The Blythe Project
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Fusion Guitarist Expands Reach
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J. Spencer Seidel, a New Jersey based guitarist recording under the project name The Blythe Project, submitted a six song instrumental DAM CD (from mp3.com) consisting of rock-inflicted fusion numbers, entitled circle. Heavily influenced by great role models such as Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, and Frank Zappa, Seidel incorporates modal harmonies into his compositions to add diversity and interest. Seidel strengths lie in his improvisational ability; he is able to fly over the fretboard, nailing legato runs and melodic passages with ease. The material could use a little beef in the rhythm department--live musicians replacing the sequenced bass and drums would really kick the material into high gear. Nevertheless, Seidel is off to a very promising start with his early instrumental works.
Spencer has been involved in music one way or another for his entire life. Struck by the beauty of the instrument, began playing the guitar at age 13. Spencer was in several local bands in high school, and eventually wound up at the Berklee College of Music, where he practiced constantly and studied music theory. Since then, he has been composing, not only instrumental guitar music, but electronic atonal music and vocal works.
Seidel strives to compose, record and sell his work, as well as teach professionally. He is extending his reach world wide by listing his music on several web sites, as well as creating his own, guitar-oriented web site called Guitar Community Online - a place for guitarists to hang out, chat, post lessons and provide links to other guitarists.
Contact Information
J. Spencer Seidel
515 Main St., Apt. 6A
Chatham, NJ 07928
United States
E-mail:
The Blythe Project
Web site:
www.guitarcommunity.com
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Matt Cafissi
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Italian Shred "Extravaganza"
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Matt Cafissi is a wickedly fast guitarist. The Italian shredder submitted a 10 track CD-R pressing of his release Extravaganza, and the CD is packed with high-tech guitar playing, Pentium III-speed soloing, blinding sweeps, and some occasional keyboard embellishments. The music is heavy fusion/metal/hard rock overall, with the occasional ballad ("Heartbeat") providing a break from the amazing histrionics on most of the tunes. Production-wise, you've got to love the sound of a distracting, incredibly light sounding drum machine to enjoy the music completely--music this heavy almost demands a live drummer to bring out the power of the material. Hopefully, Cafissi will hook up with a thrashing drum god and a producer familiar with hard rock for his next set of compositions. The man has guitar ability in spades, it just needs the right setting to be fully appreciated.
Matt started playing the guitar at the age of 18, influenced by bands such as Dokken, Lynch Mob and Dream Theater. He eventually began studying at the renowned Lizard Institute of Music in Florence, where Giacomo Castellano introduced him to new techniques and styles like jazz fusion and new age. Matt started composing his own music and put together five demo tapes which were heralded by Italian magazines such as Flash, Psycho, Metal Shock, Veceversa, 360 Gradi. He won "Top Demo" from the European magazine Metal Hammer. Matt recently finished his first self-produced CD, Extravaganza.
Cafissi plans to begin work writing tracks for his next CD, as well as continue to run GuitarChef, the first Italian guitar 'zine.
Contact Information
Matt Cafissi
C/O GuitarChef
Via Cava 74
56021 Cascina (PISA)
Italy
E-mail:
Matt Cafissi
Web site:
mattcafissi.tripod.com
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