar playing. All four guitarists have amazing chops and they're all quite tasteful on this recording. If you're a fan of Barrueco, DiMeola, Morse, or Summers, check out this CD. I had heard Barrueco and Summers before, and knew of DiMeola and Morse by reputation, so I had an idea of what to expect...but "Nylon & Steel" surpassed those expectations. Very cool, indeed.

I would like to clarify that the piece Odeon, mentioned in the editorial review, was not composed by Barrueco. Odeon was composed in the beginning of the 1900's by Ernesto Nazareth, a Brazilian composer. You can find a sample of the same tune on the listing of the CD "Mandolin Master Of Brazil: Original Classic Recordings, Vol. 2" a very good compilation of Jacob do Bandolim. I hope this was just an editorial mistake and that the original composer has been recognized on the CD.

This is nothing more than a collection of jam sessions with various guitarists. Mindless gibberish made in a garage by bored musicians who hatched up a plan to scam their fans out of $ by releasing their worthless strumming. They should've kept these tracks where they belonged, in a closet.