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

Listening to lots of great new stuff lately...

 

Prashant Aswani - Visions

Awesome melodic rock fusion disc. Loaded with Aswani's signature legato lines, smooth overdriven tones, and groove-heavy writing. Includes a guest appearance by Jeff Kollman.

Scott Henderson, Jeff Berlin, Dennis Chambers - HBC

Awesome, raw record with killer playing from all involved. Love the stripped-down trio arrangements of fusion classics such as "Actual Proof" and "Mysterious Traveller." A must-have for Scott Henderson fans.

John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension - Now Here This

Another great release from the godfather of fusion and his crack quartet, the 4th Dimension. Filled with deep improvisation and band interplay. Not to mention, McLaughlin's ripping runs on "Riff Raff" prove that he is still one of the greatest pickers ever.

Karizma - Perfect Harmony

New three-disc release from keyboardist David Garfield's classic west coast jazz band. Includes new music, plus demos and live tracks. Features Michael Landau, Tim Pierce, James Harrah, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Johnson, Jeff Porcaro, and many others. Loaded with great playing.

Charlie Hunter and Scott Amendola - Not Getting Behind Is The New Getting Ahead

Love the vibe on this one. Loaded with deep grooves and subtle interplay between Hunter and Amendola.

The Fusion Syndicate

Cool collection of jazz-fusion originals from producer Billy Sherwood, performed by a lengthy roster of the genre's giants. Lineup includes Steve Morse, Larry Coryell, Steve Stevens, Scott Kinsey, Chad Wackerman, Billy Cobham, Jerry Goodman, Jordan Rudess, Derek Sherinian, Jimmy Haslip, Randy Brecker, Percy Jones, and many others.

Rock Fusion Guitarist Prashant Aswani Announces Release of New Album

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, CA OCTOBER 11, 2012 – Rock fusion guitarist, Prashant Aswani has announced December 18 as the release date for his upcoming album, Visions.  Incubus drummer, Jose Pasillas is featured on all 12 instrumental tracks along with bassist, Gabe Rosales.  Jeff Kollman makes a guest solo appearance on the song, “Left of Center.”  The CD will be available worldwide and songs will be available directly on iTunes and other digital outlets.

Recognized for his melodic playing, Aswani’s influences are diverse.  Artists from Metallica to Zakir Hussain color the style in which he plays.  Couple that diversity with extensive jazz studies at Berklee College of Music and prominent exposure to Indian classical music while growing up; and everything comes together to create a very unique fusion of sound.  Aswani’s passion and enthusiasm for the guitar shine through the recording. He weaves melodies gracefully over odd meter and demonstrates his command of the instrument with diverse rhythms, progressions and tones.

All tracks are written and arranged by Aswani who also produced and engineered the recording.  Mixing was shared by Aswani with John Cranfield.  

Prashant Aswani is a long time endorsing artist of ESP Guitars which produce his signature models, Bogner Amplifiers, DiMarzio Pickups, Maxon, Rupert Neve Designs, SE Electronics and Dean Markley strings.

Visions track listing:

    Your Call
    Boiling Point
    Trapped Crispy
    The Other Side
    Motivated to Run
    Brain Burn
    Nerve Dance
    Left of Center
    Jaya
    Another Chance
    Glimmer

To learn more about Prashant Aswani, please visit www.prashantaswani.com

Current Listening

Some great music I've been listening to lately...

Tohpati Bertiga - Riot

Awesome rock fusion trio from Indonesia. Guitarist Tohpati is super-tasty with great chops and tones. The writing has occasional shades of Wayne Krantz, only heavier.

Matt Resnicoff - The History Of Now

Highly adventurous debut from the one-time music journalist. Resnicoff plays a vast array of instruments across 23 tracks, produced by and co-starring Mike Keneally. A veritable stream of consciousness.

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - Live Meat And Potatoes

Killer double live album recorded at the Baked Potato in 2009. Dripping with grooves. Outstanding guitar work from Jeff Kollman.

The Crane & Fabian Project - No Limits

All-star modern jazz record featuring Mike Miller, Frank Gambale, Scott Henderson, Mitch Forman, Eric Marienthal and others.

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.

JEFF KOLLMAN Schedules L.A. Festival Appearance; New Solo and BOMBASTIC MEATBATS Releases

PRESS RELEASE

April 16, 2012 - Acclaimed guitarist Jeff Kollman (COSMOSQUAD, GLENN HUGHES, MOGG/WAY) is scheduled to perform at the One World Art and Music Festival at Hummingbird Nest Ranch, 2940 Kuehner Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93063 on Saturday April 21 at 7 p.m.. Proceeds from the appearance will benefit guitar legend Jason Becker who has been living with ALS for the past 20 years. Other performers include former MEGADETH lead guitarist Chris Poland and OHM, Kirk Fletcher, Edwin Alpanian, among others. More information is available from http://bluedotmission.com/Festival_Program.html

 

On the release front, Kollman's new solo album, 'Silence In The Corridor', whose title track is a tribute to the late, great Gary Moore, available in streaming audio at this location http://soundcloud.com/marmadukerecords/04-silence-in-the-corridor-1, is receiving its worldwide digital release on April 16.  Physical product is available through Kollman's long running label imprint Marmaduke Records.  Contributing musicians on the album include drummers Shane Gaalaas (B'z, COSMOSQUAD), Jono Brown, and Joel Taylor (OHM, Allan Holdsworth), bassists Ric Fierabracci (COSMOSQUAD, PLANET X), Kevin Chown (Tarja Turunen, BOMBASTIC MEATBATS), and Jimmy Johnson (Allan Holdsworth, Roger Waters), as well as keyboardists Lao Tizer and Ed Roth (BOMBASTIC MEATBATS, Glenn Hughes).   The track listing reads as follows:

