The Guitar Channel

Photos and Mini-Review: CAB with Alex Machacek - Live at The Baked Potato 1/18/12

I arrived in Southern California yesterday for the NAMM show, and after a looong travel day headed up to the Baked Potato to catch CAB's first set. Their lineup for this gig included band founder Bunny Brunel on bass, Alex Machacek on guitar, Dennis Hamm on keys, Virgil Donati on drums, and special guest Jeff Grossberg on harmonica. Machacek (who was filling in for CAB's regular guitarist Tony MacAlpine) was particularly impressive; his outside lines and whammy inflections added a cool dimension to the band. Another treat was hearing Grossberg sit in on harmonica for a burning take on Brunel's "Ivanhoe." This guy was amazing! I consider CAB to be one of the best of the modern fusion bands, and it was great to finally see them live after admiring them from afar for so long. Follow the link below for my photos of the gig.

Photos: CAB with Alex Machacek - Live at The Baked Potato 1/18/12

Updated Allan Holdsworth 2012 Tour Dates

Here is the current list of Allan Holdsworth's tour dates for 2012.

DONATI/HOLDSWORTH BAND
with
Virgil Donati drums
Allan Holdsworth guitar
Dennis Hamm keyboards
Jimmy Haslip bass

January 20 - Anaheim, CA (Sheraton Park Hotel)
SABIAN Night at The NAMM Show
www.sabian.com

January 22 - Studio City, Los Angeles, CA (Baked Potato)
www.thebakedpotato.com

USA TOUR DATES 2012
ALLAN HOLDSWORTH
with
Jimmy Haslip bass
Virgil Donati drums

January 13 - San Diego, CA (Brick By Brick)
www.brickbybrick.com

January 14 - Whittier, CA (Community Theater Whittier)
www.calprog.com
Opening band: MoeTar

January 16 - Phoenix, AZ (Rhythm Room)
www.rhythmroom.com

*March 11 - Sellersville, PA** (Sellersville Theater)
www.st94.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 12 - Annapolis, MD (Ram's Head Tavern)
www.ramsheadtavern.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 14 - Newton, NJ (The Newton Theater)
www.TheNewtonTheatre.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 15 - New York, NY (The Iridium)
www.theiridium.com

March 16 - New York, NY (The Iridium)
www.theiridium.com

March 17 - New York, NY (The Iridium)
www.theiridium.com

March 20 - Teaneck, NJ (Mexicali Live)
www.mexicalilive.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 21 - Northampton, MA (The Iron Horse)
www.iheg.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 22 - Boston, MA (Johnny D's)
www.johnnyds.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 23 - Norfolk, CT (The Infinity Hall)
www.infinityhall.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 24 - Schenectady, NY (The Van Dyck)
www.vandycklounge.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 27 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Cosmo Music)
www.cosmomusic.ca
Opening band: MARBIN

March 28 - Buffalo, NY (The Tralf Music Hall)
www.tralfmusichall.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 30 - Dayton, OH (Gilly's Jazz)
www.gillysjazz.com
Opening band: MARBIN

March 31 - Detroit, MI (The Jazz Cafe)
www.jazzcafedetroit.com
Opening band: MARBIN

April 1 - Chicago, IL (Martyr's)
www.martyrslive.com
Opening band: MARBIN

April 3 - Milwaukee, WI (The Shank Hall)
www.shankhall.com
Opening band: MARBIN

April 8 - San Juan Capistrano, CA (The Coach House)
www.thecoachhouse.com

Few more USA/Canada shows and band and/or individual clinics to be announced soon.

AH EUROPEAN TOUR 2012
(opening act: Jeff Aug)

May 15 - Kassel, Germany (Schlachthof)
www.schlachthof-kassel.de

May 16 - Amstelveen, Nethrlands (P60)
www.p60.nl

May 17 - Leverkusen, Germany (Scala)
www.scala-leverkusen.de

May 18 - Tilburg, Netherland (Paradox)
www.paradoxtilburg.nl

May 19 - Paris, France (Sunset SunsideJazz Club)
www.sunset-sunside.com

May 21 - Karlsruhe, Germany (Tollhaus)
www.tollhaus.de

May 23 - Milano, Italy (La Salumeria della Musica)
www.lasalumeriadellamusica.com

May 24 - Basel, Switzerland (Grand Casino)
www.grandcasinobasel.com

May 25 - Zurich, Switzerland (Jazz Klub Moods)
www.moods.ch

Several more shows and band and/or individual clinics clinics to be announced soon, between May 4 and May 28.

