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Laurence Juber's latest..."PCH"
Recorded at the historic Capitol Records Hollywood Studio and featuring guest performances by Leland Sklar on Bass, Russ Kunkel on Drums and Jim Cox on keys....this is perhaps the ultimate Laurence Juber recording! A brilliant collection of original compositions and cover tunes highlight this collection. Chestnuts like "Wayfaring Stranger" get a complete overhaul and some brilliant electric guitar lead work by Juber! Sexy is the best way to describe his acoustic guitar version of Al Green's "Lets Stay Together". "Blue Guitar Blues" is another surprisingly scorching electric ensemble number recorded live as a jam at the end of the session. "Bullet Train Boogie"is the latest Juber solo extravaganza that will have guitarists around the world scratching their heads (He teaches it on an upcoming DVD!) and...
Solo acoustic versions of concert favorites "Layla" and "All Of Me" will please long time fans. As a bonus...three of the ensemble numbers are presented as Acoustic Guitar Solo bonus tracks for the guitarists in the audience who want their LJ unadulterated.
Tracks
1. PCH
2. Temple Bar
3. Wayfaring Stranger
4. Layla
5. Gardenia
6. Castle Walls
7. Let's Stay Together
8. Bullet Train Boogie
9. All Of Me
10. Blue Guitar Blues
bonus SOLO mixes
11. PCH
12. Gardenia
13. Castle Walls
From the Artist
Some albums are planned, lived through for months, labored over..... This wasn't one of those.
Others creep up on you, insinuating themselves into the creative work- flow. This wasn't one of those either.
This one came on in a matter of days, when I unexpectedly found myself in the studio with a band,
a handful of new tunes and a few old chestnuts.
Not just any studio but historic Capitol, located at the landmark Hollywood and Vine.
Not just any band, but the legendary rhythm section of bassist Lee Sklar, drummer Russ Kunkel with keyboard master Jim Cox.
I've done ensemble albums before but Jim, switching between electric piano, organ and acoustic piano,
brought a new pallet of sounds to my music, as did Lee's electric bass.
As well as my signature Martin OM guitars, I had my electric rig on hand too. It's liberating to have accompaniment, so there was room to improvise some blues.
Somewhere between the organic recording by Jimmy Hoyson and the pure analog mastering by Joe Gastwirt, I became aware of a sense of travel
in many of the tunes.
Travel in place : from Southern California's coast highway (PCH) to Dublin (Temple Bar) to Japan (Bullet Train Boogie) to Hawaii (Gardenia) - plus the old spiritual Wayfaring Stranger
being a journey into a different space and style.
Travel in time and era: ragtime swing (All Of Me), rock epic (Layla) and soul groove (Let's Stay Together).
It's not a travelog, more of a way-station on a 44 year-long journey with the guitar.........................
I hope you enjoy it.
LJ
BRIDGE GUITAR REVIEW DEC 2007
Laurence Juber is foremost know as a lead guitarist of the group
Wings, with Paul Mc Cartney, but that said, he is an extraordinary
skillful solo guitarist who released more than a dozen albums.
Now he releases a fine collection of original compositions and cover
tunes on his new CD called “PCH”. The opening track “PCH” has a very
intimate setting LJ plays acoustic as well as electric guitar in a beautiful and captivating melodic composition. “Temple Bar” is another noteworthy cut and an
original penning. “Blue Guitar Blues” is a very appealing and moody blues song, on electric guitar, which really grasps one. “Very fine arrangements of covers like “Wayfaring Stranger”, “Layla” and “Let's Stay Together” have all that passionate feeling, coming straight from the heart. Included are 3 bonus tracks.
An outstanding CD from LJ which will capture any guitar and music
fan who likes a diverse repertoire.
Henk te Veldhuis
Bridge Guitar Reviews
© 2007
Laurence Juber, "PCH," Solid Air Records, 2007
Since his emergence as a solo artist in the 1990s, Laurence Juber has created a body of work that's stylistically varied, technically innovative and consistently listenable. PCH is all of these things, but with a couple of twists that distinguish it from his other recordings. While Juber still features his acoustic playing most prominently, he plays electric guitar in a visceral blues-rock style on several tracks, using either an Eastman archtop or a 1957 Stratocaster. Secondly, he's created a small band, performing several pieces with Lee Sklar on bass, Russ Kunkel on drums and Jim Cox on keyboards. Juber leads this combo with both his acoustic guitar, as on the title track, "Gardenia," and "Let's Stay Together," or with electric, on the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" and the improvised "Blue Guitar Blues." On the minor-keyed "Castle Walls," he plays both acoustic and electric throughout for a great performance. Juber pulls out all the stops on several acoustic solos, including "Bullet Train Boogie" and "All of Me." His solo version of "Layla" recalls Derek & the Dominos' original arrangement and is sure to please casual listeners and challenge guitarists. The feel throughout PCH is more relaxed than much of Juber's catalog. While it's not thematically cohesive in the manner of "LJ Meets the Beatles," "One Wing," or "I've Got the World on Six Strings," here we get a better look at Juber the guitarist by hearing him perform in different contexts and on a number of guitars. As an extra offering, three of Juber's compositions appear twice on the disc, first in the group recordings, then again as solo tracks at the end of the CD. These bonus solos are fully realized performances, and although they don't necessarily include anything new for listeners, guitarists will appreciate them. Overall, LJ can expect to please his fans and attract new listeners with this fine offering.
© Patrick Ragains Minor 7th.com
PCH-Laurence Juber (Solid Air Records)
"PCH" features a cheerful collection of original and reworked selections showcasing his skills as an authentic guitar virtuoso. Juber is able to interpret material from across the spectrum, bringing jazzy fireworks to Al Green's "Lets Stay Together" and emotional weight to the Eric Clapton classic "Layla". His own compositions are equally strong, notably the Celtic-tinged "Temple Bar" and the aptly-titled "Blue Guitar Blues".
Robert Kinsler ..Orange County Register
| Artist: |
Laurence Juber |
| Product Type: |
AMR CDs |
| Item #: |
SACD2065 |
| Price: |
$15.00 |
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