Composer, Guitarist, Designer, Writer
International reviews from musicians and critiques...
Insight
Very nicely executed guitar! Very impressive and exciting to hear this. I really like the smoothness of this tune, going from one part to the other seemingly.
Guitarist is definitely an accomplished professional musician who knows his pocket. Your soloing doesn't become over bearing to the over all intention of the tune. Genius!
Haha! the crickets! YEAH! Beautiful guys, just beautiful work. I love the space, less is more. You have transported me to the stars. I just forgot about all of my problems. This is so awesome. It has that Pat M.G. feel in the background. Very nice.
Drums are really supportive in that it doesn't overplay and over power the other players. Bass is sitting nice and chill with out a worry. He knows he sounds good.
Groove; This groove is really cool, close to fusion at times, but always restricted and submitted to the gentleness and free flow you are trying to portray.
Structure; I like how this is through composed for the most part. I feel like you've brought back some themes from the begginning, making this tune come around full circle.
Great work here guys. I truly enjoyed this tune. I listened to the very end and that's rare. So you are doing something right. Rock on!
Reviewed by the Darwin's Evolution Ensemble
- drkey88 from Chicago, Illinois on 10Nov2005
Freakin beautiful. The bass line in the odd metered section at the beginning could be better as far as a tight fit is concerned, and the volume of the bass throughout could be higher. Your compositional ideas are fantastic, original and you can tell you put a lot into it. You also do a very good job at keeping the whole interseting. Hasn't been a dull moment. Using contrasting acoustic and electric guitars on this track is nice but a horn or sax would sound great as well.
- OntheSly from Fredonia, New York on 30Nov2005
Right off the bat I liked the feel of this song. Great groove, awesome rhythm. The drums song great, very dynamic with the fills. The lead guitar songs great also. Quality musicians here, great performance. I like the tones and the all around mood, very lounge style, smooth jazz feel. As much as I like this song, I do think at 10+ minutes its way to long, even with the breaks and changes, awesome for a jam, would be great live or at a lounge where its back ground music, but I think you sais what you had to say by 5 minutes. Taking nothing away from the song, but you could make 2 separate songs out of the different sections. Great job musically.
- Enviro from Clinton, New Jersey on 22Feb2006
Wow, I love it Great piece. I've listened through the whole thing and didn't regret it at all. ;-)
So, what could have been even better? As I could only "afford" a lofi version, I'm not quite sure if there were any instruments apart from guitars, bass and drums (sometimes I thought there was a Rhodes or something in the background) but it would have been nice if other instruments (the bass, if there's nothing else) would come to the front once in a while, even if it's only for a few seconds.
- janquark from Cologne, Germany on 18Feb2006
Outsight
Techno Pat. PM's influence on what sounds like a guitar synth evident here. Guitar playing is first rate. A very forward thinking track by mixing older sounds with new. Would love to hear this one live. Excellent job.
- JoyeDeRenzo from New York City, New York on 25May2005
Hot Stuff. Guitar sound ranging from near sitar to outerspace distortion, but tasty, tasty. Good sense of composition, classy, subtle changes and just the right amount of variation between different the head and the bridge.
The guitarist is obviously the boss here but the rest of the track is the perfect bed for his improvisation.
I especial liked the panning of the rhythm guitar. Quite enjoyable.
- smilngjack from Madrid, Spain on 25May2005
Speeding. Wow. These guys are flying. Nice execution of the melody. Sounds like there are several layers here happening at once. Nice. Not much to comment on. Cool vibe. Best of luck!
- matt_wigton from Astoria, New York on 11Nov2005
First class modern jazz. Super high-tech swing rhytm . Crafty unisono in main theme. Guys !!! ... This isincrediblegood!!! I'm huge fan of Pat Metheny ... same style here. Critics... after the main theme I was waiting for some super tight soloing from each musician on the same swing . ( listen to my work, maybe same concept :) ... aaaaAAAA..... why does it stop at 5:22 ... That guitar wanted to show me something .... or not? :))
- Dawz from Hungary on 12Dec2005
WOH CRAZY! What a song! Is that the piano and the guitar doubling each other? and I like that accending distorted guitar in the backround that keeps panning L-R. you barely notice its there but it definately is! This song has a really sci-fi feel to it. Especially the break down. The precussion in the breakdown was a perfect touch to the mood! I dont even know what to call this but i like it!
- MikePehl from Hollywood, California on 14Dec2005
Great start, and then... Now that's something quite funny: a classical jazz arrangement with a pad in the backgound :-). It works remarkably well - as the whole song is nicely done. It starts off with a fast paced intro (nice percussions and drum work here) and then leads into a more "dreamy" part (to be honest - these are the parts in a jazzy composition I use when I run out of ideas *g*). They play a lot with sound and ambient here, and they succeed in creating a dense and interesting mood. The composition is interesting, and you don't get bored throughout these 5:22. However, I would say the song has its best moments during the opening and then degrades into something more casual and conventional.
