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REVIEWS of DELOVELY GUITAR |
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Minor 7th by Patrick Ragains, July/August 2007 |
This anthology, drawn from Cole Porter's most familiar songs, follows on the heels of Solid Air's Henry Mancini: Pink Guitar, which won a Grammy Award in 2004 for best pop instrumental album. Delovely Guitar repeats the formula, this time showcasing 14 guitarists from the label's impressive roster in one solo performance each, with one duet closing the program. The CD begins with Doug Smith playing "Anything Goes," which employs harmonics, octaves, alternating bass and an unexpected shift of the melody on to the bass strings, leading into a key change. Nick Charles offers a similarly well-developed arrangement of "I Get a Kick Out of You." Likewise, Eltjo Hasselhoff's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," frames a Chet Atkins-influenced treatment with a jazzy, rubato introduction and coda. Lawrence Juber creates a pop setting for "I've Got You Under My Skin," dishing out his trademark octave runs, close jazz chord voicings and treble bends in a very pleasing performance. Both David Cullen's "Night and Day" and Wayne Johnson's freewheeling "Love for Sale" are played on nylon-string guitars. These two cuts may be the most successful interpretations on the disc, at least for listeners expecting to hear mainstream jazz versions of this material. Similarly, Mike Dowling offers a sensitive chord melody reading of "What is This Thing Called Love," although played on a steel-string guitar. "Begin the Beguine" gets a dark, dirge-like treatment from Jim Tozier, and may be the most radical reimagining of any of the compositions included here. As counterweights, Lasse Johansson and Kenny Sultan lighten things up by recalling classic ragtime and Blind Blake in their selections. The CD ends with Mark Hanson and Doug Smith dueting on a pretty, stately "Delovely." This anthology deserves a reception equal to that of Pink Guitar, although Cole Porter's music comes from an earlier time than Henry Mancini's and consequently may be more difficult to recast for solo steel-string guitar. Many guitarists and general listeners are sure to grab this disc - they won't be disappointed.
» See the review at Minor 7th
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Bridge Guitar Reviews by Hank te Veldhuis, May 2007 |
Just as their earlier Grammy-winning Henry Mancini Pink Guitar
CD, Solid Air Records proceeds releasing a top-notch CD of the
legendary Cole Porter. All pieces are written for acoustic guitar,
with 15 of Solid Air Records best acoustic guitarists. All guitarists
made their own creative touch to Cole Porter's compositions.
Eltjo Haselhoff's interpretation of "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home
To" impresses a lot, just like David Cullen does on "Night and Day."
Laurence Juber excels on "I've Got You Under My Skin" and Jim
Tozier on "Begin The Beguine." Wayne Johnson's approach to "Love
For Sale" is brilliant. Just as Tim Pacheco's contribution on "True Love."
Check out your own favourite guitarists on another interesting release
of Solid Air Records.
» See the review at Bridge Guitar Reviews
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