Vincent Varvel

Vincent Varvel, who is based in St. Louis, is a guitarist with his own sound and approach. An Instructor of Guitar at Washington University who has worked locally with many top performers, he had led two CDs prior to his recent Third Person. This set, which teams the guitarist with drummer Steve Davis and bassist Ben Wheeler (with Eric Stiller playing bass on two songs), consists of ten of Vincent Varvel’s originals. He displays a subtle and thoughtful style that is filled with inner heat. The close interplay between Varvel and his sidemen is a major feature of the music for, although the guitarist is usually in the lead, his bassist and drummer make strong and significant contributions to the improvisations and the ensembles

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Vincent Varvel, who is based in St. Louis, is a guitarist with his own sound and approach. An Instructor of Guitar at Washington University who has worked locally with many top performers, he had led two CDs prior to his recent Third Person. This set, which teams the guitarist with drummer Steve Davis and bassist Ben Wheeler (with Eric Stiller playing bass on two songs), consists of ten of Vincent Varvel’s originals. He displays a subtle and thoughtful style that is filled with inner heat. The close interplay between Varvel and his sidemen is a major feature of the music for, although the guitarist is usually in the lead, his bassist and drummer make strong and significant contributions to the improvisations and the ensembles. Third Person opens with “The Plaza After Rain, a peaceful and at times hypnotic ballad that picks up momentum as it goes before ending with a hint of where it had started. “Picture This” is a complex song that is also surprisingly accessible due to its dancing feel. The melodic piece features Varvel’s singing tone and attractive clear notes on the guitar along with a brief but effective bass solo. “Once And Again” is moody yet relaxed, melodic yet not overly predictable. It swings gently with Varvel’s quiet passion recalling Jim Hall a little in spots. The jazz waltz “Third Person” is a bit introspective while swinging at a slow-medium tempo. “Savoir Faire” has the trio playing a bit funky. The catchy piece, which is danceable, features Varvel’s guitar sounding assertive and the trio showing how tight they are. It is followed by the atmospheric “Dusk.” “Side Step” is one of the hottest pieces of the program and also contains some of the most adventurous playing with some fairly free improvising. “Hourglass” is a bit of a contrast, a thoughtful ballad on which Varvel’s often out-of-tempo playing almost sounds as if he is speaking aloud. “Two Too Many” gives the musicians a chance to jam a bit on a medium-tempo blues. Concluding this memorable outing is the melancholy “Without You.” Due to its subtlety and quiet creativity, the easily recommended Vincent Varvel’s Third Person grows in interest with each listen. Scott Yanow

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