Solo

Jimmy Bruno | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 8, 2009)
• Original Release Date: November 16, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mel Bay Records
• ASIN: B000621362
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,385 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Born in Philadelphia on July 22, 1953, Jimmy Bruno was first exposed to music by his parents at a very early age. His mother was a singer and his father, Jimmy Bruno, Sr., was a notable jazz guitarist who was best known for his performance in 1959 on the hit recording "Guitar Boogie Shuffle" with Frank Virtue and the Virtues. When Bruno was about eight his childhood love for music began to develop when his father brought home what would be Jimmy’s first guitar. As a child, he never had any formal training, but instead absorbed the life altering sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, John Coltrane and Oscar Peterson.

In 1973, when Bruno was just nineteen, he landed his first big gig when Buddy Rich came to Philly holding auditions for a guitarist. He spent the next year on the road with Buddy, receiving quite a musical education. When he returned to Philadelphia in 1974, he found few gigs as a jazz musician and decided to try his luck playing in Las Vegas, finally settling in Los Angeles as a studio musician. In the end it wasn’t the place or the music he loved. Since his return to Philly in 1988, Jimmy Bruno has created a name that is synonymous with jazz guitar, recording numerous albums for Concord Records and now for Mel Bay Records.

In addition to his new album with Mel Bay Records, Jimmy Bruno has recently been featured in three, live concert DVDs released through Mel Bay Records - Jimmy Bruno: Live at Chris’ Café, Volumes 1 and 2 and Jimmy Bruno and Jack Wilkins: Live at The Theatre. Jimmy is also a Mel Bay author who to date has written several instructional books for six and seven string jazz guitar. Jimmy Bruno is co-chair of the Jazz Guitar Department at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and is a featured writer for Just Jazz Guitar Magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Guitarists Only, May 18, 2005

By 

Stephen A. Smith (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Solo (Audio CD)

Jimmy Bruno is an exceptional guitarist. I own almost every CD he's recorded, from his albums on Concord to his duo with John Leitham. His technical facility on the instrument is phenomenal. And his lines aren't just fast -- they're also melodic. He's a true bop player, in the legacy of Jimmy Raney. I'm sure Bird and Diz would have loved to record with Jimmy Bruno.

Having said that, I have a hard time recommending this CD. If you're a guitarist, Bruno's technique is fascinating. Unfortunately, as often happens on guitar CDs, the technique obscures the music. Simply put, Bruno plays too many notes. He's got an incredible ear and hears unique harmonic possibilities, but he expresses them all using lines and arpeggios. The result is skeletal music. Imagine trying to have a conversation using only individual letters, rather than words and sentences. That's what happens here. [For contrast, listen to George Van Eps on "Legends."]

On the uptempo tunes, another problem arises. His lines are muddied by string noise. No engineer is credited, so I assume Bruno miked the guitar himself. Some guitarists insist that string buzz is part of the instrument's charm. I would answer that saxophonists don't mike their pads, and trombonists practice to quiet the sound of air from their tone. The aim when striking a note is to create pitch -- and here, the incidental noise is almost distracting.

It's worth noting that guitarists, by and large, won't care about these two objections. They'll buy "Solo" based on Bruno's reputation, expecting to hear an amazing technician. They won't be disappointed. Given that this CD was recorded for Mel Bay Records, it's possible that Bruno simply knows his audience and recorded to suit their expectations. If so, job well done.

"Solo" succeeds as a display of chops -- but if you're looking for serious music, look elsewhere. Bruno is unequaled as a bop guitarist. I recommend either of his "Live at Birdland" CDs, where he's joined by Bobby Watson and Scott Hamilton, respectively. Solo performance just isn't Bruno's bag.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars to be more specific, October 27, 2010

By 

Samuel J. Myers (Nebraska, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solo (Audio CD)

Jimmy Bruno is a great musician and an entertaining player. But in the solo setting he's more of an entertaining player than a great musician. Aside from a few really memorable tracks on this one (Jimmy's take on "Joy Spring" is really something!), much of his playing on this disc lacks subtlety and taste. Some will also be turned off by string and pick noise throughout, and some of the playing lacks the clarity and articulation one would expect from a player of Jimmy's caliber. For my money, you can't beat Jimmy in a duet setting, but the solo setting just isn't his strongest card.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very disappointing, May 15, 2009

By 

Radha Vijayan "Viji" (singapore) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Solo (Audio CD)

i thought this was like any other audio /video cd and purchased it...but was thoroughly disappointed when i came to know that it could not be played in any of my players except through the internet :(...yet what i saw through the internet....jimmy was just freaking out with his amazing techniques..god bless you jimmy!!