Articles by Ben McDonnell

Compassionate Dictatorship: Coup d'Etat

by Ben McDonnell
November 6, 2007

An eclectic amalgam of improvisation, strong melodic themes and rhythmic twists is perhaps the best way to characterize Coup d'Etat, the debut album by Compassionate Dictatorship.

Comprised of four of London's most prominent jazz musicians--Jez Franks (guitar), Tori Freestone (sax), Jasper Hoiby (bass) and Ben Raynolds (drums)--Compassionate Dictatorship manages to achieve a cohesive group sound that still allows each member's original voice to be heard. The group is already receiving significant notice, and is looking forward ...

Hybrid Picking For Guitar

by Ben McDonnell
June 4, 2006

Hybrid Picking For Guitar Gustavo Assis-Brasil Paperback; 128 pages ISBN: 0977439801 Self-Published 2006

Hybrid Picking For Guitar is a book and CD set which helps the diligent reader rapidly unlock the potential of this seldom discussed technique.

Boston-based guitarist and educator Gustavo Assis-Brasil has a unique way of demystifying hybrid picking: after deftly guiding the reader through a series of exercises, he introduces musical examples that ...

Sheets of Sound

by Ben McDonnell
February 5, 2005

Jack Zucker Sheets of Sound Self-Published ISBN: 0975559303 2004

It is with some trepidation that I open a new guitar instructional book, whilst each promises to 'advance your playing to the next level' or help you 'play like (insert guitar hero's name here)', most tend to deliver a jumbled collection of scales and chords which are near useless if you are a proficient player, or appear as an insurmountable mass of information ...

Dave O'Higgins: Fast Foot Shuffle

by Ben McDonnell
September 12, 2004

The idea of an album conceived for a jazz dance group may set alarm bells ringing for many. Whilst Fast Foot Shuffle was written for the talented JazzCotech Dancers, preconceptions and fears that the music may have been compromised in some way are soon waylaid as one listens to O'Higgins' lively collection of reworked standards and self-penned tunes.

In addition to his regular quintet, O'Higgins enlists the help of Pete Eckford on decks and percussion, plus trombonist Barnaby ...

Tom Arthurs: Centripede

by Ben McDonnell
August 25, 2004

Recently nominated for Best New Act by the BBC Jazz Awards, Centripede is “Fresh and friendly music inspired by world dance musics contemporary and traditional, strategic improvisation and the compositional depth of twentieth century classical music"... at least that's how the band leader, trumpet player and composer Tom Arthurs describes the eclectic blend of styles that define his compositions. Packed with great solos and original composition that stylistically fall somewhere between the avant-garde and jazz with a little bit of ...