Search - Bill Connors :: Theme to the Guardian

Connors shines in solo acoustic outing

07/18/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Back around 1974 (when this recording was originally made), solo recordings of acoustic guitartists in a jazz setting were quite rare. Even more unusual in that this is no bebop record of recordings of well-known jazz standards done for the umpteenth time. Nearly all of the music is written by Connors. Connors may be best known as the first guitartist in Chick Coreas "Return to Forever" fusion band (on 1973's "Hymn of the 7th Galaxy"). Connors left Coreas group to concentrateon his acoustic playing, the fruits of which best can be heard on the only 2 solo recordings Bill did, "Swimming With A Hole In My Body" (sadly out of print), and here on "Theme". In the later 70's Connors stayed in his unique, creative acoustic mode on recordings with such jazz leaders as pianist Paul Bley and saxophonists Lee Knoitz, Jimmy Guiffre, and in ECM recording artist Jan Garbarek's group as well as recording "Of Mist and Melting" (again f! or the ECM label) in a quartet setting with drummer Jack Dejohnette, bassist Gary Peacock, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek. This recording, along with the previously mentioned "Swimming" foreshadowed the "New Age" movement spearheaded by the Windham Hill artists who recorded tons of solo acoustic guitar records starting in the early 80's. Connors later returned to the electric guitar fusion recordings in the early 80's, echoing his best-known work with the Return to Forever group from 1973. Connors fans however know just how innovative Bill has been, laying the groundwork for fellows like Al Dimeola (who replaced Bill in Return to Forever) in the fusion world and then trailblazing the whole New Age acoustic movement years before the term even existed. This recording is pastoral, pretty, longing, and innovative as well as musical in the best sense of the words. Gary Hayden"

A Different Side of Bill Connors - Quite Beautiful!

P. McKenna | Atlanta GA | 04/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just after leaving Return to Forever and doing some sessions (most notably Stanley Clarke's s/t solo album), Bill Connors had a life altering experience. This was hearing a Julian Bream disc called "20th Century Guitar". In short order, Bill put down his Gibson Les Paul/Marshall amp combination and took up the acoustic guitar just about the time he inked a solo artist deal with the ECM label.



What resulted was a very colorful and haunting set of original solo acoustic guitar pieces. Free of the constraints of a band, Bill is able to let forth some very colorful and dense melodic and harmonic ideas, that would find an even fuller realization on his subsequent solo disc "Swimming With A Hole In My Body".



Very highly recommended

"

Amazing then...Amazing now

P. McKenna | 03/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was way ahead of it's time. Today it's as fresh as it was then. If you are a musician, the chords,"melody",and song structure are amazing. If you are a listener, the music is smooth, calm but haunting and etherial."