Video: Allan Holdsworth and Virgil Donati - Live in India

The video is a bit shaky but it's still pretty cool. This is Allan Holdsworth (Guitar), Virgil Donati (Drums), Anthony Crawford (Bass) and Austin Peralta (Keyboards) live in India on 11/3/11.

UPDATED: Allan Holdsworth 2012 Tour Dates

Here is an updated list of Allan Holdsworth tour dates for 2012. These gigs will feature Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Virgil Donati on drums. Stay tuned for further updates.

JAN 14 - Whittier, CA (TBC very soon)
JAN 22 - Studio City, Los Angeles, CA (Baked Potato)
MAR 11 - Sellersville, PA (Sellersville Theater ST94)
MAR 1- MAR 11 - Cities TBC
MAR 12 - Annapolis, MD (Ram's Head Tavern)
MAR 14 - Newton, NJ (Newton Theater)
MAR 15 - New York, NY (Iridium)
MAR 16 - New York, NY (Iridium)
MAR 17 - New York, NY (Iridium)
MAR 18 - Peekskil, NY (clinic, TBA)
MAR 20 - Piermont, NY (The Turning Point)
MAR 21 - Northampton, MA (The Iron Horse Music Hall)
MAR 22 - Somerville, Boston, MA (Johnny D's)
MAR 23 - Norfolk, CT (The Infinity Music Hall)
MAR 24 - Schenectady, NY (The Van Dyck)
MAR 26 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada (clinic, TBA)
MAR 27 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Cosmo)
MAR 28 - Buffalo, NY (The Tralf Music Hall)
MAR 30 - Dayton, OH (Gilly's Jazz)
MAR 31 - Detroit, MI (The Jazz Caffe)
APR 1 - Chicago, IL (Martyrs')

 

Review: Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

Dark Matter is Brett Garsed’s first solo release since 2002’s Big Sky, and it’s well worth the wait. The Australian guitarist is well known in the guitar community for his peerless hybrid-picking technique, though associating him solely with this facet of his playing short-changes him greatly. Garsed is a highly versatile player -  a seasoned veteran with a well-honed touch who can hang in a variety of styles. “Rock Fusion” is probably the best moniker to describe what Garsed does best, as he has a natural penchant for combining smart lines and chord changes with heavy riffs and tones. With Dark Matter, Garsed further explores this style, though he also displays a progressive rock influence that is more prominent than anything he’s done in the past, save for his work with Derek Sherinian and Virgil Donati. One constant that hasn’t changed from Garsed’s previous efforts is his strong sense of melodicism. From his earliest recordings with T.J. Helmerich through today, Garsed has always prioritized melody in his writing. On Dark Matter, many of the melodies and themes are almost pop-like, which lends an accessibility to the album that is rarely achieved in this genre of music. By augmenting that tunefulness with a heavy dose of prog riffs, jazz tonalities, and cutting edge playing and improvising, Garsed has crafted a high quality album that is the very definition of “Rock Fusion.”

Garsed is joined on Dark Matter by a cast of frequent collaborators from past and present projects. Featured are Ric Fierabracci and Craig Newman on bass, Gerry Pantazis and Virgil Donati on drums, and Phil Turcio on keyboards - all of whom leave their own distinct marks on the disc. Unsurprisingly, Fierabracci has a particularly big impact on the final outcome here, as is usually the case with any album he appears on.

Dark Matter opens with it’s title track; a great choice since the song can be seen as a microcosm of the overall direction of the album - highly melodic at times, wickedly heavy at others, with occasional injections of jazz phrasing and experimentalism. Garsed’s already over-the-top solo on this track is literally pushed to new heights by the well placed use of a pitch-shifter.

The next track, “Android,” is one of the most interesting songs on the disc. Garsed uses abrupt tempo changes to shift gears between a fast pop vibe and a smouldering, atmospheric mood. Garsed shows great restraint in his exotic, phrygian dominant infused solo, after which Turcio turns in a killer solo of his own with a cool, throwback-prog style synth sound.

