Search - California Guitar Trio :: Pathways

Absolutely superb

spiral_mind | 11/08/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think that it is hard to come accross an album that is so easy on the ear and enjoyable as this one.An absolute must buy for anyone who appreciates the classical tones of guitarists!"

Acoustic bliss.

spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 09/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Three guitars performing a set of laid-back originals and tackling some Beethoven in the process? It may look like a new-age gimmick at first. But there's really little fluff to be found in the CGT catalogue; they're one of the most cerebral and disciplined guitar groups around, even if they occasionally touch on the realm of Muzak and NPR. Maybe it's inevitable. What sets them apart is their inhumanly-tight interplay, their melodic inventiveness and their stylistic range that knows no boundaries. Duke Ellington, Bach, Dick Dale, Queen, Japanese folk, Yes, Mussorgsky, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a range of inventive originals.. the Trio's covered them all.



Regardless, it's a rare thing to hear so much talent and virtuosity presented so un-pretentiously. It takes some good skill to tackle Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" on guitar for example (especially the rapid-fire Presto Agitato movement) as they do here, and their original compositions are marvels of fluid guitar interplay. They don't just play jumbles of notes clamoring on top of each other - the melodies weave over and around each other without ever becoming static, and their skill with melody makes it all beautifully listenable rather than hitting you over the head with dizzying blizzards of flashy technique. Outside guests pop up on sax and Warr guitar from time to time, but for the most part it just focuses on Paul, Bert and Hideyo doing what they do best.



Pathways also had the highest concentration of original CGT songs to date at the time. Their newest album Whitewater shows just how far they've come in the writing department; on this one, their originals and well-chosen covers were balanced to the best effect of any of their albums. Maybe I could wish they'd covered more of a classical range instead of devoting three tracks to Beethoven alone, but that's a small quibble. The fun factor of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" being followed by the surf-guitar classic "Misirlou" does earn them some points.



Pathways is one of the best intros to the group out there, although Whitewater and Rocks The West won't disappoint either. And don't miss them on tour - they do all this stuff live and then some."