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Skill and Musicality Mark Instrumental Release
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Los Angles guitarist Marcel Wittfeld possesses an over-the-top arsenal of contemporary electric guitar techniques, yet also has developed compositional chops and the sensitivity required to pull off convincing classical statements. Marcel Wittfeld, his new, independently released instrumental CD release completely demonstrates his top-notch musicianship and passionate, high tech guitar playing. Marcel Wittfeld was produced by Wittfeld, and contains worthy contributions by British guitar prodigy Thomas McRocklin and drummer Jim Keltner. Most noises (locomotives, whales) on the album were produced with Wittfeld's guitar, even though no synthesizers, whammy pedals or harmonizers were used.
Wittfeld was born in 1972 in Aachen, West Germany, and he began classical guitar studies at the age of 11. Later, Wittfeld completed a degree program in classical guitar at the Academy of Music in Cologne as a member of Prof. Tadashi Sasaki's master-class. He then completed his first demo at the age of 18, which led to a record deal and features in guitar magazines in Germany and the U.S.A. In addition, Wittfeld also found time to co-found the first German Institute for Guitar and Bass in Julich, Germany.
While Wittfeld owes an obvious debt to guitarist Steve Vai, one can sense he's only scratched the surface of what he's capable of producing. Elements of both Greg Howe and Ronnie Montrose stylings are also evident in his technique, and coupled with his classical background, make Wittfeld's musical influences broader in scope than many young guitarists. In any event, Vai never recorded anything like the Marcel Wittfeld CD.
Contact Information
Marcel Wittfeld
1567 Waldran Avenue
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
United States
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Inspiring Others to Find the Inspiration in Themselves
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Victor Sabula's solo debut release, Between Two Seas, contains both inventive and introspective acoustic vocal numbers and otherworldly, sci-fi instrumental tapestries. Sabula is not afraid to experiment, using layering, delay and open tunings to create some provocative guitaristic strangeness. Sabula's "Symphony Of Deconstruction", for example, is an instrumental of layered and blended guitar sounds that tends toward the hypnotic at times, but varies the central motif in order to maintain interest.
Beginning on the drums at age nine, Sabula has since channeled the majority of his creative talents into his guitar playing, although he also plays keyboards, bass, and a hazardous circular saw blade kit. Working in both traditional and non-traditional tunings on both acoustic and electric guitars, the hallmark of Sabula's style, as evidenced on Between Two Seas, is its eclecticism, spontaneity and genuine experimental optimism. In addition to his solo works, Sabula, under the alias Victim Longmont, is also a member of two Cleveland-based projects, The Salad Years and Tamerlane, which create music in the science fiction rock vein. Sabula also enjoys playing solo guitar at local coffee shops and an occasional film festival.
Sabula's goal is to gain the attention of an independent label that will assist him in producing his compositions and promoting them to a wider audience without pressures and big business glamour. Regardless, Sabula plans to continue the exploration of his creativity, through musical and non-musical methods.
Contact Information
Victor Sabula
11207 Clifton Blvd.
Cleveland, OH 44102
United States
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Vol. 17, No. 2: Feb.-Mar. 2012
