BHP MUSIC IS PROUD TO PRESENT: GUITAR MASTERS, VOL. 1

For fearless explorers of the musical unknown, a perfect compilation of artistry is a collection of performances that pummels your unsuspecting little ass with shock waves of awe and wonder. Rather than document the obvious—or sate the expectations of the casual enthusiast—every track challenges, puzzles, thrills, inspires, and, ultimately, delights the listener. This strategy is especially critical when dealing with the recordings of bona fide guitar heroes, as those cats are carefully crafted with angelic DNA to shift musical gears, juggle styles, and blow minds. A “greatest hits” package might make commercial sense for casual fans or greedy record companies, but it also does a grave disservice to the vast and diverse pool of creativity transcendent musicians employ to advance their art.

Guitar Masters, Vol. 1 aggressively celebrates the art of guitar and bass by serving up 18 tracks of unfettered—and often astonishing—brilliance. And there are plenty of surprises. Metal madman Zakk Wylde unleashing his ferocious chops on a Stevie Wonder tune? The spectacularly innovative Jeff Beck laying sexy licks onto a Toots & the Maytals reggae groove? Jazz bass legend Stanley Clarke trading propulsive funk lines with shredmaster Joe Satriani? Uber-technical prog icon Alan Holdsworth sharing space on a CD with former Led Zeppelin multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones, funky jazzer John Scofield, Tele terror Will Ray, and rock wizard Steve Morse? You also get treated to Marcus Nand's Latin motifs on “Rumba,” Violet Samudra and Steve Booke's thrilling East Indian adventure “Picture of a Purple Sky,” the smooth jazz of Martin Winch's “Stay With Me,” and the beautiful melodicism of Carl Tosten's “What Can I Say” and Jason Carter's “Kruununvuori.” Finally, headbangers can get off on Doug Stapp's killer version of “Frankenstein,” James Ryan's trippy “Space Talk,” Doug Doppler's industrial shred-fest “Zero Gravity,” and Guitar Masters producer Brian Tarquin's rock/electronica hybrid “Jack Hammer” (which was recorded at his Jungle Room Studios in New York City).

On Guitar Masters , Tarquin and his Jungle Room Studios has done a fabulous job of casting the guitar in all its beatific and aggro glory. Through these fascinating lineups and one-of-a-kind performances, you intimately hear—and feel —the guitar as an always evolving, ever-magical apparatus of passion, guts, and sensitivity.

Who doesn't like a good buffet? Emphasis there on the “good” part. Nothing beats getting the best of all things in one package. That's like this set of recordings. The cuts here represent fine music by some of the finest players around. Sure, there is such a thing as a bad buffet. The meat's old and dry. The potatoes are cold. The vegetables are a little overripe. And the coffee's cold. There are guitar compilations that are like that, too. Major labels like to throw together whatever leftovers they seem to have laying around. They always have a lame drawing of a Les Paul or Flying Vee on them. And they have titles like “Guitar Anthems”. And, they're usually a collection of tunes that everybody's been sick of for 15 years or that barely made it onto their original respective records.

Not so here. The players here, both known and unknown, are staggeringly skilled and the tunes are new and vibrant. I mean, if you'd have told me I'd be jamming to Zakk Wylde covering Stevie Wonder, I'd have thought you were crazy. But, Zakk cranks it up for some great funk-rock. Other fan favorites contribute here, too. Former Dreg and Deep Purple member Steve Morse brings a supersonic bop attitude to “Minute Mouse”. Alan Holdsworth contributes the fluid guitar lines we've grown to expect on “Skippy”. Pay close attention to Jeff Beck's playing on Toots and the Maytals “54-46 Was My Number”. The fun noises coming from Jeff's Strat will bring a smile to those who long for bygone days from the mechanic/guitar master. If you missed “Hair” on Stanley Clarke's 2003 album, “1, 2, to the bass”, you're in luck to catch it here. The licks fly fast and furious with Joe Satriani's wah-ed out solo really bringing the funk

Speaking of Stanley , I should also mention that the rhythm sections, and our four-string(well maybe five-and-six in some cases) brethren are not forgotten. In fact our opener brings John Paul Jones out front for once, letting him shine. And Billy Sheehan's “Unleash the Beast” is a shot of adrenalin fueled by his bass work.

There are cuts here by folks you may not have run into before but you will be all the better for hearing them. Steve Booke's fiery acoustic on “Picture of a Purple Sky” is one of the pure joys of the record. His chops are, in a word, staggering. Roland/Boss clinician James Ryan gets to step out from the teacher's desk for a nice piece of soaring pop metal(there can be such a thing, right?). New Zealand vet Martin Winch adds a piece of smooth jazz that lets us know that music can be soulful, as well as smooth. The guitar half of Asphalt Jungle, Brian Tarquin serves up some crunchy rock with some burning wah work.

As I said, this is certainly a buffet. Each cut has something new and adventurous to add to our listening experience. Guitarists should be in heaven with this one, as it is definitely good to the last drop. Hopefully many volumes will follow this inaugural disc.

PLUG IN - FOR A COMPLETE TRACK LIST OF GUITAR MASTERS.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT BHP MUSIC.

CHECK BACK FOR RELEASE DATE & UPCOMING NEWS....