When David Cullen told me he had access to a studio for a few hours and might lay down some demos for a solo CD in the next year, I was pleased to hear he was already working on new compositions. When I received 15 finished recordings – which not only featured fully fleshed-out tunes, but an absolutely stunning performance level throughout – it was obvious we had a new record, not a new demo. David’s typically low key and humble response to my enthusiastic call was… “I had a good day.” We are honored to again present another set from a great musician and guarantee a good day for all who listen.

 

David Cullen "In The Pocket"  SACD 2033   CD

David Cullen can finesse a salvo of chords through space with the kind of grace and intuition that an Olympic gymnast glides through her floor routine. Both make the exceptionally difficult appear fluid and effortless. But the real beauty of Cullen's fingerstyle jazz is less in the execution than the choreography of the music. The "wow" of Cullen's music is in the classically-influenced composition, the way his chordal resolutions tug at some long-buried archetypal memory that recollects both wistfully and pleasantly. "Bembe Minore" is one such aural vignette, sounding much in spirit like Liz Story's bittersweet composition "Wedding Rain". Cullen tale-spins both heartfelt and rapturously on other perfectly constructed tunes "B Cool", "Call and Answer" and "Seaside Soca". Yet, he's not so cloistered that he can't do down and dirty... check out the funkifized blues intensity of "Groove Etude", "Les McCann", "Go Ahead and Play" and "In the Pocket". The purpose of music is to emotionally move the listener. David Cullen has hit on that elusive magic by appealing paradoxically, but equally, to heart and intellect.
©Alan Fark/Minor7th.com

 

IN THE POCKET :  David Cullen  SACD2033  CD


Known mainly as a classical and jazz guitarist, David Cullen
now presents an album called IN THE POCKET. This album has jazz influences with an ambitious indulging groove in it and it really swings. Groove Etude honors its name with a cracking groove. Bembe Minore and In the Pocket have these Cuban Afro Rhythms in soft flowing soundscapes. User Friendly induces as on the entire album great worked out bass lines with a Brazilian melody line. Seaside Soca has this gracious Caribbean character with nice chord changes and a weaving rhythm. Samba de Agua, a samba composition with imaginary scenes. Ridin on E David makes E major distinguished rhythm on a nice laid back melody line. David Cullen establishes on IN THE POCKET to create
a great atmosphere which is based on groove in paintings , who find there inspiration in Brazilian and Folk music. The 15 tracks are uplifting music with great bass lines and excellent melodic pieces. This music invites one to dance and let yourself go in the music of this eminent guitarist.

Bridge Review
Henk te Veiduis

 

In the Pocket
 DAVID CULLEN
 Solid Air Records 2033  CD
 Genre: NEW AGE
 
 
 David Cullen is a ferocious finger-style guitarist who has been the guitar
 tech and accompanist for Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman for years.
 Truth be told, Cullen is a more advanced and precise musician than
 Ackerman. He can play the same airy melodies, but he also has a jazz side,
 and that's what shows up on In the Pocket. It's not easy to get down on a
 nylon string guitar, but Cullen does it, swinging from jump jazz to jazz
 funk, with stops at Brazilian samba and gospel. "Les McCann" nods to the
 soul jazz keyboardist, while "Call & Answer" has an African lilt. Cullen
 occupied the opening track of the first Windham Hill Guitar Sampler, but In
 the Pocket is more for late-night grooves than pastoral moods.
..John Dileberto
 
 BILLBOARD