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Greg Diamond: Calera Solo Sessions

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Greg Diamond: Calera Solo Sessions
Jazz guitarist Greg Diamond presents the enchanting Calera Solo Sessions, his fifth album as leader, second solo album and first recording on the classical guitar. As he states, the album ..."is a series of compositions written primarily for solo classical guitar; however, as such they are not bound to any specific genre." The project is dedicated to the memory of his late father, Jerome H. Diamond: a talented pianist and opera singer whom the guitarist says, he was ..." an homme d' esprit who would have relished this little array of compositions and arrangements from start to finish."

Though the album is dedicated to his Jewish-American father, the guitarist chose to record in La Calera, a town in the South American country of Colombia from where his mother hails, which explains the name of the album and his affinity to Afro-Latin jazz and traditional Latin American folk music.

Diamond was once a part of the talent-rich jazz scene in the city of New York, performing with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world. After firmly establishing himself as a guitarist of note, Diamond relocated to Miami where he is currently based and obtained a DMA in Instrumental Jazz Performance from the University of Miami.

For this offering, Diamond performs nine original compositions and includes his version of the traditional folk song "Shenandoah," and the English ballad of "Scarborough Fair," two fresh new treatments of familiar folk-styled tunes. The music on this album is decidedly on the light side of the musical spectrum and opens up with the mellowed-tempo "Turbine" that's more relaxing than an explosive-sounding turbine engine would be. This is followed by the sensitive "Chanson Du Matin," and the excellent re-imagined and tasteful arrangement of "Scarborough Fair."

Though evident throughout the entire album, Diamond's quick finger play on the strings is exquisitely on display on the quick-paced and high-flying "Hummingbird" that returns to earth on the short but beautiful "Beata." The guitarist changes direction on the warm slow-tempo "Hint of Jasmine," and the delicate "The Abyss," which defies its title with the inviting and appealing melody.

The session closes with the slow ballads of "Citadel" and "Rastros," leaving one with a new appreciation for the sounds of the classic acoustic guitar, especially in the hands and fingers of such a talented guitarist. Greg Diamond's. Calera Solo Sessions is the perfect musical experience that a musical doctor would prescribe when the patient is need of a warm, relaxing low blood pressure moment in soul- searching, troubling times that comes to us all. In short, a wonderful session of beautiful music drawn from the personal journey of an amazing musician.

Track Listing

Turbine; Chanson Du Matin; Scarborough Fair; Shenandoah; Hummingbird; Ascent; Beata; Hint of Jasmine; The Abyss; Citadel; Rastros.

Personnel

Greg Diamond
guitar, electric

Album information

Title: Calera Solo Sessions | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Self Produced

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