Since the piece of cake '80s, guitarist Greg Howe has spiraled his means towards the créme de la créme of the progressive-rock/jazz-fusion elite. With his start album since Extraction (Tone Center, 2003), the guitarist spawns to a greater extent than of his melodically shaded, super-speed legato lines acre honing inwards a tad to a greater extent than on the compositional element. This album likewise features a novel band that is afforded ample breathing room to stretch. It's a democratic engagement but firmly rooted inwards an altogether unified trouble of attack.
Howe zooms into the cosmos during many passages, yet the plan is largely, imprinted with briskly enacted fourth dimension signatures too off-kilter rhythmic maneuvers equally the artists embark upon a sinuous journeying alongside persuasive group-based interplay. On Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good," Howe's weeping funk-rock lines destination matters via breakneck speed-riffing.
The band delves into Latin, fuzoid panoramas acre tempering the menstruation on Howe's jazzy, acoustic guitar-driven ballad, "Sunset In El Paso," acre letting it all hang out atop drummer Gianluca Palmierie's ferocious backbeats on "Child's Play," equally Howe's climactic too multi-register phrasings makes it all look similar child's play. In other areas too movements, keyboardist David Cook stands equally a potent foil for Howe via his muddy Fender Rhodes solos too fluid chord voicings.
Sound Proof is Howe's finest musical arguing to date.
Whether yous dear or abhor the genre of music he specializes in, you've got to give the human being credit. Even during arguably the all-time depression indicate for "guitar shredders" -- the mid- to piece of cake '90s -- Greg Howe stuck to his guns, issuing album afterward album of technically astounding guitar rock. And with the genre experiencing a resurgence circa the early on 21st century, Howe is nevertheless all nearly showing off his six-string gymnastic ability, equally evidenced past times his 2008 release, Sound Proof. If you're seeking carefully constructed, melodic songs -- displace along. But, if you're into all-instrumental prog metallic with guitar at the forefront, too then Sound Proof should come across your requirements. Look no farther than the album-opening "Emergency Exit," which has roughly really heavy '70s fusion elements (especially due to the January Hammer-esque keyboard doodling of David Cook), acre other tracks such equally the Steve Vai-esque "Morning View" too the funky "Side Note" are likewise standouts. Musical trends may come upward too go, but yous ever know what's inwards shop with a novel Greg Howe release, too this veteran shredder for certain doesn't disappoint with Sound Proof.
Jazz-rock fusion, opposite to roughly reports, did non die. It merely splintered off into diverse sub-cultural cul-de-sacs, appreciated past times small, rabid fanbases. One of those is the rock-jazz (vs. jazz-rock), more-is-more schoolhouse of guitar, lorded over past times the likes of Steve Vai too Joe Satriani, too a bunch to which Greg Howe aspires. Howe is a nimble-fingered thespian who has been on the shredder scene for twenty years, when non doing hateful solar daytime project duty with the popular likes of Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake too NSYNC.
Duly abetted past times a trio of powerhouse players, drummer Gianluca Palmieri, bassist Jon Reshard too keyboardist David Cook, the super-charged fret-mongering too tone-tweaking Howe stirs upward a lot of nervous energy, from the super-charged opener “Emergency Exit” to the to a greater extent than harmonically intricate too vaguely Jeff Beck-like championship cutting piece of cake inwards the program. For comprehend material, Howe lends a distorted sassiness too slink to the dandy one-time Stevie Wonder melody made famous past times Rufus inwards the ’70s, “Tell Me Something Good,” inwards a version both faithful too re-inventive. “Sunset inwards El Paso” is a rare divulge from the onslaught, a cooler, to a greater extent than harmonically informed too acoustic caput prevailing for 4 minutes too change. More, please.
Track listing:
All music composed past times Greg Howe, except where noted.
1. "Intro" (interlude) 0:13
2. "Emergency Exit" 7:31
3. "Tell Me Something Good" (Stevie Wonder) 5:37
4. "Connoisseur Part 1" (interlude) 0:29
5. "Reunion" 5:53
6. "Morning View" 4:36
7. "Walkie Talkie" 6:13
8. "Rehearsal Note" (interlude) 0:16
9. "Side Note" 7:14
10. "Sunset inwards El Paso" 4:15
11. "Write Me a Song" (interlude) 0:30
12. "Child's Play" 4:23
13. "Sound Proof" 6:42
14. "Connoisseur Part 2" 2:29
Total length: 56:21
Personnel:
Greg Howe – guitar, spoken vocals (track 11), production
David Cook – keyboard
Dennis Hamm – keyboard solo (track 9)
Gianluca Palmieri – drums
Jon Reshard – bass
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