Guitartistry
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Think Like the Waves
Songlines
Gordon Grdina is a Vancouver-based guitarist who also performs on the oud, or Arabic lute. On his debut release, Think Like the Waves, he teams up with his mentor Gary Peacock on bass and Paul Motian on drums. The 14 tracks are all Grdina originals, three...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Hahn Solo
Migration
Having played in Gary Burton’s quartet after Larry Coryell and before Mick Goodrick, Jerry Hahn is an overlooked figure in the modern pantheon. He was destined, perhaps, to release a solo guitar recording, if only to give it the classic title Hahn Solo...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Standards-Green and Blue
HEP Records
John Hart’s third CD for the Hep label, Standards—Green and Blue, once again features his working trio with bassist Bill Moring and drummer Tim Horner. But vibraphone master Joe Locke turns up on five cuts, enlivening all he touches. Hart’s focus here is...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
SplitLife
Smalls
Recorded live at New York’s Fat Cat, sister club of Smalls, Gilad Hekselman’s SplitLife (Smalls Records) is everything one could hope for in a debut release. The Israeli-born guitarist shows maturity beyond his years, playing standards and originals with...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Hot Club Of Detroit
Mack Avenue Records
Thanks in part to the jaw-dropping work of Biréli Lagrène, there has been a renewal of interest in gypsy jazz, with “hot clubs” springing up in various cities. Hot Club of Detroit, led by the young guitarist Evan Perri, certainly has a handle on the Django...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Trinity
Origin Records
John Moulder of Chicago spent five years composing the material for his album Trinity. It’s an epic three-part program inspired by religious belief, but it can be appreciated on any number of levels. The sound of the recording is tremendous, as are the performances—from...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Ro
nickrusso.org
For a guy with a book of Metallica transcriptions under his belt, Nick Russo of Queens cultivates a wonderfully pure jazz tone on his self-released album Ro. The nine-track, all-original set boasts an impressive cast, including Mark Turner on tenor, Matt...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
Fallen Angel
Sons of Sound
Guitarist Bob Sneider and vibraphonist Joe Locke co-lead the Film Noir Project. Their disc Fallen Angel approaches that cinematic genre from a unique perspective. With pianist Paul Hofmann, trumpeter John Sneider, tenor saxist Grant Stewart, bassist Phil...
December 2006 By David R. Adler
The Chaser
Mel Bay Records
Dave Stryker’s second release for the Mel Bay label, The Chaser, features organist Jared Gold and drummer Tony Reedus. Harking back to Stryker’s early days with organ legend Jack McDuff, it finds the guitarist in absolute top form. Gold, a fiery and sophisticated...
September 2006 By David R. Adler
The Essential George Benson
Columbia/Legacy
This set is more than a guitar compilation—it’s practically an overview of modern jazz and pop production. The two-disc set takes us from 1963 to 1980, with tracks produced by John Hammond, Creed Taylor, Tommy LiPuma and Quincy Jones, among others. Loosely...
