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CD Review: Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events

27 September 2011

It is often said that our biggest periods of growth come after the most traumatic events. If that’s is true, then progressive rockers Dream Theater recently received an Olympic-sized injection of HGH when in 2010 it was announced that drummer and band patriarch Mike Portnoy was no longer with the band. It would be fair [...]

Nat Janoff: Come Together Move Apart

5 November 2010

2 Comments

I would like to get things rolling again here on Fretterverse by talking about a new CD from one of my friends, Nat Janoff. I have known Nat for a while now, and I was very happy when he sent me his latest CD – Come Together Move Apart. One of the things I love [...]

Five Must-Have Metal Guitar CDs

18 June 2010

10 Comments

The late 1980′s and early 90′s was a great time for metal guitar. Players like Satch, Malmsteen, and Vai were pushing the envelope and bringing guitar to the forefront of everyone’s mind. MTV was dominated by great axe slingers and every bar in town had original music played every weekend. While the guitar gods were [...]

Spock’s Beard – X

25 May 2010

16 Comments

It’s not always easy writing about your musical influences. From a journalistic standpoint (like, say, as a blogger) you want to be as objective as possible, making sure to cover the subject matter from all angles while presenting all viewpoints. From a fanboy standpoint, you want to share with the world your discovery; screaming from [...]

Kapsalis and Ivanovic – Guitar Duo

3 May 2010

1 Comment

It’s hard to be original these days. Market over-saturation, media reluctance to buck the trend, lack of guitar heroes… lots of factors seem to keep the carbon copy guitarists at the forefront while many of the truly exceptional players languish in coffee shops and book stores. Every time I get a CD from an independent [...]

Terrence Brewer: Groovin’ Wes

15 April 2010

1 Comment

For any and all jazz guitarists releasing a CD, the decision to cover a song by the godfather — Wes Montgomery — is certainly not an easy one. I would liken it to a martial artist trying to do a remake of Bruce Lee‘s Enter the Dragon; you don’t just up and decide you’re going [...]

Mike Ian: Puzzle Pieces

30 March 2010

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Back in college, my friends and I came up with a nickname for musicians who were so good that we felt compelled to cut off one of their fingers to make it fair for the rest of us. We called these folks “nine-fingers.” When I met NJ-based musician Mike Ian, it took all of about [...]

Meshuggah: Alive (Live DVD and CD)

17 February 2010

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Today in the mail I finally received my Valentine’s Day gift to myself – the jam-packed live DVD and CD offering from perhaps the greatest metal band of the first decade of the 2000′s. The offering? Alive. The band? Meshuggah! Riding the wave of success from their 2008 CD ObZen, the Swedish quintet went out [...]

Ryan Meagher: Atroefy

15 February 2010

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Atroefy is the debut release of young, New York City-based guitarist and composer, Ryan Meagher (pronounced Marr). In a phrase Atroefy is modern jazz for the indie rocker. It is an album of all original music full or guitar-driven compositions, elaborate, yet singable melodies, unpredictable forms and meters, and well-placed improvisation.

Assaf Kehati Quartet – A View From My Window

5 February 2010

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Assaf Kehati Quartet – A View From My Window

Israeli/Bostonian jazz guitarist Assaf Kehati was kind enough to send us his latest CD - A View From My Window - to listen to and review. "Inspired by the daily and trivial, yet wonderful and significant experiences of life", Assaf's music is influenced by a wide range of composers and performers.