16 May 2010
By Lyov
In Blues, Rock
Unplugged
Eric Clapton’s live performance on MTV’s strip-down-the-rockers show allowed the heavily-blues-influenced guitarist a chance to show off another, underrated side of his talent–his voice.
It’s especially interesting to hear Clapton in an acoustic setting, because he made his mark as one of the early proponents of high-decibel rock. Here, sorting through numerous blues standards by the likes of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, Clapton gives a lesson in technique, style and musical passion. His own, newer material allows him to stretch and play, while the heavily-grooved, slowed-down remake of his classic “Layla” is the essential standout. “Tears In Heaven,” a moving tribute to his son’s passing, is emotionally raw, yet stylistically smooth–a difficult task to achieve....
Continue reading
Blues, blues rock, classic rock, Eric Clapton, guitar, Rock, Unplugged
27 April 2010
By Lyov
In Jazz
Rockin’ In Rhythm: A Duke Ellington Tribute
Singer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, a master in the art of reinventing jazz classics, celebrates the music of Duke Ellington, undeniably one of the most prominent musical icons of the 20th century. Rockin’ In Rhythm: A Tribute to Duke Ellington is Pizzarelli’s first ever Ellington recording.
Pizzarelli was still a very young musician when Ellington died in May 1974, but thanks to his father – veteran guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli – he would eventually learn much about jazz’s most important composer. “Duke’s music was an integral part of any set my father played,” says Pizzarelli. “I heard a tremendous amount of his music listening to my Dad and then through performing with him. There are some many beautiful melodies and so many discoveries to be made on any given night.”...
Continue reading
bossa nova, guitar, Jazz, jazz guitar, jazz vocal, John Pizzarelli, Rockin' In Rhythm: A Duke Ellington Tribute
24 March 2010
By Lyov
In Blues, Jazz
Santana Brothers
Carlos comes together with his brother Jorge and their nephew Carlos Hernandez to tear it up family-style on their monster guitar opus, BROTHERS. Released on Carlos’s Guts & Grace imprint, BROTHERS is a relentlessly fiery barrage of hard, prog-guitar textures and grooves. Several of the cuts were co-written by Jorge, who is a prodigious guitarist-composer in his own right....
Continue reading
Blues, classic rock, guitar, latin, Rock, Santana, Santana Brothers
04 March 2010
By Lyov
In Blues, Jazz
Grip Of The Blues
One of Finland’s brightest musical talents, this is Lyytinen’s boldest, freshest and most varied effort yet. She features a wider range of song styles than ever before. To do this, she enlisted the help of the musicians who know her best – here she is accompanied by her own road band after a pair of CDs she recorded with session players. She mixes hard-edged blues with modern R&B and also showcases her knack for delicate, poppy melodies....
Continue reading
Blues, blues rock, Erja Lyytinen, female vocalists, finnish, Grip Of The Blues, guitar
01 March 2010
By Lyov
In Blues, Jazz
Deuces Wild
You can’t move an inch without tripping over a superstar on this album of celebrity duets. On DEUCES WILD, B. B. looks beyond the blues world to collaborate with such unlikely folks as Willie Nelson, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, and even rapper Heavy D. On newly recorded versions of classic B.B. numbers such as “The Thrill Is Gone” (with Tracy Chapman) and “Paying The Cost To Be The Boss” (with the Rolling Stones), the legendary blues guitarslinger reinvents his own material to accommodate his famous pals, whose respect for King and enthusiasm for this project are apparent on each track. Most effective are the tunes that find B.B. paired up with veteran blues belters like Joe Cocker (“Dangerous Mood”) and Van Morrison (“If You Love Me”)....
Continue reading
B.B. King, Blues, blues rock, classic rock, Deuces Wild, guitar, Jazz
22 February 2010
By Lyov
In Folk
Gipsy Kings
On this, arguably the finest of the group’s efforts, the caliber of the musicianship is striking. Rhythmically athletic acoustic guitars, passionate singing, and stirring, syncopated handclaps coalesce to create a fresh, romantic, and eminently danceable sound. Modulations of mood abound, from joyous, percussive romps (“Bem, Bem, Maria”) through more sedate tunes evocative of intimate Spanish cafes (“Quiero Saber”), to plaintive melodies embellished with gorgeous flamenco motifs, such as “Tu Quieres Volver.” Also included are two of the band’s biggest hits, “Djobi Djoba” and the endlessly infectious “Bamboleo.” GIPSY KINGS is an excellent place to start exploring this inventive, wonderfully accessible music....
Continue reading
flamenco, Gipsy Kings, guitar, latin, spanish, world
