Cruel Sea - California Guitar Trio, Maxfield, Mike
Music for a Found Harmonium - California Guitar Trio, Jeffes, Simon
Unmei - California Guitar Trio, Beethoven, Ludwig v
Echoes - California Guitar Trio, Gilmour, David
Tubular Bells - California Guitar Trio, Oldfield, Mike
Pastorale - California Guitar Trio, Beethoven, Ludwig v
Bohemian Rhapsody - California Guitar Trio, Mercury, Freddie
And I Know - California Guitar Trio, Anselmo
Free Bird - California Guitar Trio, Collins, Allen
The California Guitar Trio have always played cover versions but on Echoes, these graduates of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists go over the top in paying homage to their roots. From progressive rock to arena roc... more »k, art music to classical music, they bring it all to their 18 strings. Although their primary instruments are acoustic guitars, they aren't averse to a little electric processing and that helps them when they tackle two progressive rock epics, Pink Floyd's "Echoes" and Mike Oldfield's ?Tubular Bells.? They compress them both in time, but hit the highlights, exposing new, pastoral nuances in "Echoes" and just ripping into "Tubular Bells" to reveal its minimalist roots. These two tracks alone make Echoes worth it. CGT violate the purity of their trio concept with side musicians on a few tracks, including bassist Tony Levin and stick player Tom Griesgraber, who allow them to plug into the electric energy of some of the music. Although the two vocal tracks at the end, sung by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a.k.a. Will Oldham, seem out of place in this instrumental setting, the closer makes it worthwhile. CGT responds to that bane of all progressive rock concerts, answering the shouted request for Lynard Skynard's "Freebird" by actually playing it, albeit in a reggae groove. -- John Diliberto« less
The California Guitar Trio have always played cover versions but on Echoes, these graduates of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists go over the top in paying homage to their roots. From progressive rock to arena rock, art music to classical music, they bring it all to their 18 strings. Although their primary instruments are acoustic guitars, they aren't averse to a little electric processing and that helps them when they tackle two progressive rock epics, Pink Floyd's "Echoes" and Mike Oldfield's ?Tubular Bells.? They compress them both in time, but hit the highlights, exposing new, pastoral nuances in "Echoes" and just ripping into "Tubular Bells" to reveal its minimalist roots. These two tracks alone make Echoes worth it. CGT violate the purity of their trio concept with side musicians on a few tracks, including bassist Tony Levin and stick player Tom Griesgraber, who allow them to plug into the electric energy of some of the music. Although the two vocal tracks at the end, sung by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a.k.a. Will Oldham, seem out of place in this instrumental setting, the closer makes it worthwhile. CGT responds to that bane of all progressive rock concerts, answering the shouted request for Lynard Skynard's "Freebird" by actually playing it, albeit in a reggae groove. -- John Diliberto
CD Reviews
Finally! This has been long awaited.
E. Minkovitch | Montreal, Quebec | 07/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another superb album from these guitar maestros. This album is a bit of a breather from their usual mind-boggling complexity and sophistication, but not for the reasons you might think - the arrangements and the music are just as complex as ever, but this time the music is very familiar. Nearly all the pieces are well-known in popular or classical music. Their arrangements are nothing short of spectacular and offer new insights into these time-tested masterpieces. Although very faithful renditions, they are not mere copies, but rather original interpretations. I particularly like Pink Floyd's Echoes, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and of course, the showcase - Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, reproduced note-for-note, solos, choruses and all - without vocals. Bethoven's 5th, first movement is done in a surf-rock style of the Ventures, whose "The Cruel Sea" is also included. There is a Celtic-like footstomper from Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and a movement from Beethoven's Pastorale arranged in a traditional classical manner. A very atmospheric song "And I Know" with vocals (can anyone comment - is it a cover or a new song?) and "Free Bird" conclude the album. The latter is a real surprise, the slide guitar and the fiery dual guitar leads are faithfully Skynyrd-like (I cannot imagine playing those leads on hard acoustic guitar strings), and the exaggerated vocals sound as if the singer downed a bottle of good southern whisky before going to the studio. Someone put in a bit of light percussion to fill out the sound, and the cover version turns out as good as any I've heard of this classic song. For me this is a special album, since I saw them do these songs live at the Montreal Jazz festival in 2007, hoping they would record them, and here we are. This album captures the magic of that concert very well. A must for CGT fans."
Echoes of a Masterpiece
Hill and Dale | Atlanta, GA USA | 09/05/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The exquisite notes from this project will echo gracefully through your mind and soul long after you take your first listen. California Guitar Trio have surpassed themselves once again on this latest cd. Surprise after surprise comes with some very familiar covers of some of Progressive Rocks greatest songs: Pink Floyd's Echoes and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Each with a special touch that brands it CGT while remaining incredibly faithful to the original. The classical pieces are also treated with the same panache. Two rock classics are also included that Garth and Wayne would be especially proud of: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Freebird by Lynard Skynard. Get your lighter's out folk, CGT has triumphed again. For fans and newbies this is a must have."
Echoing my support for this album
Darla | Los Angeles, CA | 06/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a long time fan of the CGT, my expectations are high with each release, and their latest, 'Echoes', exceeded my expectations. The Trio's technical skills always astound, but the variety of music on this disc makes it truly special. With vocals on a few tracks from Bonnie Prince Billy, this is a must have CD for true music aficionados."
More Than Echoes
David Dickens | 12/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The California Guitar Trio is known for their live performances, which never fail to astound and delight their audiences. In a typical show you will hear a mixture of classical, rock, surf music, progressive rock... you name it. You will hear cover songs, but you will also hear many amazingly complex and beautiful original compositions. Audiences have grown to love their approachable performance style and the unbelievably precise manner and focus in which the three musicians play.
Then came Echoes and the rules changed.
While the precision and focus of their live performances is there in Echoes, this Collection of Great Cover Songs brings old friends and those who have just discovered CGTrio a whole new set of textures and depth to explore. I hesitate to call the album lush, because it is a word that is over-used, but that's exactly what Echoes is. There is much to discover in this album.
An earlier reviewer mentioned Tony Levin and Tom Griesgraber as two of the contributors to this wonderful album. Tony is a well know master bass player who always provides stellar performances and who has played with CGTrio for a long time. Tom is an amazingly talented Chapman Stick player whose solo albums are must-haves for any California Guitar Trio fan.
What else can I say about Echoes? Well, I'll say this much about the title track: I think The Floyd would be very pleased with the tribute The California Guitar Trio has paid them with this track.
Buy this album, go see The California Guitar Trio perform live, and you will be much richer for the experience.
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1