A last word on the production: Nice production throughout the whole piece - sound is crisp, clear and defined.
- daRem from Vienna, Austria on 18Dec2005
One's World
Surreal Lanscape. This sounds like it is the Gianni Cassone band, who we've heard so much from at GarageBand. You've gotta hand it to this guy, he has a recognizable sounds all his own. He brings into Jazz a lot of experimentation, and never seems to fall into a rut or go too far away from listenable jazz. Here he blends 70's progressive rock sounds like Steve Howe from Yes with Pat Metheny and African Djembe percussion, and gives us plenty of dynamics and texture that give these off-the-wall melodies a surreal landscape to call home. Always happy to hear more from Mr. Cassone.
- paulyphonic from Worcester, Massachusetts on 12Feb2006
Cool! I might have filed this elsewhere ... say New Age or World. However, there's just too much intensity and texture for it to go anywhere else but jazz! I'm impressed. I'm sure many idiots have reviewed you with the opinion that it does nothing but I hear a combination of Weather Report meets Metheny.
- RobinDean from Chicago, Illinois on 8Feb2006
Spacy. Great soundscape. The deliberate use of long carpets of sounds and chords on top of each other in the beginning makes a spooky atmosphere that is effectively enhanced by the spacy percussion. And of course you expect nothing else than a Pat Metheny-like guitar to come in. Very well done.
- FatTime from Maastricht, Nl, Netherlands on 6Feb2006
Ismael
This tune is a bit unorthodox, combining electronic/sampled percussion and acoustic guitar with some modulating effects, but I have to say I like it. Overall the experiment works. I like guitar work a lot and the dreamy quality that the drums and cymbals are lending to the overall mix. This is as much a soundscape as it is a musical composition and I think the production is excellent. At times I think there is just a hair too much effect on the guitar-just a tiny bit. It’s a difficult line to draw. Your approach to production is actually very European and that is certainly the precedent but in this case it’s just a tad, a smidget too much. This song has lots of expressive feeling and mood, and you were successful in creating a texture that conveyed imagery and feeling. This is great work and I think someone has been doing their home work. Great production too. A winner all around.
- Jaedynconley from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 24Sep2005
Groove with world beat feel. Opens with a world beat fusion blending Indian style rhythm and guitar stylings. Nice blend of musical styles - very contemporary feel. Great guitar work. Clear Pat Matheny influence in both sound and style. After the beginning flirtation with east Indian concepts it unfortunately drops into a pretty standard chord and rhythm structure. I had great hopes for this song when it started but it turned out to be just a Metheny imitation.
- atjazz from San Jose, California on 23Sep2005
The evolution of this guitarists music and guitar playing has been an fantastic experience for even me. The directions, moods, and colors his music takes on are amazing. I especially love the Methany sound he's getting from his gear. The supporting cast of very talented musicians here are solid and consistant in the delivery of their musical performances. Gianni and Crew are living on a higher level. Overall, Production, Recording, Performance, Song, Five Stars.
- AndreJones from Detroit, Michigan on 23Sep2005
Loved the world feel of this
The percussion work was outstanding on this, as well as the kit drumming, very nice cymbal work. I'm going to have to download this because there's a lot I can learn for my own drum programming from the way this guy uses his cymbals.
The guitar playing really started out unusually, almost thought someone made an electric sitar. Then the playing started to take a pat metheny direction, which I really enjoyed. The suspicion that Metheny was one of this guy's influences was confirmed the minute the guitar synth came in. One thing he obviously learned that isn't usually as obvious is the way he puts solo's together. Metheny and it seems anyone brought up under the eye of Gary Burton has a way of really having a lot of direction in their solo's. They definitely take you someplace. THis guy seems to have picked that trait up quite well also.
ALl in all a really nice tune, and I would say even though the Metheny influence is obvious, it's not just a Meth clone player. And I enjoyed the percussion stuff too, this is where I thought he broke with Metheny and had his own sound. The perc was definitely more african than south american to my ears. Very enjoyable piece of work.
- Den121961 from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on 21Sep2005
Funny Time
Groove, surprises and integrity. The opening grabbed my attention immediately. It then goes into a latin type groove for the head. The head is a bebop-ish melody - very complex rhythms and harmonies. The composer keeps one foot in the past while looking towards the future. Both guitar solos are great! This guy can really play. He sounds like a cross between Mike Stern and Jimi Tunnel (sp?) and these solos would be right at home in Steps Ahead tune. I'm not sure how much of this is sequenced, but the horns sound like they are samples, and I have to say this is one of the best sequenced tunes I have heard. The harmonies on the horn lines are complex and perfectly fit the tune. The arrangement keeps things interesting - I especially like the 'sonic black hole' in the middle of the tune. This a great tune and the artist should be commended on all levels, the level of musicianship and is sky high. This tune moves jazz forward!
