Customer Reviews

Raison D'etre

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Gambale states music as his Raison D'etre and this album certainly testifies. There are strong compositions from start to finish and the performances are truly inspired. There is a minimum of overdriven shred guitar solos which is good news to my ears. That's not to say the music is mellow. In fact, these are some of the most engaging performances you could imagine. From soaring rhythm tracks featuring Frank's nouveau guitar tuning, to the two endlessly inventive funk-jazz workouts "May The Fourths Be With You" and "Smug". The phenomenal Billy Cobham on drums and two great bass players only add to the strength of this excellent release.

With his custom doubleneck Yamaha solidbody and Nouveau Tuning system, Frank Gambale continues to push the envelope of rock-tinged jazz improvisation. This album is packed with the kind of growling, fat-toned phrases that have characterized the Aussie transplant's playing since he burst on the scene in 1986 as a sweep-picking shredder. But contrasting such sax-like tones are a plethora of piano-inspired timbres -- spanky chord voicings composed of close intervals and shimmering with subtle dissonance. Made possible by Gambale's recently developed alternative tuning, these chimey, fingerpicked sounds allow him to express his harmonic ideas more fully than before. Drummer Billy Cobham provides relaxed, yet razor-sharp grooves to support Gambale and his bassists -- Ric Fierabracci and Steve Billman -- as they spin lines at warp speed. Gambale composed and arranged the album's 12 originals, proving that his chops extend well beyond the fretboard.