Customer Reviews

Trip to the Sun

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Intellectual...Yes. Innovative...Yes. I am glad I was not driving when I heard clips from this album for the 1st time because I would have surely wrecked my vehicle. I was, and still am, totally blown away. This music is impossible to describe but I certainly hope it signals the direction for the music of the future. This is a broad departure for the folks at Windham Hill Records but I want to thank them for bringing this amazing artist to us. Public Radio said his parents were shocked when their Julliard student added 2 more strings to his violin, hooked it up to a super amplification system and began playing Jimi Hendrix's music on his violin. (He also plays Bach and Gershwin and Hyw 61 Blues.) Every nanosecond of sound and space is flawlessly and purposefully executed. I hope they have recovered and realize what an incredible musician they have given to the world of classical jazz. Absolutely awesome CD.

This newest Windham Hill release has become an instant favorite. It is just one of those records that you want to keep playing over and over. The selections are a combination of original compositions and well-known works, and it is hard to decide which numbers are more captivating. The violinist, Tracy Scott Silverman, has got to be one of the most talented performers and composers to come on the scene in a long time. Hope to hear lots more from him in the future. My advice to anyone looking for a "can't miss" purchase - don't miss this one!

I will have to rate this cd high on the goosebumps chart. I hope this guy hits the big time. Finally something worth listening to, and it is for everyone no matter what style of music you are into. Bravo!!!

I was fortunate enough to interview and meet Tracy Silverman, and after doing so, I have an even greater appreciation for his solo debut. His eclecticism and diversity as a musician and a music FAN makes this record jarringly different and, in its own way, quite beautiful! The sounds he can make with his electric violin amaze me.

This album features some of the best electric violin around. The music is representative of the new forms which wed classical to contemporary avant garde. "Riff in 11/8" owes as much to Bach as it does to Philip Glass.

Silverman translates the soul sounds of Jimi Hendrix into violin in a way I haven't heard before. Like Hendrix, he makes the instrument talk, moan, and cry.

I just rec'd Tracy's new CD after seeing him in concert w/ Jim Brickman a couple weeks ago. I was amazed at how his violin "sings". He stole the Brickman show for me and his CD will do the same for you.

Tracy's technique is spectacular and original. He makes a wonderful contrast between very rhythmic and very lyric bow-strokes. I especially enjoy the track Here Comes The Sun. The voice of this piece is very human and rich. I also love his work with the Turtle Island String Quartet. If you don't already have their CD, then you MUST get it! I am also an electric violinist so I can really appreciate Tracy's style. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who enjoys exploring modern string music!

For those such as I, who love the blues, here's an interesting approach. It's new age blues. It's like....strange sounds, rhythms, instrumental mixtures, beats, overtones, undertones, and the very low down, cool violin. It's a good choice of tunes....Gershwin, Hendrix, Bach, Silverman, and Terry Riley. Try it oouuutttt......:-)

I'm sorry to say I bought this cd a couple years ago and it sat on my shelf until recently. I've gotten into jazz and the similarities between this style and smooth jazz ensembles like Acoustic Alchemy startle me. It is extremely difficult to perform jazz on violin but Silverman manages to deliver it with complimented with the twist of the classical training obvious in his display of a wide range of difficult techniques.

His style is so versatile that one minute I'm convinced it's jazz, the next I feel like I'm listening to a classical concerto, and then I'm sure I'm listening to folk songs off of Appalachia Waltz with Yo-Yo Ma.

For listeners who truly appreciate and commit to music this cd will definitely make you stop and pay attention.

I usually really enjoy listening to Tracy Silverman. This one just wasn't his best; it didn't move me too much. A couple songs were pretty good, but nothing to compare with what he currently does.