ALLAN HOLDSWORTH – Flat Tire : Music for a Non-Existent Movie (2001-2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flat Tire is a departure in that it is Allan Holdsworth's first unaccompanied record, executed with the Synthaxe guitar synthesizer. Holdsworth uses the instrument not only to play basslines, string- and choir-like chord swells, and quicksilver single-note lines, but also to trigger drum patches. The result is more of a one-man band effect than a solo guitar performance. Some of the synth sounds are quite reminiscent of his 1987 album Sand. The music is a bit static and repetitive overall, particularly on tracks like "Please Hold On," "So Long," and "Don't You Know," during which single lines flutter over subtly shifting rubato harmonies. The brassy chords that surface during "The Duplicate Man" are perhaps the best example of Holdsworth's sonic creativity. More varied and rewarding are the tempo-based tracks, particularly "Eeny Meeny" and "Bo Peep," both of which feature bassist Dave Carpenter, who played on 2000's excellent The Sixteen Men of Tain. Other highlights include the quasi-African percussion collage of "Snow Moon" and the steady groove and syncopations of "Curves." Certainly not the best introduction to Holdsworth's music, but his die-hard fans will want to pay it close attention. David R. Adler  
Tracklist :
1.        The Duplicate Man [Intro]    1:52
2.        The Duplicate Man    4:42
3.        Eeny Meeny    4:48
4.        Please Hold On    4:00
5.        Snow Moon    8:04
6.        Curves    5:36
7.        So Long    5:31
8.        Bo Peep    3:47
9.        Don't You Know    9:12
Credits :  
Acoustic Bass – Dave Carpenter (tracks: 3, 8)
Guitar, SynthAxe, Producer – Allan Holdsworth

V.A. — The Music of Eric von Essen, Vol. I (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

West Coast bassist/composer Von Essen died prematurely in his sleep of a heart attack at age 43 but left behind some 100 compositions, and many bandmates are dedicated to making sure his music gets heard. This is one of three proposed volumes that will assure Von Essen's sounds are known to a jazz public that probably never heard of him. That will change, for this is a wonderful initial outing, played by five different groups. Pianists Alan Pasqua and Alan Broadbent lead trios on two tracks apiece. Pasqua, with Dave Carpenter on bass and Peter Erskine on drums, uses an urgent ticktock to a light beat under a languid, beauteous piano melody on "Silvana," while "Blues For Carin'" is an easily swung, ultra-melodic number with Pasqua using Chick Corea or Thelonious Monk-like techniques. Broadbent swings "Blues Puzzle" with Putter Smith's bass way up in the mix, while the lament "Nowhere" starts with solo 88s, then Smith and drummer Kendall Kay join on this most pristine ballad. Electric guitarist Nels Cline and pianist David Witham lead a quartet for the urgent, modal to swinging "Peacemaker," as familiar a theme as the public might recognize, and the easy flowing waltz "For Me" sports some lustrous unison lines. Violinist Jeff Gauthier and acoustic guitarist Cline in finger-style mode use a chamber-style approach à la Oregon for "Incomplete Circle" in phrases of seven and four beats, while the slow waltz "Departure" has Gauthier in mournful yet optimistic spirits. Stacy Rowles plays poignant trumpet or flugelhorn with Larry Koonse's tender electric guitar in separate lines on the contemporary ballad "Love Song For Kirsi" and works in tandem on the easy, straight-ahead swinger "Benny" for Benny Golson, using phraseology from Golson's "Whisper Not." Tom Warrington, in Von Essen's spirit, evokes the composer's persona with a deftly plucked bass solo. If this is only a portent of future volumes to come, it's quite an auspicious starting point. One can only look at future issuance of Von Essen's musical brilliance with hope and grand expectation. Highly recommended. Michael G. Nastos   Tracklist & Credits :