The Guitar Channel

Favorite Albums of 2012

2012 was a tremendous year for progressive guitar music. Here are my favorite releases of the year, in no particular order.

 

Michael Landau - Organic Instrumentals

Landau's first instrumental album since 1990's Tales From The Bulge is one of my favorite guitar records in many years, let alone this one. Awesome tones, dynamic playing, deep writing. A must-have for serious guitar geeks.

Wayne Krantz - Howie 61

Krantz took a bold new step with this album, and the results are rich and engrossing. A fantastic production filled with heady writing, and an amazing lineup of musicians.

Jimmy Herring - Subject To Change Without Notice

Awesome follow-up to 2008's Lifeboat. Highly textured with killer playing and grooves.

Alex Machacek, Raphael Preuschl, Herbert Pirker - FAT

Adventurous and dynamic with a great variety of guitar tones. Further proof that Machacek is among the most forward-thinking modern jazz composers of his generation.

Kurt Rosenwinkel - Star of Jupiter

Can't get enough of this one. Uber-deep jazz record, filled with great writing and improvisation.

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Live Meat And Potatoes

Funky, energetic live release with killer guitar work from Jeff Kollman. Nobody grooves like the Meatbats.

OHMPhrey - Posthaste

Stellar recording from the OHM-meets-Umphrey's McGee supergroup. Loaded with great riffs and playing. Everybody shines here, but the twin guitar attack of Chris Poland and Jake Cinninger is particularly awesome.

Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, Dennis Chambers - HBC

What a band. Killer disc packed with guitar-driven trio versions of fusion classics. Henderson is amazing as always.

Karizma - Perfect Harmony

A 3-disc smorgasbord from keyboardist/composer David Garfield's classic west coast jazz band. Features a who's-who of the genre's luminaries, including Michael Landau.

The Aristocrats - Boing, We'll Do It Live!

Amazing live CD/DVD release with insane playing and band interplay. Guthrie Govan's guitar work is both musical and mind-blowing.

Other favorites from 2012:

Prashant Aswani - Visions
Chris Poland, Frank Catalano, Sean O'Bryan Smith, Jim Gifford - Polcat
Tribal Tech - X
Tohpati Bertiga - Riot
John McLaughlin & the 4th Dimension - Now Here This
Paul Gilbert - Vibrato
Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful, Vol. 2
OHM - Tsunami Jams
Ed DeGenaro - Holiday In Madras
Flying Colors
Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations
Chris Buck - 3 Crows
Jason Sadites - Broken
Renegade Creation - Bullet
Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (Ed note: \m/)

See Also:

Favorite Albums of 2011
Favorite Albums of 2010
Favorite Albums of 2009
Favorite Albums of 2008
Favorite Albums of 2007
Favorite Albums of 2006

Current Listening

Some of the new stuff I've been digging...

Alex Machacek, Raphael Preuschl, Herbert Pirker - FAT

Tremendous new release from Machacek featuring his Fabulous Austrian Trio. Very adventurous in spots, yet more jazzy than much of his previous work. Love the variety of guitar tones on this one too.

Jimmy Herring - Subject to Change Without Notice

One of the standout records of the year. Highly musical with deep grooves; very textured and stylistically varied. Guests include Bela Fleck and Bill Evans. Look for my interview with Herring soon.

Paul Gilbert - Vibrato

Wow! Easily Gilbert's hippest album to date. Lots of "adult chords" - almost fusion-ish at times, and very dynamic (and funky!). Loaded with great tones as well.

Dean Brown - Unfinished Business

Cool jazz-funk record with killer grooves. Great writing. Includes Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Dennis Chambers, Hadrien Feruad, Jimmy Earl, and other heavyweights.

 

Video: FAT- Alex Machacek, Raphael Preuschl, Herbert Pirker (Album Promo)

Promo video for guitarist/composer Alex Machacek's new band album FAT (Fabulous Austrian Trio) featuring Herbert Pirker on drums and bassist Raphael Preuschl. The album will be released September 18th on Abstract Logix Records.

 

Alex Machacek, Raphael Preuschl, Herbert Pirker - "FAT" to be released Sept 18th

PRESS RELEASE

The amazing Alex Machacek has done it again. Combining mindboggling fluidity, daredevil string-skipping technique and audacious intervallic leaps on the guitar that will make even the most ardent Allan Holdsworth fan sit up and take notice with a penchant for precision ensemble playing that rivals the late, great Frank Zappa’s — as heard on the rhythmically complex and slightly tongue-in-cheek “Why Not (aka Disco Polka),” and the equally intricate “Safe Word” — the extraordinary Austrian native and current California resident has upped the ante on all of his previous impressive outings as a leader with FAT (Fabulous Austrian Trio). The guitarist is ably accompanied on his sophomore outing as a leader by superb drummer Herbert Pirker and outstanding bassist Raphael Preuschl, who appeared together on some tracks from {Sic], Machacek’s impressive 2005 debut for Abstract Logix.

Says Machacek, “My last recording was 24 Tales, a ‘re-composition’ of an existing 51-minute long drum solo by Marco Minnemann, and the focus there was on composition. On FAT I wanted to have more improvisations and more emphasis on interplay…just like a band, so to speak.” That kind of organic interplay can be heard between Machacek, Pirker and Preuschl on the ethereal ballad “What A Time To Be Me” and the spacious “Let’s Not Argue,” the latter which has Alex playing baritone guitar. As a kind of relief from the sheer density, astounding intricacy and impossible unisons demonstrated elsewhere throughout FAT, there is the gorgeous solo bass piece “Ton Portrait” (a nod to the late, great Jaco Pastorius’s anthemic “Portrait of Tracy”) and the atmospheric closer, “Let’s Not Argue,” which incorporates a great deal of breath between the notes while also showcasing Machacek’s inimitable six-string facility midway through. The guitarist reserves his most lyrical playing for “D-Lite” and on “The Life of Herbert P.” he creates a ‘re-composition’ around an existing drum solo by Pirker. The Fabulous Austrian Trio also generates some potent swinging momentum on the album’s jazziest number, “Studio Swing.”

