Paul Hahn: Presidio Epilogue (2002)

Dan McClenaghan

Senior Contributor since 2002

A lover of sounds, and the way they fit together.

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Published: August 5, 2002

There is a dark urgency , a sort of foreboding resonance that pervades guitarist Paul Hahn's debut CD, Presidio Epilogue Hahn's electric guitar, with Tom Coster's B-3 organ that underscores the proceedings with sweety blurred left hand bass lines contrasting with Hahn's near-cello-like guitar approach for a distinctive, vibrant sound.

Unlike some of the better known guitar top guns out there—where delicacy and nuance and pinpoint precision rule the day—Hahn's style is looser, yet still forthright, even bold. The guitarist employes an unusual technique to achieve his sound—a third of the notes are rendered using a steel pick; another third by using the middle and ring fingers of the right hand; and the rest are created by hammering on the strings with the fingers of the left hand. What you hear is a fluid, somewhat metallic sound—a cello bow pulled across the strands of wire on an electric fence with the breeze of the B-3 blowing a cool wind chorus in the background.

Six songs—five originals and John Coltrane's "Your Lady": Hahn's "Sur" has that weary, wee hours feel; Trane's song sounds like religion, a dark, ethereal mass; while "Presidio" and "Presidio Epilogue" are melancholic, and slightly menacing; while "Oh Linda" rocks.

A new and distinctive voice on the jazz guitar scene; a career to watch, to listen to.

For more information, go to http://cdbaby.com/cd/paulhahn .

Track Listing: Phaeacia, Presidio, Your Lady, Sur, Oh Linda, Presidio Epilogue

Personnel: Paul Hahn, guitar; Steve Coster, B-3 organ; Steve Smith, drums; Rex Fugard, drums; Lee Neal, drums

Record Label: Xie River Music
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream