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| Jim Graham "Stories Without Words": Independent Review
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Jim Graham
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Review of "Stories Without Words"
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By: Greg Burliuk
ocal musician Jim Graham has chosen the tough career path of playing instrumental music on his acoustic guitar. (You can get work in restaurants but it's nearly impossible to have a hit record.) His first CD "Mezcolanza", established him as a stylist in the Spanish classical mode but on his new CD, "Stories Without Words", he broadens his horizons. To be sure there is still lots of the flamenco influence, especially on the first half of the 19-song disc, in tunes like "Postcard From Spain" and "Soleo", a 19th-century tune. Others, like "Acadian Rag", also sound Spanish.
Eventually Graham does stray far from the shores of Espana. With "Bagpipe Flashback" he simulates the sound of the Celtic instrument. (Since the Basques also play the bagpipe maybe he didn't stray that far after all.) And Graham also ventures into ragtime with "Silver Sand Rag". My favorite tune is the last piece called "An Gorta Mor", which has an intriguing and haunting melody. It's simple but very engaging. Once again, Graham has produced music to soothe the senses. Although the CD is just him playing the guitar, a very full and pleasing sound is produced.
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Greg Burliuk / The Kingston Whig-Standard
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