By: Robert Silverstein
mixture of scorching jazz-rock fury and hair-raising guitar pyrotechnics, "Under The Radar" from Alabama-based guitarist Ben Trexel is one of the best instrumental jazz-rock fusion CDs of 2000. For his second solo album, Trexel is joined by John Williams (drums) and Geoff Sides (percussion) although, clearly the star here is Trexel's formidable guitar chops and compositions. Some have compared Trexel to masters like Ronnie Montrose, Steve Hunter and even Jimmy Page, and on "Under The Radar" Trexel tackles new musical ground with noteworthy ease. Performing on Fender electric guitars and Ovation and Gibson acoustic guitars, Trexel sounds like a one-man guitar army while also adding in first rate bass and keyboard work. Cleverly crafted and well balanced with studio wizardry, critical arrangements and refined melodic touches, "Under The Radar" is proof that the best guitar fusion albums can amaze with both might and mastery.
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