By: Kirk Albrecht
anada is known for its fabulous guitar makers - luthiers like Jean Larrivee, Grit Laskin, Sergei de Jonge, Linda Manzer - to name a few. While we may know about them, we don't always hear about the many talented players residing north of the U.S. border. But players like Bruce Cockburn, Don Ross, and others are stimulating a new generation of players who are making beautiful music to complement the fine instruments found there. Kevin Cardamore is a newcomer on the recorded music scene, and he came into the fray later in life, but was bit by the fingerstyle bug while attending a workshop with Canadian wizard Don Ross. On "Steel Strings", Cardamore shows off considerable chops in the style of his inspiration. This is a beautifully recorded CD; it ought to be - Don Ross co-produced and mixed it. Cardamore reveals a strong left hand in his techniques of finger picking or tapping, letting his Lowden O-12 sing in all its registers. The 14 tunes are all pretty short, and some seem to be mere snapshots which could handle further development. Some of my favorites are "Tale Spinner", whose gentle melody remains firm while Cardamore explores some sonic possibilities; "Without A Song", a groove which reminds me of the best of Don Ross' work; and "Shelter of a Heart", which speaks to the inner spaces in a subtly reflective way. As with much "new guitar music", some of the tunes tend to drift and lose a sense of melodic flow as various techniques are used; they can sound more like technical exercises than songs. As he develops his own musicality, Kevin Cardamore's next CD should prove even more enjoyable than his first.
|
