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...

OHMPhrey - Posthaste

Sophomore release from the instrumental jam-fusion supergroup. Killer tunes; deeper writing than their 2009 debut. Guitarists Chris Poland and Jake Cinninger are ruling throughout.

Flying Colors

Awesome prog-rock vocal project with Steve Morse, Dave LaRue, Neal Morse, MIke Portnoy and Casey McPherson. Great riffs and melodies.

 

Jeff Kollman - Silence In The Corridor

Highly melodic writing with a deep, textured production. Great playing and tones as well. Lineup includes Ric Fierabracci, Jimmy Johnson, Shane Gaalaas, Ed Roth and Joel Taylor among others.

Allan Holdsworth - Hard Hat Area [Re-Issue]

Remastered version of Holdsworth's excellent 1993 release with Gary Husband, Steve Hunt, and Skuli Sverrisson, complete with new liner notes from Barry Cleveland. Holdsworth's "Low Levels, High Stakes" solo still stands as one of his all-time best.

Allan Holdsworth - None Too Soon [Re-Issue]

The second of Holdsworth's recent reissues is a remastered version of his classic disc of jazz standards, played as only Holdsworth can. Lineup features Gordon Beck, Gary Willis and Kirk Covington. Also includes new liner notes by Barry Cleveland.

Video: OHMPhrey - Live at The Baked Potato

OHMPhrey live at The Baked Potato performing "Tom Bombadil" from their upcoming album Posthaste. OHMPhrey features Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee.

New OHMphrey Album "Posthaste" To Be Released April 10th

The new OHMphrey album, Posthaste, will be released April 10th 2012 on Magna Carta Records. OHMphrey features the combined jam-fusion forces of Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee. Check out their 2009 self-titled debut if you haven't already. See below for the Posthaste tracklisting.

OHMphrey - Posthaste

1. Devil's in the Details
2. The Sun Also Rises
3. Tom Bombadil
4. The River Runs
5. The Shoemaker's Back
6. Ramona's Car Wash
7. Reggaelic
8. Firestarter (Live Version)   
9. 20/20 (Live Version)

Chris Poland Live Dates with OHM, OHMphrey, Polcat

Several shows coming up on the west coast with Chris Poland's bands OHM, OHMphrey, and his latest project Polcat (Look for Polcat's debut album in 2012). See dates and locations below. Also, OHM will be calling in to Mark Torres' "Travel Tips for Atzlan" show on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles on November 26th.

Dec 1st, 2011  OHMphrey  Winston's - San Diego, CA

Dec 2nd, 2011  OHMphrey  Viper Room - Hollywood, CA  Cancelled

Dec 3rd, 2011  OHMphrey  Slim's - San Francisco, CA

Jan 20th, 2012  OHM & Polcat (Double Bill)  Alva's - San Pedro, CA

Jan 22nd, 2012  Polcat  Salvador's Jazz Suite - Los Angeles, CA 

Jan 24th, 2012  OHM & Polcat (Double Bill)  Baked Potato - Studio City, CA


The Lineups

OHM: Chris Poland - Guitar, Robertino "Pag" Pagliari - Bass, David Eagle - Drums

OHMphrey: Chris Poland - Guitar, Robertino "Pag" Pagliari - Bass, Jake Cinninger - Guitar, Joel Cummins - Keys, Kris Myers - Drums
   
Polcat: Chris Poland - Guitar, Frank Catalano - Tenor Saxophone, Sean O'Bryan Smith - Bass, Jim Gifford - Drums

Photos: OHMphrey - Live at Park West, Chicago IL 10/8/11

Saw OHMphrey at the Park West in Chicago last night (feat Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee). Killer show. Their new material is seriously grooving; can't wait for the new album to come out. See link below for a gallery of my pics.

Photos: OHMphrey - Live at Park West, Chicago IL 10/8/11

OHMphrey 2011 Midwest Tour Dates

OHMPhrey will be playing the following dates in the midwest this October. Featuring Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee, the fusion supergroup will be releasing a follow-up to their 2009 self-titled debut later this year.

October 5th Bell's - Kalamazoo, MI

October 6th Majestic Theatre - Madison, WI

October 7th Canopy Club - Urbana, IL

October 8th Park West - Chicago, IL

Video: OHMphrey - Live at the Baked Potato 6/10/11 "Someone Said You Were Dead"

OHMphrey playing "Someone Said You Were Dead" live at The Baked Potato on 6/10/11. With Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee.

OHMphrey to record new album in June

Great news! Jam/Fusion supergroup OHMphrey will head back into the studio this June to record a follow-up to their killer 2009 self-titled debut. The new album will be released later this year on Magna Carta Records. The band will also be performing at the Baked Potato in North Hollywood on June 10th. OHMphrey features Chris Poland (guitar) and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari (bass) from OHM, and Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keys), and Kris Myers (drums) from Umphrey's McGee.

OHMPhrey Jam Cruise Interview

Cool interview with OHMPhrey from this year's Jam Cruise. OHMPhrey features Chris Poland and Robbie Pagliari from OHM, and Jake Cinninger, Joel Cummins and Kris Myers from Umphrey's McGee.

New OHMphrey interview at Jambands.com

Jambands.com has a great interview up with Jake Cinninger (guitar), Joel Cummins (keyboards), and Chris Poland (guitar) from OHMphrey. The interview took place during last month's Jam Cruise. Topics of discussion include the band's plans for a new recording.

Jambands.com: Full Speed Ahead for OHMPHREY

Favorite albums of 2009

With another year drawing to a close, the time has come once again to reflect back on all the great music that was released over the past 12 months. Here are my favorite albums of 2009, in no particular order.

 

Wayne Krantz - Krantz Carlock Lefebvre (Review)

An amazing guitar album. Incredible compositions and group improv.

 

Odd Meters - Uncommon Denominator (Review)

Addicting funky jazz from 8-string guitarist Jon Morrow and drummer/vibraphonist Shane Parreco.

 

Holdsworth Pasqua Haslip Wackerman - Blues for Tony

Live 2-disc set culled from the quartet's 2007 European tour. Holdsworth is searing throughout.

OHMphrey - OHMphrey

Cool jam project featuring members of OHM and Umphrey's McGee. Great guitar work from Chris Poland and Jake Cinninger.

 

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Meet The Meatbats

Excellent throwback fusion. Features Jeff Kollman on guitar.

 

Steve Morse Band - Out Standing In Their Field

Finally a new SMB album! Great stuff.

 

Gerald Gradwohl Trio - Sally Beth Roe (Review)

Raw guitar-driven fusion at it's finest.

Other favorites from 2009:

Ed DeGenaro - Less Is Seldom More (Review)
Robby Ameen - Days In The Life
Jon Reshard - Jon Reshard
Oz Noy - Schizophrenic (Review)
Mike Stern - Big Neighborhood
Akira Jimbo - Jimbomba
Adam Nitti - Liminal
Liquid Tension Experiment - Live 2008 Box Set