By: Rene Yedema
lthough Allan Holdsworth doesn't really appreciate it himself, there will always be fans of him who will search, next to his own material, for CDs of musicians who play in his style. In itself it is quite logical that he experiences it in this way, because it must be somewhat frustrating to hear others play in a way that you're considering, after years of polishing, to be your most personal sound. On the other hand, for lovers of refined jazz-rock it is pleasant that there are this kind of people, with is being confirmed by East Coast Shoes by Eric Wollman. Wollman's sound can be described as the seventies-Holdsworth-sound, the years of Tony Williams and his solo-album Velvet Darkness, so before he started developing his legato-style with Soft Machine. Wollman shows in the ten pieces, which all last around five minutes, in a sober but efficient way his excellent technique, accompanied by Gene Torres (bass) and Pete Quintalino (drums). The compositions are usually based on no-nonsense jazz-rock, in which virtuosity and subtle refinement often go hand in hand. Quite often they slow down everything when the sphere inclines more to jazz, which brings to mind Holdsworth's work with Gordon Beck. Torres and Quintalino get all the space to show their great qualities, because Wollman often plays just pretty chords over which they can perform their solo's. This must sound very familiar for lovers of technically strong grounded, but also melodious guitar-music. East Coast Shoes is therefore strongly recommended, because the listeners will be brought into ecstasy by a perfect sound that is inspired on the play of one of the masters of the genre.
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