The Guitar Player's Resource
Mad Jazz Guitar is the title of the primarily instrumental CD-R release from England's Chanan Hanspal, who blends jazz, classical, rock and blues in a unique fashion, using his ample playing technique to stun the listener. The album uses a number of samples from film and television to highlight various songs, which is either a creative boon, or an exercise in tedium, depending on your personal preferences about such things. Focusing on the music, the jazz/fusion vibe punctuated by some heavy shred guitar was quite uplifting; Hanspal can also deliver some fine clean, melodic guitar improvs, as he does on "Spoonface". Great examples of Hanspal's fine chord work can be heard on "Timid Timmy". Fans of heavy rock fusion will get off on the blazing opening track "Juniper". Hanspal has thoughtfully included something for everyone here on Mad Jazz Guitar, music to excite and enrich.
Chanan has lived in London for the last 10 years spending his time writing, recording and performing his music, and he has had the good fortune to work with some exceptional musicians who have helped him turn some of the musical manifestations of his imagination into tangible products. He has performed with singers such as Kylie Minogue, Geri Halliwell, and the opera singer Summer, and has appeared in the Gary Oldman film "Nil By Mouth". In 1999 he toured with former Galliano vocalist Valerie Etienne. Chanan has berated such notable musicians as Mike Stern, Herbie Hancock and Nigel Kennedy, even trying to extract compensation from Kennedy's agent for a missed appointment (didn't work). He's got nothing but nice things to say about Minogue's bum.
Hanspal continues to do the odd high profile gig, performing with his band and building his studio. He is presently working on some monstrous guitar orientated material, which should be available very soon, so stay tuned.