Search - Daryl Stuermer :: Live & Learn

Better live than this disk - seriously, please read

Robert Greiveldinger | Milwaukee, WI, USA | 05/08/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"As an amateur guitarist, and someone who has seen Daryl Stuermer perform live more often than any of these other reviewers (I live in Milwaukee, Daryl's home town, and I've seen him perform live solo over 30 times in the last five years - and that dosen't even include his performances I've witnessed with Genesis or John Luc Ponty)I must disagree with the high marks given by the other reviewers on this album. I will agree that Daryl is an excellent guitarist; his ability to articulate a high-speed melody while driving his band during a solo is very impressive. Case in point: Recently I saw Jeff Beck perform in Milwaukee. His own performances of 'Lead Boots' and 'Freeway Jam', two songs Daryl has covered in live performances locally, were far less exciting, dramatic, and articulate than Daryl's covers, (which is kinda sad if you think about it). My point is this: Daryl is best when he is performing LIVE. His solo albums (this one, Stepping Out, and Another Side of Genesis) all come across as sounding cold. They are technically efficient, but are stripped of both the power or emotion of their live performances. You may say that this is true of many guitarists, but in Daryl's case it is true to a fault. Do not swallow the other reviews on this site without considering this one as well. Don't get me wrong - I personally think Daryl is one of the best professional guitarists I've ever seen, but this album fails to showcase his true merits. Daryl has a jazzy instrumental disk coming out later this year, again w/vocalist Amy Keyes. A live album of Midwest performances would be an even better idea. Just FYI. :-)"

As to be expected from Daryl, GREAT STUFF!!

03/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Daryl and the folks at Urban Island.I have been a fan of Daryl's own music since Steppin' Out was released on "that other label". It is the best instrumental album I've ever heard and remains so today in my library (Above and beyond Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson.) Talk about an album grabbing on to you and not letting go! Still just as exciting today as it was eight years ago when I first heard it. On to Live and Learn.As to be expected from Daryl, GREAT STUFF!! I was only so-so on Live and Learn at first. I think I was expecting much more of the same as Steppin' Out, but the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. I've really come to enjoy it and listen to it rather frequently. Excellent for the drive home from work. Helps take my mind off the work day. I especially enjoy Morning Train, Live and Learn, American Fields, Highland Hip Hop, Yin Yan Boogie and Determined the best. The rest are good, but these stand out for me as the best on the album. I put it on and let it go from one end to the other with no complaints about any of it along the way. Always enjoy the sound of Daryl's electric guitar work that really propels his music. I haven't been a big fan of the nylon string guitar, but the music is so well written and so well played that I'm finding myself wondering why I didn't care for it. Take a bow Daryl! You've converted someone to your side of the fence! I enjoy the extremely crisp playing and the tonality is second to none on both guitars. While Steppin' Out is still my favorite, Live and Learn is right up there! I am certainly looking forward to more in the future. Keep up the good work Daryl!A loyal fan.Dale A. DeVene Jr."

A Tour-de-Force! No longer JUST Phil Collins' guitarist!

02/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Unless you're a music fan who checks the names of individual members of popular acts, you may not know who Daryl Stuermer is. He has recorded or toured with such acts as Phil Collins (for many years), Genesis, Jean-Luc Ponty (mid to late '70's; plays the tremendous acoustic guitar solo on "Renaissance", a classic from the "Aurora" album), Frida (of Abba fame; remember that guitar in "There's Something Going On"?), the Phil Collins duet with Raymond Bailey ("Easy Lover") and I'm sure many others. He also had a solo album in the early '90's (which I believe is now out of print) called "Steppin' Out". To be honest with you, despite some fine moments on that album, I didn't think he could match his best work with Jean-Luc Ponty, who's music as you may know can be very challenging.I'm here to tell you, this guy is BACK!! This most recent release covers a lot of different styles (rock, jazz, new age, world music) with true virtuosity. Some of this might not appeal to fans of guitarists like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai (as these great guitarists tend to keep an edge throughout their recordings, with maybe a small number of mellow songs). Stuermer's songs are a bit more varied in terms of styles. He mixes them up pretty well, and the last four songs closing the CD leave a trail of fire and smoke behind as he absolutely RIPS through the final track "Determined".Is every song a killer? No, the two vocal tracks just can't match the rest of the CD in terms of quality. Hey, I'm not a professional music critic but I know I always fast forward when those two vocal tracks come up. Stuermer sings on one of them and sounds OK (a little like Robbie Robertson). The song (the title track "Live and Learn") starts out OK, but ends up sounding a bit too smooth jazzy/ pop for my taste; you can be the judge here.Do NOT let that stop you from buying this CD! Even if you only have a passing interest in the variety of styles Stuermer plays here, you will no doubt agree his name belongs right up there with the Satriani's, Vai's, Johnson's, Morse's and Beck's of the world. In summary, this album deserves a nomination in every guitar magazine poll for Best Overall Guitar Album of the Year. Buy it!"