Guitar Nine Records - "Set In Motion" Review Featured In Soundwaves Magazine, May, 2001

Ed Vick

Review of "Set In Motion"

By: Don Sikorski

letter

d Vick has been passionate about playing the guitar ever since his youth, when his fifth grade math teacher played Led Zeppelin's 1971 rock classic "Stairway to Heaven" in the classroom for his young students. At that point, Vick had realized his true calling. After some initial "by-the-book" lessons, Vick followed the familiar path of most of rock guitarists, branching off from standardized teaching methods and following in the footsteps of his guitar playing heroes, jamming along endlessly to Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, and Lynyrd Skynyrd records. During the 1980's, Vick played in a number of local cover bands before hooking up to join "Emissary", a progressive heavy metal band from Providence, Rhode Island. Emissary made their mark opening for name bands like Dream Theater and Dokken, and the exposure allowed Vick the opportunity to further develop his musical creativity and song-writing skills. After Emissary disbanded, Vick moved to Connecticut and joined the MIXX, one of New Haven's premiere jazz/funk bands. This natural musical progression further strengthened Vick's guitar playing resume. Now armed with over 20 years of guitar playing experience, his first CD, "Set in Motion", covers multiple aspects of Vick's diverse musical style.

The disc consists of eight Vick original instrumentals that combine a well-produced mix of smooth jazz, blues, fusion, funk, and rock music. The opening track, "No Place Like Home", has a smooth and melodic Eric Johnson-like feel to it, while "Journeys" presents a bit more modernized overdrive. "Catwalk" is a jumpy tune that allows Vick an opportunity to tear up and down the chromatic scale a bit more. Songs like "Love" and "Feeling Better" present the listener with a true jazz sound and environment, with the clarity and originality to encourage multiple listenings.

Ed Vick currently teaches guitar and hopes to continue making a living with his music. One of the things I truly enjoyed about "Set In Motion" was Ed Vick's creative choice of notes, which is especially refreshing to hear when compared to many of the young "shredders" who are often guilty of overplaying, thus sacrificing the intended melody. That was not the case here. Vick's guitar playing, as well as his selection of talented support musicians, makes "Set In Motion" an enjoyable listening experience.