Yes!!! Alessandro
Benvenuti not only gets it, he can do it too. If you are a guitar
techie, you must check out this album, Sonic
Design, from the Benvenuti brothers. There
is a definite reason why Frank Gambale and Prashant Aswani chose
to make guest appearances on this album. And, this is because
Benvenuti is HOT!
Now, I hate to pidgeonhole
any guitarist into a charactization that he sounds like somebody
else because I know this is not always well-received and
sometimes frowned upon. And, in this case this is not what I mean
to do in making the following observation, especially when there
is so much talent involved... but, this guy has captured the
trademark Greg Howe aggressive, legato sound, and can apply it
with great affect and precision in his compositions. It is almost
like getting another superb album from the great guitar hero Greg
Howe, though Benvenuti has his own angle and slant on the
aggressive, speedy style of fusion that Howe is a master. You may
be momentarily confused because in considering that Howe is
always coming at you from different angles on his albums, you may
mistake this for another album by Howe coming from another of his
new angles. This album will most likely delight any and all Greg
Howe fans, as it did me. The influence of Greg Howe's style has a
striking influence in Benvenuti's music, but Benvenuti's style is
not strictly derivative of Howe. No, no... it is much more than
that! Benvenuti's style has a trademark sound that is unique and
will surely appeal to fans of aggressive fusion without prejudice
of the strong Howe influence.
Benvenuti has plenty of
silky-smooth, legato speed and is liberal in applying it. The
aggression, legato, and speed is packaged tactfully and in a very
appealing manner. Carefully selected voicings mark the background
rhythms and progressions, much in the tradition of the great
fusion guitar efforts. The technical depth is astounding,
Benvenuti is seamless in his polished finesse, and creates the
illusion of making it seem effortless. The ripping-fast speed is
relentless from start to finish on this album. The speed is
balanced and complemented with progressive fusion progressions,
rhythms, aggressive phrasings, complex harmonization, and lip-biting
melodies.
This is one of the
hottest, coolest new guitarists that I have heard in 2002. Sonic
Design is a solid, remarkable effort from
cover to cover, though it goes by in a blink at light speed.
There is no point in singling out any specific tracks, because
this cavalcade of fusion bliss is nonstop. I just wonder what
Greg Howe said (says) when he heard it... You know, they say
"imitation is the most sincere form of flattery..." I
wonder what might happen if Benvenuti and Howe were paired up for
their next respective albums...
THIS is what good fusion
is all about! World Class!!! CHECK THIS ONE OUT!!!!!
Guitar |
Alessandro Benvenuti |
Keyboards |
Gian Marco Benvenuti |
Bass |
Mirko Bellini |
Drums |
Armando Croce, Pierpaolo
Ferroni |
Guest Guitar |
Frank Gambale, Prashant Aswani |
1) The Sense Of Change |
2) Eternal Dream |
3) Time Has Come |
4) EgoCentric |
5) The Golden Cage |
6) Reasons To Love Her |
7) 10 Km More |
8) Jama' |
~ Christopher
Ruel ~ www.ChrisRuel.com ~ Chris@ChrisRuel.com ~ Chris Ruel's Monthly Spotlight

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