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Going Beyond Categorization With First CD
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From Me To You features the sultry jazz fusion of Hawaii based guitarist David Yamasaki, a CD that quietly eludes stylistic categorization - and that's the way Yamasaki likes it. Right off the bat, "Samurai Hee-Haw" lets the listener know they're not listening to another Mike Stern or Pat Martino clone, with its Asian-influenced triple meter melody and unusual tones. An original track, "J-Town Blues" kicks off with Ron Stallings' tenor saxophone and a Kenny Penalver keyboard solo before Yamasaki lays in with a clean-toned solo that will impress all skeptics. Other highlights include Yamasaki's cover of Jaco Pastorius' "Three Views Of A Secret" (with a samba/mambo arrangement - good choice), and other original, "After Touch", an extended number with Earl Klugh-like acoustic guitar lines and Penalver's graceful piano work. If you're looking for new jazz from an up-and-coming solo artist, check out Yamasaki's From Me To You.
David studied ethnomusicology at the University of Washington, Seattle, and guitar at Berklee College of Music, Boston, before receiving a BA and MA from California State University, Hayward. He has recorded with Tito Puente, Sheila E., Pete Escovedo Orchestra, John Santos and the Machete Ensemble, Deems, and Nikita Germaine and has performed in music videos and film including Bill Cosby's Leonard, Part Six. Additional performances include Lou Rawls, Louie Bellson, Dianne Schuur, Eddie Fisher, Faye Carol, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Forty Niner Band, Lydia Pense and Cold Blood, Wayne Wallace and Rhythm and Rhyme, and Fred Berry as well as accompaniment for Frederica Von Stade. He has written scores for two PBS productions and charts for Ramsey Lewis. His teaching experience includes Stanford Jazz Camp, Jazz Camp, Aptos, and San Quentin Prison as well as his current position at Maryknoll School in Honolulu.
Yamasaki hopes to make enough money from From Me To You to record another CD, which he promises will be very different from his solo debut, as he explores new styles and textures.
Contact Information
David Yamasaki
P.O. Box 29696
Honolulu, HI 96820
United States
E-mail:
David Yamasaki
Web site:
www.yamasongs.com
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Persisting With A Hard Rock Vision
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Ripping, speed-drunk solos. Savage, better-shred-than-dead licks. Asymmetrical legato lines. Jarring rhythmic changes. Vai-like harmonies and squeals. All these and more grace the CD-R submitted by British guitarist Mark Gibson, entitled Persistence Of Vision. This guy can play your ears off, and does so relentlessly over 13 instrumental tracks over pretty stock drum machine patterns - but don't worry, you'll be air-guitaring your way through the material anyway. Not to day Gibson doesn't have a sensitive side - "Spirit Of Life" is a laid back, thoughtful number, in which he still manages to inject colorful guitar tones and sophisticated fretwork. Gibson loves to blaze though, so if you love listening to guys who love to blaze, Persistence Of Vision will be right up your alley. Imagining Gibson with a powerhouse drummer on a proper CD release... well it's OK to dream, isn't it?
Mark is currently 25 years old, lives in Northumberland in the North of England, and has been playing guitar for about nine years. He started on the classical guitar when he was about 12 years old, and within a year, was performing at schools around the region. He was later asked to join the local Classical Guitar Ensemble and they performed regular concerts and made a few television appearances. Mark also performed concerts with the Ensemble in St. Petersburg, Russia and studied with many renowned Russian classical musicians. He has studied with acclaimed classical guitarist/composer Gilbert Bibenan. At the age of 14, Mark discovered the electric guitar, and later formed a band, Xylem, to play Extreme, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani covers.
Gibson is currently a member of the progressive/hard rock band everRain. In the future, he hopes to be successful with everRain and as a solo artist.
Contact Information
Mark Gibson
United Kingdom
E-mail:
Mark Gibson
Web site:
www.markgibson.moonfruit.com
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Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
