New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Muse Eek Publishing) Great musicians have been doing their own take on the blues since it was created and now, Bruce Arnold joins their company with "Art of the Blues" on the Muse Eek Recording Label. Through his use of contemporary Classical composition techniques pioneered by Schoenberg, Berg and Webern, along with time transformations used by such artists as Jazz Saxophonist Steve Coleman, he creates a unique take on the classic blues form.
Arnold has exhibited astonishing versatility with all his projects, tackling pieces from the classical repertoire from Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" or Early Music, to Jazz and Rock. He is best known however, for his explorations into the application of 12-tone theory in jazz improvisation. Arnold here applies a similar intellectual rigor to the 12 tracks that are by turns lyrical, spare, haunting and always intriguing.
As Bruce explains it, "In Art of the Blues I have applied the structural rhythmic and harmonic ideas that I have been working with for many years to the blues form." Joining Bruce on this bracing set and negotiating the tricks and turns are stalwarts Tony
Moreno on drums and Dean Johnson on upright bass.
Mr.
Moreno is featured on almost every tune; his stellar drum solos are filled with layered time improvisations and endless creativity. "It was a conscious decision on my part to feature Tony on all these tunes" says Bruce " I wanted to showcase the many types of time manipulations that the two of us have been exploring extensively together."
But although Bruce's composition is forward thinking, his chordal accompaniment style throughout Art of the Blues conscientiously harkens back to the roots of Rhythm and Blues guitar. All these elements combine to create a collection of tunes that while sounding like a traditional jazz guitar CD also presents a personal new approach and direction for the blues.
"Art of the Blues" has received reviews from the pre-release of this CD to a select group of distinguished critics. See their pull quotes below:
"Arnold is a fiery yet thoughtful soloist. His compelling compositions are built upon fragmented swing vamps, soaring opuses and animated thematic developments. In effect, the band rockets skyward, hovers back to a plateau, and morph sizzling dialogues into untraditional blues grooves,"
Glenn Astarita, JazzReview.com.
"…a refreshing redirection for the blues," Robert Silverstein, MWE3.com.
"… a personal new approach and direction for the blues," Laurie Monk, truthinshredding.com.
"… this is a solid example of power trio blues that charts it's own course," Chris Spector, midwestrecord.com.
"Art of the Blues, which features blues compositions written in all 12 keys, is more traditional in nature, but still maintains the highly creative and emotionally intense playing that Arnold brings to any musical situation, no matter the style or genre he is playing in," Matt Warnock, Guitar International.
"Heady stuff it is, but proof that the blues not only can take experimentation, it demands it. And Bruce (Almighty) Arnold is the man to take it beyond bounds," Bob Gish, Jazz Insider Magazine.
"Arnold does something very worthwhile here. From the level of guitar art and ensemble chemistry, this one has it! Recommended," Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog.
