Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Louis Guarino, Jr.: Spiritual Awakenings

70

Louis Guarino, Jr.: Spiritual Awakenings

By

Sign in to view read count
Louis Guarino, Jr.: Spiritual Awakenings

Shhhh / Peaceful

Spiritual Awakenings is the labor of love from New Haven CT trumpeter Louis Guarino, Jr. Mr. Guarino readily admits his influence by Miles Davis, as well as, Dizzy Gillespie, Lee Morgan, and Freddie Hubbard. But it is Mile the most in attendance here. Mr. Guarino has an omnivorous appetite for music and musical genres, including admiration for artists as different as Charles Ives and Danny Elfman.. His current stylistic resting place is a vastly updated In A Silent Way landscape with sparse instrumentation and wide-open spaces. This is a recording of moody textures and introspective faith. The moods of the recording range from soothingly placid and peaceful to a-cry-from-the-therapist's-couch anguished and dissonant.

The extended suite "A Voyage Thru the Clouds" is the disc centerpiece, sonically describing the turbulence and unpredictability of emotional weather patterns. Guarino mutes his horn for the opening theme and "Part 1". He switches to an open bell for the transitional sections in "Theme (Improvised)" and "Part 2 (Changing Weather)." Guarino effectively builds tension in anticipating "Part 3 (the Storm)" before finishing calmly with the "Closing Theme."

As a whole, Spiritual Awakenings is a well considered tone poem, one that was well thought out by the composer as well as well executed. This music is of the same ilk as sushi metaphysically, transcending the ordinary consumption for a higher realization and appreciation in texture and consistency.

Track Listing

A Conversation With The Spirits Of The Mountain; Mirrors; A Voyage Thru The Clouds; Metamorphosis; Amnesia; Waterways. (Total Time: 67:41)

Personnel

Louis Guarino, Jr.: Trumpet; Percussion, Synthesizer.

Album information

Title: Spiritual Awakenings | Year Released: 2002 | Record Label: Enchanted Vibrations Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.