UK Reunion Tour Dates with Alex Machacek

A reunited UK will be playing the following 2012 dates in Europe with the lineup of Eddie Jobson (keys, violin, vocals), John Wetton (bass, vocals), Alex Machacek (guitar), and Gary Husband (drums).

 

May 24 - Under The Bridge, London, England 

May 26 - De Boerderij, Amsterdam, (Zoetermeer), Netherlands 

May 27 - Colos-Saal, Frankfurt, (Aschaffenberg), Germany 

May 29 - Lucerna Music Bar, Prague, Czech Republic 

May 30 - Klub Studio, Krakow, Poland 

Gary Husband "Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2" Review by Walter Kolosky

Author Walter Kolosky has written a great review of Gary Husband's amazing new album Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 (which features Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, and Robin Trower among others). Check it out on Kolosky's newly updated site.

Review: Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 by Walter Kolosky

Current Listening

I've been listening to a TON of great new music lately. Here's what I've had in heavy rotation...

The Michael Landau Group - Organic Instrumentals

Landau's first all-instrumental album since his 1990 debut Tales From The Bulge absolutely RULES. Great writing and production, killer playing, amazing tones. Line-up includes Gary Novak, Andy Hess, Jimmy Haslip, Larry Goldings, Vinnie Colaiuta, and others.

Polcat

Way-cool jazz fusion project with Chris Poland on guitar, Frank Catalano on sax, Sean O'Bryan Smith on bass, and Jim Gifford on drums. Awesome grooves and playing. Poland is a great fit.

Chad Wackerman - Dreams, Nightmares and Improvisations

Wackerman's latest features Allan Holdsworh on guitar, Jimmy Johnson on bass, and Jim Cox on keys - the same band Wackerman utilized for his 1991 solo debut Forty Reasons. Lots of group improv on this one. Holdsworth is amazing as usual.

Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2

Excellent modern fusion album; a more-than-worthy follow-up to 2010's Volume 1. Amazing guest list includes Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, Ray Russell and Jan Hammer.

Ed DeGenaro - Holiday In Madras

Deep fusion with a strong Indian influence. Ed drops some amazing Shawn Lane-like runs as well. Personnel includes Ric Fierabracci and Marco Minnemann among others.

Steve Weingart & Renee Jones - Dialogue

This one's been out a while but I've been digging into it more lately. Super high-quality electric jazz album with great writing and playing. Features the always-tasty Mike Miller on guitar. Steve Lukather also guests on one track.

Tribal Tech - X

One of the greatest fusion bands ever is back with their first new album in 12 years. Features a good balance of group improv and composition. Scott Henderson's current, more blues-oriented approach gives the band a different flavor than it had in the old days.

Wayne Krantz - Howie 61

This won't be released until mid-April but I had the honor of writing the press release for it so I've been digging the tracks for awhile. Krantz, once again, strikes out in a new direction here with fresh take on composition and production. Line-up includes Vinnie Colaiuta, Tal Wilkenfeld, Keith Carlock, Pino Palladino, David Binney, John Patitucci, Anton Fig and many others.

Video: Gary Husband - Dirty and Beautiful Album Story

Gary Husband discusses his new album Dirty and Beautiful Volume 2 coming February 21st from Abstract Logix. Guests include Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, and Robin Trower among others.

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

Gary Husband "Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2" Sampler

Gary Husband Dirty and Beautiful Vol 2 Sampler by abstractlogix.

Sampler from Gary Husband's upcoming album Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2. Release date - February 21st 2012. Guests include Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, and Robin Trower among others.

Gary Husband's "Dirty & Beautiful Vol 2" (featuring Allan Holdsworth, Alex Machacek, Wayne Krantz, and others) Now Available For Pre-Order

Jazz fusion multi-instrumentalist Gary Husband's latest album Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2 will be released on February 21st 2012, and is now available for pre-order. Similarly to his 2010 release Dirty & Beautiful Volume 1, the new disc includes an assortment of special guests including Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin, Wayne Krantz, Alex Machacek, Jimmy Herring, Mike Stern, Robin Trower, and others. See full tracklisting below.

Pre-Order: Gary Husband - Dirty & Beautiful Volume 2

Tracklisting:

1. IF THE ANIMALS HAD GUNS TOO (featuring Ray Russell)
2. ROLLING SEVENS (featuring Mike Stern)
3. NEW BLUES, OLD BRUISE (featuring Sean Freeman)
4. EAST RIVER JAM (featuring Wayne Krantz)
5. FRED 2011 (featuring Allan Holdsworth and Jan Hammer)
6. RAIN (featuring Neal Taylor)
7. LOCK, STOCK & TWO SMOKING BROTHERS (featuring Alex Machacek)
8. FUGUIE
9. SULLEY (featuring John McLaughlin and Mark King)
10. ENGLAND GREEN (featuring Jimmy Herring)
11. YESTERNOW - EPILOGUE (featuring Robin Tower)

Videos: Alex Machacek, Terry Bozzio and Jimmy Johnson - Live at The Baked Potato

Alex Machacek (Guitar), Terry Bozzio (Drums), and Jimmy Johnson (Bass) from a recent performance at the Baked Potato.

"Yellow Pages"

"[sic]"