By: Vince Lewis
Download "If You Would Dance" from Amazon.com
One huge benefit of professionally reviewing jazz guitarists is discovering new voices.
There are many fine players today who go largely undiscovered. The Internet and improvements in recording technology have certainly helped independent artists gain exposure.
Wayne Brasel is currently Associate Professor and Head of the Jazz Guitar Department at the University of Stavanger in Stavanger, Norway.
Brasel was born in California and studied with the likes of Howard Roberts, Jimmy Wyble, Pat Martino and Ted Greene.
His professional credentials include appearing with a diverse cast of characters. Brasel has recorded and toured with Donna Summer, Debby Boone, Tata Vega and Andrae Crouch. He has played with Mike Stern, Joe Sample, Alex Acuna and Frank Gambale.
This recording is a fine representation of Brasel’s compositional and improvisational skills. He is joined by an excellent rhythm section comprised of Alan Pasqua (acoustic piano), Tom Warrington (acoustic bass), Satnam Ramgotra (percussion) and Peter Erskine (drums and percussion).
Titles include “Lightgiver,” “The Oaks Of Mamre,” “Aberdeen” and “A Heart On Fire.” The melodies are interesting and harmonically modern in nature.
Brasel has a full, traditional tone in the Pat Metheny vein. His solos are well crafted and supported perfectly by the other musicians.
This album should be enjoyed both by fans of swing based standards and those who seek out the more modern players. It is very well done, stylistically diverse and each player fills his role with true virtuosity.