“If Only” is the first of three ballads that appear on Dark Matter, the others being “Closure” and “Be Here Now.” These tracks feature Garsed’s most melodic and strongly jazz-influenced endeavors on the album. In the case of “If Only,” Garsed spans the spectrum from light jazz to heavy power ballad in one of the album’s best showcases of his depth as an improviser. His strong jazz-inflected phrases and darting legato lines closely hug the chords with a maturity that sets him apart from his peers. Both “Closure” and “Be Here Now” also showcase Garsed’s exceptional slide-guitar skills - a strong suit that is too easy to overlook in the face of his legendary hybrid-picking abilities. “Closure” has a certain Chris Poland / OHM-like quality in the openness and tone of the chords. Garsed’s solos on this piece are among his most lyrical on the disc. On “Be Here Now,” a buoyant west coast jazz mood is presented that slowly builds to a dramatic crescendo of heavy chords and wild playing, before dropping of a cliff to the original groove. The upbeat “Avoid The Void” gets a similar treatment - starting slow and steady with great dynamic guitar lines, before slamming you in the face with a deep metal onslaught. Again, Garsed ends the heavy interlude starkly to return to the head. This “about face” technique is used frequently throughout the album, and is further evidence of Garsed’s deepening progressive rock influence.

The award for the coolest groove on the record goes to “James Bong (license to chill).” Garsed injects some serious swing into his phrasing here as he locks in with the laid back rhythm. This track is also a great example of how Garsed uses just the right tones and effects to fit a given song. The melody on this tune is played with a very subtle hint of flanging or wah-wah; a perfect match for the mood of the piece. As is the case elsewhere on the disc, Garsed's lead tone on this track is smoothly overdriven and very clear, allowing plently of room for the natural dynamics he displays in his soloing. This song is further highlighted by Turcio and Fierabracci's fantastic solos.

There’s loads of incredible guitar work all over Dark Matter, but the one song where Garsed airs it out like nowhere else on the record is “Poison Dwarf.” He peels off one amazing sixteenth-note line after another on each of his two extended solos on this track, in what is easily the album’s best display of his hybrid-picking legato technique. Garsed’s skills as an improviser are impressive here as well as he works seamlessly over the tricky chord changes. This tune also happens to have one of the most memorable melodies on the album.

Dark Matter closes with it’s most epic offering, “Enigma” - a smorgasbord of unapologetic progressive rock. Garsed packs this song with soaring melodies, tight unison lines, tempo shifts, and superb improvisation - everything you would expect from a great piece of modern prog. As with “Android,” Turcio’s keyboard tone (and playing) on this track lends serious weight to the overall vibe. Bassist Craig Newman also provides some great work on this tune over the complex form, as does drummer Gerry Pantazis who shines with a nice solo spot. Fierabracci makes an appearance as well with a killer bass solo late in the tune that is one of highlights of the entire album.

While Dark Matter is definitely a fine vehicle for Garsed’s guitar playing, and is indeed one of the best “guitar” albums of the year, it’s also much more than that. Garsed’s attention to melody and dynamics, along with his production skills, propel this record to another level. Dark Matter is a highly polished album of rich compositions that are at once complex and listenable, delivered with amazing musicianship from a killer lineup. Highly recommended.


Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

Personnel:

Brett Garsed: Guitar
Ric Fierabracci: Bass
Phil Turcio: Keyboards
Gerry Pantazis: Drums
Virgil Donati: Drums on “Dark Matter:
Craig Newman: Bass on “Enigma” (Fierabracci - Bass solo on “Enigma”)

Tracklisting:

1. Dark Matter
2. Android
3. If Only
4. Avoid The Void
5. James Bong (license to chill)
6. Closure
7. Poison Dwarf
8. Be Here Now
9. Enigma

Rich

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New Brett Garsed Album "Dark Matter" to be released soon

Great news! Guitarist Brett Garsed's latest album Dark Matter will be released in a couple of weeks. The disc features Ric Fierabracci and Craig Newman on bass, Gerry Pantazis and Virgil Donati on drums, and Phil Turcio on keyboards. Tracklisting is below. See Garsed's official website for sound clips and more info. I'll post further updates as details become available.

