Ken Hatfield Review of "Dyad" @ iTunes By: Kirk Albrecht harlie Byrd pioneered it, and Ken Hatfield is continuing a marvelous legacy of melodic nylon-string jazz guitar. With his third CD release, "Dyad", Hatfield is gaining notice with his ability to cross over musical boundaries and play it right. The more I listened to this recording, the more I was struck by how much music is on it. This is Hatfield's most ambitious work to date, and the ensemble joining him brings out the best in his compositions. We get memories of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the bouncy "To and Fro" and "Do You Know Joe Jones?", as well the ballad "A Bit for Miss Fitt", where Hatfield exchanges the staccato of Django for more subtle chordal phrasing. On "Impressario" Maucha Adnet's voice provides the melodic base for Hatfield's guitar and Valentin Gregor's seductive violin work, whose sound undulates from the swing of Stephane to shades of Jerry Goodman's early work with John McLaughlin. The rhythm section of Duduka da Fonseca on percussion, and Hans Glawischnig on double bass keep things moving. Other highlights: "Incantation", with its changing rhythms pulling us in and out of the sultry melody; and the soaring, upbeat "Endymion", where Hatfield showcases his cross-string picking. The release of "Dyad" makes it clear that this Hatfield is the real McCoy. © Kirk Albrecht / Minor 7th The Impresario Pro Lito To And Fro Incantation Dyad Stirrings Still