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California Guitar Trio: Komorebi
By'Komorebi' is a Japanese term for the image of sunlight filtering through trees. The meditative title piece from Hideyo Moriya certainly evokes the feeling with an Eastern song structure that shifts and flows like honey. As usual, each member's writing voice is represented at least once as we go along. Bert Lams' "Claymont Waltz" is a classy nocturne that eloquently portrays the nervous excitement of approaching a step into the unknown. Paul Richards' "Euphoria" lives up to its title in an impressively tasteful way: it smolders subtly rather than blazing with energy, greatly benefiting from the lush shadings of Tony Levin's smooth bass and Petra Haden's melodious vocalese amid some extra strings.
The band's own pieces are disappointingly outnumbered by covers this time around (albeit barely), though they remain open-eared as ever in choosing material regardless of genre. The trio's trademark interplay and note-perfect intricacy make the fluid unison turns of Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo à la Turk" seem effortless. It's practically a cliche to tackle any Beatles song by now, though they refreshingly choose one that hasn't been played to death a million times already; meanwhile their fun take on the Beach Boys with "Good Vibrations" also deserves bonus points for including an actual theremin.
While some of the cover songs are straightforward treatments, the most successful comes with the looser arrangement that winds things up. Haden plays the siren again for a gorgeous stirring treatment of her brother Josh's classic "Spiritual," the guitars and Levin's quiet bass creating a heartwarming prairie air to bring things to a peaceful close. While it fades into the sunset, the CGT leave us in no doubt their first 25 years have left them well-seasoned in the best ways. With their insatiable restlessness, no doubt there's only better still to come.
Track Listing
Komorebi; Cherry Trees; Buckaroo; Good Vibrations; Blue Rondo à la Turk; Wonderful Land; Claymont Waltz; Glass Tango; Dig a Pony; Euphoria; Spiritual.
Personnel
California Guitar Trio
band / ensemble / orchestraPaul Richards: guitar; Bert Lams: guitar; Hideyo Moriya: guitar; Tony Levin: NS upright bass, Chapman Stick (2, 10, 11); Davide Rossi: violin (7); Petra Haden: vocals (10, 11); Nora Germain: violin (10); Tom Griesgraber: theremin (4).
Album information
Title: Komorebi | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced
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About California Guitar Trio
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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