 

01. Cosmo Ray Vaughn 
02. West Coast Swagger 
03. One Last Remark 
04. Silence In The Corridor (tribute to Gary Moore)
05. Steer Clear Of The Border Town 
06. Song For James 
07. The New Nightmare 
08. Afghan Headtrip 
09. Time And The Inevitable 
10. A Day Of Mourning
11. Unforgettable (dedicated to Helen Kollman)  

 

 

L.A. all-stars THE BOMBASTIC MEATBATS, featuring Jeff Kollman, Kevin Chown, Ed Roth and newly Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inducted drummer Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, Glenn Hughes) have set at a May 21 release date for their explosive double live CD set, titled 'Live Meat And Potatoes.'  Recorded locally in 2011 at the legendary Baked Potato, the album includes tracks from both the band's studio albums, 'Meet The Meatbats' and 'More Meat', including a reinterpretation of the LED ZEPPELIN classic, 'Moby Dick.'  Physical copies will be available from www.jeffkollman.com on April 23.  The track listing reads as follows:

 

Disc 1:
01. Oops I Spilled My Beer

02. Passing the Ace

03. Mountain Of Meat

04. The Gunboat Is On!

05. Nightsweats

06. Tops Off

07. Pigs Feet

08. Need Strange

 Disc 2:

 09. Deathmatch 

10. Battle For Ventura Blvd 

11. Moby Dick

12. Shilo's Forbidden City Blues

13. Breadballs

14. Lobster Legs

15. Into The Floyd 

 

 

Jeff Kollman online:

www.jeffkollman.com

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats - "Live Meat And Potatoes" Available April 23rd

Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats have a new double live album on the way entitled Live Meat And Potatoes. The digital release date is May 21st, though advanced CD copies will be available through Meatbats guitarist Jeff Kollman's website on April 23rd. The Meatbats feature Kollman, Chad Smith (drums), Ed Roth (keys), and Kevin Chown (bass).

New Jeff Kollman album "Silence In The Corridor" coming in April

Jeff Kollman will release his new album Silence In The Corridor this April. Physical CDs will be available to pre-order on March 19th; the digital release will be avaiilable April 16th. Guests include Ric Fierabracci, Shane Gaalaas, Joel Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Rufus Philpot, Jono Brown Raul Peneda, Lao Tizer, Adam Gust, and Ed Roth. I'll post more details as they become available. See below for tracklisting.

Jeff Kollman - Silence In The Corridor

1. Cosmo Ray Vaughn
2. West Coast Swagger
3. One Last remark
4. Silence In The Corridor (tribute to Gary Moore)
5. Steer Clear Of THe Border Town
6. Song For James
7. The New Nightmare
8. Afghan Headtrip
9. Time And The Inevitable
10. A Day Of Mourning
11. Unforgettable (dedicated to Helen Kollman)

Video: The Bombastic Meatbats - Lobster Legs

The Bombastic Meatbats performing "Lobster Legs" at a recent Baked Potato gig. With Chad Smith on drums, Jeff Kollman on guitar, Ed Roth on Keys, and Kevin Chown on bass.

Jeff Kollman Update: Marco Mendoza, Pervadelics gigs; new Cosmoquad album; tribute to GARY MOORE

PRESS RELEASE

October 6, 2011 - Acclaimed guitarist Jeff Kollman (COSMOSQUAD, GLENN HUGHES, BOMBASTIC MEATBATS, MOGG/WAY) will be teaming up with bassist/vocalist Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY, TED NUGENT, WHITESNAKE) and drummer Joel Taylor (ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, AL DI MEOLA) for an exclusive show at Alva's Showroom in San Pedro, CA on October 7.

 

Kollman will support his latest release, PERVADELICS - 'Songs For Pervs', with a show  at Howl At The Moon at Universal City Walk in Universal City, CA on November 16.  Pervadelics features Kollman on guitar and lead vocals, along with co-guitarist Michael 'Fish' Herring,  bassist Jesse Stern, and drummer Jono Brown.

 

Kollman's long-running progressive metal/fusion triumvirate COSMOSQUAD is set to start tracking their fourth studio album in mid-November. The follow-up to 2007's 'Acid Test' will feature co-founding member Shane Gaalaas (B'Z, GLENN HUGHES, MSG, DIESEL MACHINE) on drums and mark the debut of bassist extraordinaire Ric Fierabracci (PLANET X, FRANK GAMBALE, CHICK COREA).  The album is slated for a spring 2012 release.

 

Last but not least, Kollman has been working on a tribute to Irish guitar legend GARY MOORE who passed away on February 6 of this year.  Titled 'Silence In The Corridor' in reference to Moore's classic 1982 solo album, 'Corridors Of Power', the track will be released as a digital single before the end of the year.

 

For more info visit: www.jeffkollman.com

Videos: Chad Smith and the Bombastic Meatbats - Live on The Drum Channel

Several performance and interview videos from the Bombastic Meatbats' August 11th broadcast on the Drum Channel. With Chad Smith - drums, Jeff Kollman - guitar, Ed Roth - keys, and Kevin Chown - bass.

Video: The Bombastic Meatbats - Live at the Baked Potato 7/22/11 "Oh! I Spilled My Beer"

The Bombastic Meatbats playing "Oh! I Spilled My Beer" at the Baked Potato on 7/22/11. With Jeff Kollman - guitar, Kenny Aronoff - drums, Kevin Chown - bass, and Ed Roth - keys.