Guitarist Jim Campilongo is no more a jazz artist and no less eclectic than Norah Jones, his bandmate in their Little Willies side project. Like virtuosi as different from each other as Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, and Pat Meth... more »eny--each of whom Campilongo's music occasionally recalls--he's more concerned with tone, timbre, and space than with show-off runs of hot-licks speed. With his rhythm section almost subliminal, supporting the guitarist rather than pushing him, the trio's music is primarily instrumental, though vocalist Martha Wainwright provides a timewarp turn with her tremulous vocal on Stephen Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer," while Jones cuts to the heart of "Cry Me a River" (also featured as a wiry instrumental). As the name of the album suggests, Campilongo has a knack for the quirky, catchy title, and as Chuck Berry once praised, "He can play the guitar just like ringing a bell" (literally, on the album-opening "The Prettiest Girl in New York"). --Don McLeese« less
Guitarist Jim Campilongo is no more a jazz artist and no less eclectic than Norah Jones, his bandmate in their Little Willies side project. Like virtuosi as different from each other as Chet Atkins, Jeff Beck, and Pat Metheny--each of whom Campilongo's music occasionally recalls--he's more concerned with tone, timbre, and space than with show-off runs of hot-licks speed. With his rhythm section almost subliminal, supporting the guitarist rather than pushing him, the trio's music is primarily instrumental, though vocalist Martha Wainwright provides a timewarp turn with her tremulous vocal on Stephen Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer," while Jones cuts to the heart of "Cry Me a River" (also featured as a wiry instrumental). As the name of the album suggests, Campilongo has a knack for the quirky, catchy title, and as Chuck Berry once praised, "He can play the guitar just like ringing a bell" (literally, on the album-opening "The Prettiest Girl in New York"). --Don McLeese
CD Reviews
Eclectic, magnificent Telecaster
B. P. Price | Portland, OR USA | 01/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't usually like instrumental albums from guitarists all that much. As a player myself, I often find that guitar works best in settings where it is not the sole object of attention.
But there are exceptions, and Jim Campilongo is one of them. Big time.
Jim Campilongo is one of the best guitarists you are likely to hear, and certainly the best Telecaster player you will ever hear. More than that, he is just one of the best musicians I have ever heard, with a love of tone, time and melody that simply makes his work crackle with energy and suspense. He knows his history, and freely echoes Roy Buchanan, Speedy West and Django Reinhardt without ever sounding stale or familiar. They are just ghosts in the room.
Campilongo plays with patience, impeccable timing and an off-kilter sense of humor that brings to mind the likes of Tom Waits as a singer and Thelonious Monk as a composer. Ragged edges are everywhere, slickness is nowhere to be found. Gorgeous, simple melodies are at the core of every piece.
His technique is absolutely awesome, but is used completely in service of the music. He knows, uses and expands every classic Telecaster trick in the book to incredible effect, but only other Telecaster players will know why it sounds go darn good. Everyone else just enjoys the music because it is so immediately involving and emotional.
For those who don't know: the Fender Telecaster is the earliest model of a factory made solid body electric guitar, first produced in 1950 and still made today. It is famous for its twangy, clanky tone, used in countless country and R&B recordings. It is notoriously unforgiving of mistakes and has peculiar limitations due to its primitive design.
Campilongo is one of the great Telecaster players, alongside Roy Buchanan, James Burton, Roy Nichols and Danny Gatton. He embraces all the quirks and limitations to create something of unique and profound beauty.
Enough gushing. Play it again!"
Jim Campilongo Rocks, Swings, and Does A Lot Of Other Things
John Heron | CA, United States | 09/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Jim's guitar sounds a bit like Jerry Garcia met the Ventures on his cover of an old standard, Cry Me A River. Each track has it's own special ambience that keeps this mostly instrumental album from ever sounding too much the same. What an amazing player."
Great Playing + Great Sounds = Great Album
LoveMinusZero | 01/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've seen Jim so many times live and have always loved his playing and the group interplay. Oftentimes it's hard to capture the "magic" of a band that is so good live. This record really does exactly that: you get the feel a wonderful night at the Living Room in NYC with the stellar clean sounds of a high-end recording studio. Really inspired interesting playing from everyone with beautifully recorded sounds. Everyone's ideas are at once surprising and sophisticated, yet very accessible. I find myself listening to it over and over again."
Magnificent, idiosyncratic guitar work
Daniel Gunter | Seattle, WA United States | 02/12/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Every Jim Campilongo CD that appears receives glowing reviews from "Guitar Player" and "Vintage Guitar" magazines--and with good reason. As on this new CD, Campilongo always plays brilliantly. His playing is not merely technically brilliant but also highly intelligent and witty. His sense of humor shows up in some of his song titles--here, for instance, the funky, bend-alicious "Hamster Wheel (Slight Return)." A true master of the Telecaster, Campilongo can play fluid, melodic lines--and he can also devise twisting near-cacophonies: tones from some truly unusual heaven. Some of the music, such as the title song, here, sounds like it could be a soundtrack to a particularly funny David Lynch film.
And for fans of Norah Jones: you really should buy this CD, if only to hear her backed by one of the great guitarists of our time. Campilongo and his band create a great space for her lovely voice."
Heaven is 'wonderfully' Creepy
Elizabeth S. Neumann | Palo Alto, CA USA | 01/03/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Stellar playing (and choices) by Jim Campilongo, carried even further by the bass player, Tim Luntzel. Dan Rieser is excellent on percussion. It's obvious they're thinking and playing as one. Martha Wainwright's 'Beautiful Dreamer' is a pleasant surprise, and works beautifully with the delicate bass playing. Norah Jones, of course, always sounds marvelous. This is a perfect group to back her."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1