Autumn 2021 Short Takes Brief Reviews
Evan Mustard "Brush Strokes" 2021
New York based guitarist Evan Mustard's current release Brush Strokes features three brilliantly crafted original compositions. The guitarist earned his Masters in Jazz Studies at the University of Oklahoma in
2013. Currently, Mustard teaches locally and performs in a variety of creative ensembles at jazz clubs and festivals across the United States. Brush Strokes finds the guitarist in an intimate solo setting
showcasing his exceptional acoustic playing. "Hudson River Fog" eloquently swings with intricate chord voicings and great single note embellishments. On "Meditation Blues" Mustard creates an alluring minor keyed
groove featuring some flashy pentatonic riffing. "Dappled Sunlight" includes some tasteful Wes Montgomery style octaves, intricate chord changes, and masterful soloing. There is a timeless yet timely quality to
Mustard's music, paying homage to the past yet firmly embracing the future. This album is highly recommended for all fans of acoustic jazz guitar and beyond.
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James Scott
Steve Klingaman "Roots and Branches" 2021
Steve Klingaman enjoys a recurring traveling theme in his most recent collection, Roots and Branches. A singer/songwriter/guitarist, the Chicago native pays homage to his American roots, with a strong nod to
his early folk music days, over the nine tracks. He's well-traveled himself, with extended stints in San Francisco, New Orleans, Montreal and Minneapolis. Klingaman sets the tone as kicks things off with the
atmospheric "Driving from Calgary," coming off like a wistful "Route 66." He shows his production chops throughout, employing two fine female vocalists, and several full-fledged arrangements. He jazzes it up
with his "Life in the Fifties," and displays his Spanish-inflected guitar on "Famous Blue Raincoat," while "The Illustrated Man" goes for the twang. Klingaman opts for a full clarinet treatment with a cover of
"Mack the Knife" and serves the syrup on his cover of "Till There Was You." The piece de resistance here may be his musical triptych of "Travelin' Man/Travelin'/Know You Rider" on which Klingaman takes the
opportunity to stretch it out on guitar. It's great to see our talented Minor 7th colleagues putting it out there.
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Fred Kraus
Daniel Lippel "Aufs Lautenwerk" 2021
For those who may question the necessity for another recording of Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite in Em BWV996, Suite in Cm BWV997, and Prelude, Fuga, and Allegro in E-flat BWV998, Daniel Lippel offers a conclusive,
multilayered answer on Aufs Lautenwerk. Bach composed these pieces on and for the Lautenwerk, a plucked string instrument that was a cross between a harpsichord and a lute. Lippel was able to perform these works in
their original keys on a Walter Vogt classical guitar refretted to conform to Johann Kirnberger's 1779 well-tempered keyboard tuning system. Although the technological and scholarly achievements represented on this
recording are laudable, it is Lippel's intrinsic musicianship and his ability to strike that delicate balance between guitaristic fluidity and keyboard-like precision that breathes new life into these masterworks.
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David Pedrick
Tom McCauley "He Said... She Said" 2021
Tom McCauley is a veteran recording engineer, arranger and producer. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry from Sting to Herbie Hancock and from the Backstreet Boys to Brian Bromberg.
On He Said...She Said McCauley proves that he is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and composer. The release features the acoustic guitar elegantly placed in a variety of lush musical settings. The upbeat
opener "Kangaroo Club" showcases the acoustic guitar stylishly supported by synthesizers, bass, and percussion. "Communicado" and "Madrugada" are two bossa nova inspired compositions utilizing tasteful orchestration
and sophisticated instrumentation. "Fingerpainting" is a beautiful solo guitar piece, while the country flavored "Generations" uses vintage instruments to create an alluring rural landscape. The recording ends with
"Waiting in the Wings," a delicate, reflective duet. He Said...She Said… is a very assessable album, pristinely recorded, and is highly recommended for fans of smooth and contemporary jazz.
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James Scott