BUY IT NOW
Featuring Rarity Tracks by
JIMMY PAGE with LORD SUTCH
and SANTANA!
TRACK LISTING:
1. Light Up The Sky
by Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Sheehan
& Doug Pinnick (Kings X)
2. Flashing Lights
by Jimmy Page & Lord Sutch
3. Jingo by
Santana
4. Payin The Cost To Be The Boss
by BB King
5. Baby Done Something Wrong
by Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam)
6. Buck Naked
by Larry McCray
7. Fargo
by Michael Lee Firkens & Neil Zaza
8. Jungle Room Boogie
by Brian Tarquin & Max Middleton
(Jeff Beck)
9. Ricarda
by Hal Lindes (Dire Straits)
10. Parasomnia
by JW Jones Band
11. Towers
by Brian Tarquin & Steve Morse
12. Planet E
by Beat The Bone
13. Gaza
by The Flyin Ryan Brothers
14. Wishes
by Alex De Rosso (Dokken)
Liner Notes by: Michael Molenda,
Editor-in-Chief of Guitar Player Magazine
When many guitar fans think of “guitar masters,” the default perception is the wingo-wingo-diddley-diddley variety of shredder who has an entire library of fabulous guitar faces. Brian Tarquin has a different take on the “master” label, which is why his GUITAR MASTERS series is inspiring, thrilling, and extremely musical.
Tarquin seeks out transcendent players in all styles and levels of notoriety — known or unknown, just breaking out or near forgotten, and all points in between — to deliver a mesmerizing onslaught of tones, techniques, and melodic journeys. As a result, guitar nuts are treated to an sonic master class of stunning riffs, solos, and motifs — all fresh material for ripping off and evolving into their own guitaristic “trick bags” -- while guitar fans get an exciting and diverse listening experience unmatched by most genre-specific compilations. The 14 tracks on GUITAR MASTERS, Vol. 2 zig-zag between the intense passion and Latin-rock fusion of a young Carlos Santana, the stark yet ecstatic sting of B.B. King working his magic live, the twang-and-skank of country virtuoso Pete Anderson, and the twin-harmony fusillades of Jimmy and Johnny Ryan. You also get blues moves by Larry McCray and JW Jones, a classic 1970 Jimmy Page/Jeff Beck collaboration, a shred-tastic romp by Michael Lee Firkens and Neil Zaza, and Tarquin’s own electrifying workouts with former Jeff Beck keyboardist Max Middleton and Dixie Dregs/Deep Purple fretburner Steve Morse. And, finally, rock and hard-rock disciples can be schooled by former Dire Straits guitarist Hal Lindes, Beat the Bone, Alex De Rosso, and a ripping version of Van Halen’s “Light Up the Sky” by Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Sheehan, and Doug Pinnick.
As with GUITAR MASTERS, Vol. 1, Tarquin’s talent for compiling brilliant and impassioned guitar moments brings out all that is glorious and holy about the act of playing guitar extremely well. While it’s a different set of moods and approaches you’ll hear on GUITAR MASTERS, Vol. 2, every note, phrase, tone color, and impact of pick and/or finger on string will send shivers down your spine. You’d have to be dead or deaf not to be moved by the beautiful noises you’ll hear on this loud and proud CD. |
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Check out the Man behind the
Guitar Masters Series in Guitar Player Magazine. read it now |
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FEATURES - RECORDING:
GUITAR MASTERS
by: Michael Molenda
AS A MULTI-THREAT GUITARIST, PRODUCER, engineer, composer, and label honcho, New York-based Brian Tarquin has scored jingles, television shows, and movie soundtracks, and has even won a couple of Emmys. But the guitar is obviously his first and enduring love, and his BHP MUSIC label is dedicated to releasing instrumental albums that celebrate guitarcraft. Tarquin's Guitar Masters Series - currently at Vol.2 - showcases a diverse crew of guitar stars such as Jimmy Page, Zakk Wylde, Allan Holdsworth, and John Scofield.
What are the elements of a truly striking instrumental guitar song?
I think you have to go back and examine the music of the '50s and '60s, where bands like the Ventures had a discernable sound and catchy melodies. Simple is usually better. An instrumental piece doesn't have to deliever a barrage of notes and changes to be interesting. It also helps to remember that many listeners probably aren't used to hearing guitar instrumentals, so you have to imagine the guitar as the vocalist, and the tone and the melody must be seductive.
BRIAN TARQUIN AT JUNGLE ROOM STUDIOS, NY |
Is it difficult crafting a guitar sound that enhances the vibe of the instrumental, yet still respects the individual tone of the player?
That's a very tricky detail, but the composition itself will often dictate the guitar tone. For example, when Steve Morse recorded "Towers" [for Taruin's 2008 release Fretworx]--a song commemorating the 9/11 vistims - he went for a wonderfully haunting tone with heavy sustain that instensified the emotion of the track. That tone was distinctly his, but it also worked for the song.
What are some fo the techniques you employ to pull a transcendent performance out of a guitarist?
I find that players actually respond quite well to a bit of rivalry and competition, so I might have them listen to something one of their contemporaries did on another track. They'll usually want to play as well--or better--than their "competition." If a player tends to freeze up when recording, I'll have him run through the track a few times, and not tell him I'm recording everything. I've also learned that 90 percent of the time the best takes are the first three, when the player is fresh. Any more takes than that will usually wear the player out.
When compiling a Guitar Masters release, besides star power, what qualities do you identify as particularly saleable to the guitar public?
I try to select material that guitarists will identify with, but not find overbearing to the ear. There also must be interesting tonal and compositional qualities - it's not all about shredding. For example, on Guitar Masters, Vol. 2, "Flashing Lights" by Jimmy Page and Lord Sutch is a rarity with some terrific historical value. It's not Jimmy's best moment in the sun, but I thought the guitar audience would find it intriguing to see Page out of his Zeppelin guise. There are some great moments on it, and the raw production lets you hear the hum of the amps and the hiss of the tape.
CONTEST NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR CHECKING IT OUT!
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