I am forever expanding my performance palette and sonic textural capabilities.
Folktales & Fusions is what I’m calling this endeavor into this sonic and compositional form. This body of work includes moody interpretations of folk songs, solo guitarscapes and ensemble pieces that range from the contemplative to barnstorming romps and classically derived fusions.
A few of these pieces I’ve been fomenting on for years. A great example of the “fusion” in this work is Mr. G Stringie Thingie – Yah, G-String I know what you were thinking, and you are wrong. Mr. G is Maura Giuliani a 17th century guitar virtuoso. I had played his etudes for years and got the idea to meld a few etudes with connective progressive fusion sections. It took 10 years to get around to recording the arrangement that was floating around in my head. It's nice to hear the fugue like guitar, piano, bass interaction come together in this quartet version thanks to Bob Ponte, Maggie Rizzi and Frank Basile.
Bob, Maggie and Frank all played on the EDULERP, the remix/rearrangement of a Bob Ponte/JS Bach piece also on Audnoyz Project Vol 4.
Mountain Aire, The Princess and the Jester and Rhondo for B are new "Folktales & Fusions" versions of older compositions that include the fine playing of longtime bandmates Maggie Rizzi, bass and Greg Conroy, drums.
All new pieces include: Noho Rag, Where Now and Attitude featuring the melodious saxophone of Chris Cheek; Scarbough Fair features Dawn Dobson on flute and my own interpretation of Lucinda Williams Ventura. More to come.
