Music Web Express 3000

by Robert Silverstein

American music is really an amalgam of a variety of music-from the old world folk music of England and Brittany to the percussive tribal beat coming out of countries in Africa going back hundreds if not a thousand years. One guitarist who has his pulse firmly on the distillation of American music is guitarist David Grier. Grier received accolades in Guitar Player magazine for his 2007 CD, Live At The Linda, recorded upstate in Albany, New York. Grier's unique grasp of American music comes to further fruition on his 2009 studio album Evocative. Although he can entertain with an acoustic guitar, Grier joins forces with a number of musicians on what has to be among the finest guitar based instrumental albums of 2009. Some of these melodies sound like they could hark back to America in the 19th century, yet the steady drum beat and electric guitar leads bring it well into the 21st century. Assisting Grier on Evocative are top players including John Gardner (drums), Jeff Taylor (keyboards) and Victor Wooten (electric fretless bass). The pedal steel guitar sound of Paul Franklin is noticeable as is the acoustic bass of Byron House and others. Franklin's pedal steel works wonders with Grier's electric and acoustic guitar playing. Being all instrumental, the full bodied group sound of Evocative could easily cross over and make inroads with fans of bluegrass, New Age, smooth jazz and guitar instrumental genres. Fans of guitar innovators like Chet Atkins, Mark Knopfler, Hank Marvin and even Peter Frampton's recent guitar instrumental releases should take note of Grier. Grier devotee Martin Mull puts pen to paper so to speak with liner notes while the neat digi-pak packaging enhances an all around excellent set of instrumental guitar artistry.    

 

Robert Silverstein, Music Web Express 3000  http://www.mwe3.com