Brett Garsed - Dark Matter

1. Dark Matter
2. Android
3. If Only
4. Avoid the Void
5. James Bong (license to chill)
6. Closure
7. Poison Dwarf
8. Be Here Now
9. Enigma

Current Listening

Some cool stuff I've been listening to lately.

Human Element

Striking debut from the killer modern jazz quartet of keyboardist Scott Kinsey, bassist Matt Garrison, drummer Gary Novak, and vocalist/percussionist/secret weapon Arto Tuncboyacian. Imagine a neo-Weather Report sound with a strong 'world music' vibe. Great record. John McLaughlin guests on one track.

CAB - Live On Sunset

CAB's latest is a great heavy fusion disc recorded live in November 2010. With Tony MacAlpine on guitar, Bunny Brunel on bass, Virgil Donati on drums, and Dennis Hamm on keys.

Marbin - Breaking The Cycle

Highly eclectic, almost cinematic jazz and fusion recording from the Chicago-based duo of Dani Rabin on guitar, and Danny Markovitch on sax. Cool stuff if you are looking for something different.

Mr. Big - What If...

Mr. Big's first new album in 8 years features the return of the original lineup (with Paul Gilbert back on guitar). Great all-out rock record. Killer playing.

New CAB Album "Live on Sunset" Now Available

CAB has a new album entitled Live on Sunset which is now available at Abstract Logix. The disc was recorded live on November 14, 2010 at SIR in Hollywood. The band's lineup for this album includes Bunny Brunel on bass, Tony MacAlpine on guitar, Virgil Donati on drums, and Dennis Hamm on keys. See tracklisting below.

CAB - Live on Sunset

Track 1     Atamanashi
Track 2     Cloud Ten
Track 3     Katputli
Track 4     Purple Mars
Track 5     One for the Road
Track 6     The Quiet One
Track 7     The Pub
Track 8     Song for My Friend
Track 9     The Prankster
Track 10     New Blues

More Virgil Donati Band Highlights - The Baked Potato May 29th 2010

More highlights from drummer Virgil Donati's May 29th gig at the Baked Potato. Featuring Charles Altura on guitar, Dennis Hamm on keys and Doug Shreeve on bass.

See also: Virgil Donati Band Highlights - The Baked Potato May 29th 2010

Virgil Donati Band Highlights - The Baked Potato May 29th 2010

Highlights from drummer Virgil Donati's May 29th gig at the Baked Potato. Featuring newcomer Charles Altura on guitar, Dennis Hamm on keys and Doug Shreeve on bass.

Seven The Hard Way: New prog-rock band featuring Tony MacAlpine and Virgil Donati

Spotted this on Truth In Shredding - Planet X and Devil's Slingshot bandmates Virgil Donati (drums) and Tony MacAlpine (guitar) have a new band called Seven The Hard Way. Here is an official announcement from Donati's website:

"Seven the Hardway is a 5-piece progressive rock/metal band based in Southern California and formed in 2009 by guitar virtuoso Tony MacAlpine (Steve Vai, Planet X, CAB), drum master Virgil Donati  (Planet X) and renowned vocalist Mark Boals (Uli Jon Roth, Royal Hunt, Yngwie Malmsteen).

The band’s highly anticipated 10-track eponymous debut will be released in September 2010 on Mascot/Provogue Records, and their fall European tour kicks off soon after the album’s release.

The band’s live show will consist of their entire album, a jaw-dropping drum solo from Donati, along with select covers of Tony MacAlpine’s well-known instrumentals.

Joining MacAlpine, Donati and Boals on the album are bass player Doug Shreeve and Argentinian newcomer Estefania Daniel on guitar.

A music video for the band’s first single “Guilty” (music and lyrics by Virgil) will premiere on YouTube in June."

CAB to re-release Live at The Baked Potato Double CD

Fusion uber-group CAB will re-release their 2006 album Live at The Baked Potato next month. This excellent 2-CD set includes all of the bands staples, plus a killer version of Billy Cobham's "Stratus." The lineup on this release includes band mainstays Bunny Brunel on bass, Tony MacAlpine on guitar, and Virgil Donati on drums, with David Hirshfelder playing keyboards. I've had this one for awhile now; definitely worth picking up if you want to hear some great live jazz fusion.

CAB: Live at The Baked Potato

via No Treble