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from the artist...
Guitar Travels started out as a solo guitar project. As
Jeff Towne and I got into recording the pieces, it became
evident that in order to create a clear picture of the travel destination for each tune a 2nd guitar part was called for. I went in and recorded second guitar parts.
. So here you have GUITAR TRAVELS , a duo guitar travelogue.
...David Cullen
Reviewing the best in non-mainstream acoustic guitar music
July/August, 2008
David Cullen, "Guitar Travels," Solid Air Records, 2008
Grammy award winning guitarist David Cullen's current release, "Guitar Travels," is an extraordinary musical odyssey.
With each sojourn the guitarist paints vivid, melodic portraits transporting the listener to landmark locations,
and beckoning repeat visits. Cullen received his Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar performance
from the Hartt School and is currently an artist-in-residence at Elizabethtown College. He is a true Renaissance
guitarist, equally at home performing the classical cannon with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra or sitting in
with the Jaco Pastorious Big Band. He has recorded nine albums for Solid Air Records and is prominently featured
on several Windham Hill releases. There are subtle but deliberate echoes of Ralph Towner in the guitarist's playing;
however, Cullen mixes country and blues influences to create his own distinctive and commanding musical voice.
He seamlessly blends classical, jazz, world, blues, and folk genres to create rich and expressive sound paintings.
"Guitar Travels" was originally conceived as a solo fingerstyle project. However, to sharpen the focus on each
destination Cullen soon added his own additional guitar parts to fulfill his creative vision. The result is a
series of duets that allow the guitarist to freely improvise over his lush compositions. "Tijuana Time" has a
playful Latin grove with subtle classical inflections. While the urban "Sitting in Chicago" offers some great
blues-inspired runs supported by eloquent jazz comping. On "Colorado Rapids" the guitarist creates such an
alluring adventure that the listener never wants the ride to end. With "Guitar Travels" David Cullen captures
the essence of North American landscapes in much the same way as Aaron Copland did with his influential
orchestral works. This is an exceptional recoding and absolutely essential for all fans of acoustic music.
©
James Scott
David Cullen “Guitar Travels” Solid Air Records 2008
David Cullen has performed in a impressive wide range of styles
including Classical, Jazz, and World Music. “Guitar Travels” is a
challenging guitar journey with as well fast as fine guitar ballads.
David plays a wide range of styles. In the opening piece “South “
Beach” one can listen to a more Latin orientated cut. He also likes
to mix styles as Jazz and Classical on most pennings, like “Tijuana
Time”, “Memphis Sunday” and for instance “Funky in Kentucky”.
Beautiful ballads like “Portland Harbor” and “Chanson Montreal” will
absorb a listener. Great groove on “El Paso Rainstorm” and also
“Colorado Rapids” are appealing. “Guitar Travels” by David Cullen
is a sublime CD containing a wide range of styles performed by
a brilliant versatile guitarist.
Henk te Veldhuis
Bridge Guitar Reviews
| Artist: |
David Cullen |
| Product Type: |
AMR CDs |
| Item #: |
SACD2069 |
| Price: |
$15.00 $10.05 |
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