Quiet Now

Gene Bertoncini | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 22, 2005)
• Original Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ambient Records
• ASIN: B00081039E
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,324 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Lush Life

2. My One And Only Love

3. Giant Steps/On A Misty Night

4. Traumerei

5. So In Love/The More I See You

6. Olha Maria

7. Quiet Now

8. Nessun Dorma

9. Waltz For Debbie/Very Early

10. Theme From "Bang The Drum Slowly"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Aural "Mona Lisa", April 13, 2005

By 

Joseph Frame (Woodbridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quiet Now (Audio CD)

Anyone familiar with the work of Gene Bertoncini knows that when they listen to one of his performances they are in presence of an artistic genius, just as they are when they gaze at Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" or Michelangelo Buonarroti's "David". While the media in which these two masterpieces are created differ from each other, and differ from the medium in which Bertoncini works, the resulting communication of essential "truth" is the same.

As these other great artists created work more beautiful when they continued to challenge themselves throughout their lives, so has Bertoncini continued to create recordings which have greater depth and more understanding of his chosen medium as he explores the possibilities of the unaccompanied acoustic guitar (with no electronic "help"). Whether he's working within the framework of a standard (Billy Strayhorn's Lush Life/Isfahan), a classical piece (Robert Schuman's Traumerei) or even an adaptation from the world of opera (Puccini's Nessu Dorma), Bertoncini's insightful melodic understanding, complimented by his creative harmonic knowledge, gives one the impression that whichever piece he plays was written specifically for him by that composer.

None of this would be possible without his exquisite technical ability. Truly gifted as an artist, he uses his talent on this CD to create music which is consummately beautiful. To use analogy again, his arrangements have meaningful, cohesive lines similar to exquisite works of architecture. So, even though we can't see what Gene Bertoncini creates with his guitar, it exists in aesthetic splendor as great as any masterpiece by any artist working in a visual medium. "Quiet Now" is a CD by a remarkable artist, in full stride, doing what he loves best, to the utmost of his extraordinary ability!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guitar master's latest gem., June 27, 2005

By 

John W. Fischer (Hyde Park, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Quiet Now (Audio CD)

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer above...on all counts. I would like to add a couple of points, though.

The sound of this album is impeccable! When I close my eyes to listen, it's almost as if Gene was in the room--except for the abscence of his bad jokes between songs.

Secondly, one of the most remarkable aspects of Gene's solo music is that it can be played at a low level as wonderful background music, but is also available for thoughtful listening and analysis merely by turning the volume up and telling everybody else in the room to stifle. Go Gene!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb jazz guitar, February 27, 2006

By 

Golden Rose - See all my reviews

This review is from: Quiet Now (Audio CD)

A beautiful and musically varied solo acoustic approach to jazz guitar. The style veers a bit more formal than swinging or bluesy, but the musicianship is impeccable--a very listenable and rewarding album, especially for those who love guitar virtuosity.