Search - Neil Zaza :: When Gravity Fails

BIG AND POWERFUL

The Electroacoustic Metallurgist | USA | 05/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Naturally I've listened to the guitar instrumental albums by Joe Satriani , Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Buckethead, Steve Morse, Eric Johnson, Gary Hoey and others, and enjoy listening to certain offerings from each, particularly Buckethead and Satriani; Buckethead for his uniqueness, diversity and interesting arrangements, and Satriani for his beautiful melodies. But while all of the above guitarists are certainly proficient in the technical aspects of the instrument, ALL of their recordings have the same common, and in my opinion, substantial flaw... a very small scope of sound. That is to say, the guitar is naturally in the forefront moving the song along and providing the melody, but with very little to no attention given to the backing instruments. They are just that, instruments in the background that add little or nothing to the song, and usually not much in addition to a drum machine providing a beat for the guitarist to gallop up and down the fretboard to. All of this lack of looking at the big picture results in a very 'small' and uninteresting overall sound, which generally results in putting me into a deep slumber in no time at all. A guitar alone does not a song make.



Well my friends, there is a cure for this ever too common problem: Neil Zaza. Neil plays the guitar as beautifully and proficiently as any of the above guitarists, but he has taken it to the next level. Neil has decidedly chosen not to focus entirely on His guitar, he has also concerned himself with the rest of the sound, yes, the accompanying instruments. Imagine that, backing/accompanying instruments, and a variety of them, that actually play a worthwhile role on a guitar instrumental album. The result is a BIG and POWERFULL sound that is interesting and exciting to listen to, and does anything but send you off to a visit with the Sandman.



Also of note, which furthers my contention of concern for the big picture, Neil has brought in first class living-breathing musicians to accompany him on this album, most notably, Peter Frampton, Jordan Rudess, Michael Anthony and Bobby Rock! If you think you might be interested in a guitar virtuoso that has taken it to the next level, a level you likely didn't even know existed, Neil is the man. I highly recommend this album, and Neil's other albums too.

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