From acoustic to electric, the guitar is an instrument that allows for various expressions in many different musical genres. It could be said that there are still many possibilities for musical expression using the guitar. This month, I have handpicked three new albums by players on the cutting edge of contemporary guitarists.
#253 Julian Lage’s Performance, which Is Both Free and Adventurous
Speak To Me / Julian Lage
(Bluenote ⇒ Universal Music UCCQ-1198)
Julian Rage, who should be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of our time, is now 36 years old. Although his playing is influenced by authentic jazz guitar, it is free and adventurous and not bound by the narrow framework of jazz. On his fourth album for Blue Note, Rage plays acoustic and electric guitars, telling various stories with each piece. All the numbers are originals written by Rage, and the delicate melody lines and innovative harmonies give a sense of nostalgia.
The works are performed by combos centered on the regular trio of Rage, Jorge Roeder (bass), and Dave King (drums), with guests added. The title track, ＜Speak to Me,＞ with its pleasant beat and catchy melodic development, ＜Omission,＞ with its folklike landscape, and ＜Northern Shuffle,＞ with its lovely, laid-back feeling, all numbers showcase a relaxed and open-minded musicality. The recording is also excellent, vividly capturing Rage’s technical and detailed picking. The producer is Joe Henry, a master of reviving American music traditions with today’s feeling. His son, Levon Henry, who joins in on some numbers, adds an exciting accent to the music with his unique saxophone performance.
#254 Creative Collaboration between Bill Frisell and Michael Gibbs
Orchestras / Bill Frisell
(Bluenote Imported 5883733)
Bill Frisell is another guitarist who has continued to create unique music, moving freely between American trad and radical free music. As for Frisell’s work, I introduced a duo album with bassist Thomas Morgan some time ago (♯53). As the title suggests, this latest work is an ambitious two-disc set in which he performs with two different orchestras.
The first disc is a performance with the 60-piece Brussels Philharmonic. The natural flow from the fantastic opening to Billy Strayhorn’s ＜Lush Life＞ is pleasant. The orchestration by the genius Michael Gibbs beautifully embraces Frisell’s poetic playing. The final track of Foster’s classic ＜Beautiful Dreamer＞ is also unique to Frisell. The second disc is a collaboration with the 11-piece Umbria Jazz Orchestra. Michael Gibbs also arranged this one, featuring superb, colorful harmonies reminiscent of Gil Evans. Since ＜Dome＞ and ＜Electricity＞ are performed in both discs, it would be interesting to compare the two arrangements.
#255 Duo Performance Captivating with Passion of Latin and Flamenco
SPAIN FOREVER AGAIN / MICHEL CAMILO & TOMATITO
(Universal Music UCCM-1275)
As for Dominican pianist Michel Camilo, I have previously introduced his big band album (♯85). This new work is a duo with Tomatito, a leading contemporary flamenco guitarist, and is a captivating album with rich guitar sounds. In 1997, Tomatito and Camilo performed together for the first time at the Barcelona International Jazz Festival. They hit it off due to their compatibility in their playing, which is infused with Latin and flamenco passion, and have collaborated on several albums, including “Spain” in 2004, “Spain Again” in 2006, and “Spain Forever” in 2016.
This album is the fourth by the duo. The first track, ＜ALFONSINA Y EL MAR,＞ a folklore masterpiece written by Ariel Ramirez, was a poignant expression of the duo's musical prowess, captivating with its lyrical beauty. As the audience is captivated by the emotional depth of Tomatito’s guitar and the performers’ harmonious interplay, their performance unfolds with a diverse repertoire, including ＜MAMBO INFLUENCIADO,＞ ＜NARDIS＞ by Miles Davis and a beautiful ballad ＜ANTONIA＞ written by Pat Metheny. And the famous ＜Concierto de Aranjuez＞ by one of the greatest Spanish composers, Joaquin Rodrigo. The duo performance of the concerto, which consists of three movements, is another highlight.
About the Author
Masamichi Okazaki
Surrounded by various kinds of music from his childhood, Masamichi Okazaki joined Waseda University Modern Jazz Club. He started contributing articles to music magazines when he was a student. He covers wide range of music not only trad, modern and contemporary jazz, but also from pops to classics. He writes liner notes for CDs and LPs, and is a regular contributor to “JAZZ JAPAN,” “STEREO,” and others. He joined a big band, “Shiny Stockings,” as a saxophone player. He is a director of The Music Pen Club Japan (MPCJ).
