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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | This Tune, "Friendly Fire" (with Jerry Goodman) is our latest. Sort of an Ovation acoustic "Machine Gun"... Acoustic support for some exotic electric violin work. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Sunday we did some work on "Spoonman Strut" . Rearranged and louder! |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Great stuff Greg. You guys should be on a major label. |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 1851
Location: Newington, CT | Hi, Greg! Your collaboration with Jerry Goodman is just a delightful thing to hear. You and Jeff are always great together to start, but when you throw in the third master musician, it has resulted in densely textured, sometimes free-wheeling, sometimes riotous, but always hugely expressive and evocative gems.
Here's what I heard in "Friendly Fire":
As you probably know, I love a contemplative beginning. "Friendly Fire" begins that way, with somewhat ominous undertones as the guitar and violin announce the song's dominant theme.
At 1:56 - the pace quickens to make the song vaguely startling. This begins a fast-paced section with an almost staccato guitar backdrop very much reminiscent of the song that inspired it: Machine Gun by Jimi Hendrix. Tightly arranged, the violin and guitars alternately interact and pull apart in a fantastic push-pull interplay. They join to end this frantic stretch at 2:33 where another breather comes in. It's as if two opposing forces lock in the intimate embrace of war, then pull apart for a bit to rest and regroup, only to rejoin battle all over again.
As the song moves forward, the mood becomes more urgent, and the pace quickens. The song's texture becomes more complex, all rising to a mini-crescendo at 3:55. This is a section of complex consistency, as if two pugilists are circling each other warily, looking for an opening.
From start to finish, Jerry Goodman's violin goes from contemplative to eerie to surreal, and back again, but always intricately locked in with the tension the song's title suggests. Goodman's dance with the two guitars is the thread that weaves everything together. His mastery of his instrument allows him both to set the mood and respond to that set by the two guitars. Not at all overwhelmed by Goodman's greatness, the guitars set a bedrock solid backdrop for Goodman's tone-setting brilliance and flights of fancy. Their tone is crystal clear, and at once deeply rounded and sharp. They are the perfect foil for the violin.
I was once again struck by the complexity of the composition, and the ease with which Dobrov/Burns/Goodman seem to pull it off. The same expression came to mind as hit me with "Spoonman Strut:" Casual brilliance.
Throughout the song, the guitars and violin seem to wrestle for primacy, contributing to tension and to the vaguely ominous mood that pervades. At 3:29 Goodman gives us a 30 second cadenza reminiscent of his days with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. For us Goodman/Mclaughlin fans, this is always a great thing.
AT 4:36, the song returns to the same urgent, staccato texture and cadence as at 2:00. The sudden mood twists and turns make "Friendly Fire" a succession of fantastically expressive vignettes that can evoke in the mind the intricately choreographed chaos of the battlefield. And all this with just two guitars and a violin! It helps that those few instruments are wielded by hugely talented musicians, able to coax a wide array of sounds, moods and expressions from their wonderful instruments.
Successive listenings only confirm the complex weave that these three world-class musicians have put together in "Friendly Fire." It's just a fantastical thing to listen to, and one is left with the distinct hope that they will do many more such collaborations together. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Thanks for the support guys. Not sure how to snag a major label, but maybe I should try:) As you can see, Stephen, the Adamas 1581 has become my main axe and delivers nicely in the purely acoustic studio configuration. Alan: FYI, I posted your new critical essay to Jerry Goodman's FB wall. No matter how established or confident one is generous criticism is always a joy. |
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Joined:
January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by dobro:
Sunday we did some work on "Spoonman Strut" . Rearranged and louder! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | Thanks DB. You know that the "refrain" in the tune was really inspired by Soundgarden's "Spoonman"... you know, "all my friends are brown and red." I had that in my head for years and it came out as a song. Go figure. My brother is egging me on to send it to Chris Cornell..... |
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5331
Location: Cicero, NY | Greg, you and Jeff just continue to produce extraordinary material. You're both very talented musicians. Humor your brother (and yourself) and send it to Chris.
And I (and your friends here) want to know if you hear back. |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | More great music Greg! Keep em coming! I love the reworking of spoonman strut. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Really fine compositions and outstanding musicianship by all the instruments. You need to get this stuff into the mix wherever you can ... start with internet radio and satellite stations ... from there, the world is your oyster. Will you be releasing an EP of this stuff anytime soon? Love to get a hold of it! |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 2120
Location: Chicago | I appreciate the generous feedback. It means a lot to me. Bobbo: We are nearing the end of the project. Probably nine tunes, 50 min. or so. Working on a third and final piece with Jerry G. and then we go! Eight originals and ONE COVER TUNE..... |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 2150
Location: Orlando, FL | Wow Greg! Great cover of No Mystery. You guys really did that song justice. Just beautiful! |
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Dobrov, Burns, Goodman are up to it again