- ChrisSax from Broadview Heights, Ohio on 4Apr2006
With skills. The production have a nice rhythm to it. The instruments blend together nicely and are leveled and balanced correctly. Although I personally have to admit my favorite instrument in the track was the bells that's a instrument that's not used to often. The melody of the track keeps u moving and is something u can remember in you're head. The instrumental break of silence in the track at the 2:32 was superb. The arrangement of the track was put together with skills. Good job.
- gno1 from Las Vegas, Nevada on 4Apr2006
Onwards and upwards. Wonderful atmospheric jazz production on a large scale. Big band, big venue sound. Carefully handle lead guitar and a lovely chugging beat with neat percs. Very expressive piece with a memorable if slightly familiar melody. Good mood enhancer - cool and relaxing, you just need to nod the head slightly in appreciation. The sort of stuff you could never get tired of as it moves from one ecellect phrase to the next - onwards and upwards.
- KITMAC from Here, World-Wide on 4Apr2006
The Rain From Siam
Really great playing and composing! Great tune. It really reminds me of the Pat Metheny group. It especailly has that Lyle Mays influence to the composition. It also has a really different, synopated drum groove; very native american sounding. I really like the creative way that the thunder sond effects are used as actual parts of the composition. If I had to make a criticism, it would be that it is too much like Pat's stuff. A band talented enough to create on this high of an artistic level should be striving to pave new ways in the genre. You play Pat's stuff really well, I'd love to see what you guys create from your own experiences. But, most importantly, GREAT SONG! I really enjoed listning to it.
- stocktonhelbing from Anytown, Usa on 21Aug2005
Nice atmosphere. Very nice. Good use of sound & atmosphere. The heavily distorted guitar all the way in the background is an idea that works good. Also, I like the multi-layered composition of atmospheric sounds and the mood that especially the sitar track gives to this number.
- FatTime from Maastricht, Nl, Netherlands on 4Sep2005
Adventurous Night Music. I always love hearing this artist's sitar work. It always creates a great mood and ends up groovin in some way.
Creative musicianship highlights throughout this exotic sounding piece. I can picture myself sailing at night on a lake with the moon above. It's got a certain element of romance and adventure to it at the same time.
- Cheryl_Merrill from San Francisco, California on 8Sep2005
Great intro --- exotic all the way
nice guitar sound ---sounds almost like a sitar in places -- love the drums ----so soft and subtle --- makes it even more exotic.......bass just right in volume ------- nice arrangement ----I can not tell if one of the instruments is a key board in the background behaind the guitar, but it plays well....this arrangement was well thought out....each player contributed very well....thumbs up on this although not much didtinct melody which is ok due to the focus on exotic arranging and mood creation.
- frschneider from Unspecified on 24Aug2005
Unique use of instruments. This song includes some fantastic uses of stringed instruments. it really challenges the boundaries of what sounds an instrument can be used for. lots of harmonics and interesting attacks, plucks and phrases. the sustained guitars and drifting soundscapes hold it down...there are some really interesting things going on here that are ruined by the sustained notes :( i hope this artist keeps pushing the envelope.
- epalonen from Canterbury, Connecticut on 23Aug2005
Perfect mood. The opening of the song is in one word wonderful! The thunder gives a simple illustration of the mood. Sitting and waiting (or driving). Being comfortably inside, while its raining outside.
The beat and the background 'organ-sound' and guitar seem to keep the tension going, while the lead is working out its relaxed improvisations. Sudden pauses every now and then work to keep the listener's attention.
I love both the composition and its rendering.
- Ruttneck from Utrecht, Netherlands on 23Aug2005
ExoticJazz. Atmospheric Jazz, East Indian slant, what is that a sitar? I really like the way you instantly set up a mood. Growling guitars in the distant. really nice set up and textures... I like the percussion work. I like the dynamics of the sections. I really breathes life into each section, leaving the listener on a journey into the unknown, he doesn't know where the captain of the ship is going to. Just that is a nice journey and the anticipation is killing me. Rain storm could sound cliche but with all the other exotic textures involved, its only a treat to send the journey off with this atmosphere. 3:44, seemed short, I would have liked the journey to continue. Nice job guys, can't wait to hear some more.
- birdlandcc from Detroit (Electronica), Michigan on 22Aug2005