Martin Taylor and Steve Howe – Masterpiece Guitars (2003) [Japanese Release]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 60:31 minutes | Scans included | 2,11 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 1,34 GB
Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor and rock guitarist Steve Howe would seem an unlikely pair to make a CD together, but they had an opportunity, thanks to the generosity of a fan with a wide-ranging collection of vintage collectable guitars. In 1996, the two guitarists gathered over the course of several sessions and chose various instruments, often using several within one track via overdubbing. The two guitarists play together on just five of the 17 tracks, with Taylor playing ten solos and Howe two. Taylor’s unusual setting of Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa” incorporates one guitar for rhythm, while he switches off among 18 other instruments for the solo. His setting of “All the Things You Are” adds a surprising lyrical introduction, while the arrangement contrasts with the typically over the top bop recordings. Howe’s spacious “Tailpiece” suggests a lonely journey in the desert. Taylor also penned several originals, including the tasty bossa nova “Cherokee Ridge.” Among the duo features, the enchanting, understated interpretation of “Smile” has a special appeal. This session will be of special interest to guitarists, though anyone familiar with either Martin Taylor or Steve Howe ought to investigate this enjoyable release.
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Steve Howe – The Steve Howe Album
Vinyl | LOG | CUE | FLAC | Tags | Full LP Cover (1:1)
24bit/96kHz: 895mb – 16bit/44kHz: 259mb
Genre: Symphonic-Rock | Atlantic / SD 19243 | Release: 1979
Steve’s second solo album is a really nice record, presenting to the listener a palette of guitarist’s styles in a honest and enjoyable way. The music is mostly instrumental, which is a good thing as Steve is not as good in singing as he is with playing guitar. One tune “All’s a Chord” give us an example of this, though the fragile song is not totally ruined by the honest vocal interpretations. There are also few quite jolly rags here, “Cactus Boogie” and “Meadow Rag” which are technically good of course, but perhaps too light-minded rants for my appreciation. Then the rest of the album is really great stuff; the opener “Pennants” is an interesting rock track with complex details, carrying forward the progressive legacy of Yes, which already had started the slow disintegration process concluding at the end of 1970′s. “Look over Your Shoulder” is a calm piece for lady singer, and then the rest of songs are in constructed in European classic music style, ranging from solo guitar works to orchestrated pieces. I like classical music very much, so these song pleased me certainly. The orchestrations are done in a very professional way, and the detailed arrangements are created as essential element of the composition, so these are not typical wallpaper fillers done with the strings. “Double Rondo” is the longest of these classical tunes, and it leads to an arrangement of Antonio Vivaldi’s 2nd Movement of his Concerto for guitar and orchestra in D, melodically really beautiful number also used by Peter Sinfield on his “Song of The Seagoat”. I would recommend this album of course for fans of Yes and the performer himself, but also anybody enjoying elegant and light classical music with art rock crossover blending. The gatefold vinyl covers with Roger Dean’s design and photographs of Steve’s guitar collection make this as a nice object for any vinyl collector too.
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