Search - Ray Russell :: Goodbye Svengali

Magnum Opus From a Master Craftsman

S. W. Brown | LaGrange, GA, USA | 05/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After spending the past few months visiting and re-visiting Ray's back catalogue ( never a disappointment ), which includes RMS, Protocol, Rock Follies, Rock Workshop, Running Man, etc. etc., I was ready for this. With high expectations in tow ( often dangerous ), this release still managed to deliver the goods in a way that only Ray can. His talents are not limited by the instruments or devices he utilizes. He is an artist and explorer of the first order. This CD, thankfully released by Cuneiform, is marvelously produced, packaged, and most importantly, performed. Ray and his associates, Simon Phillips, Gary Husband, Mo Foster, Tony Hymas, et al are up-to-task. In this event that means to celebrate the late, great Gil Evans. Svengali is even featured on keyboards on the Mingus classic, "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat". Nearly all tracks are written and superbly arranged by Russell. This is a must-have CD. We need more musicians like Ray: challenging, yet available. If you know Ray's work or not - a big "green light" on this one!"

Razor sharp guitar, cold setting, a great discovery!

Triniman | Winnipeg, MB | 02/28/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is Triniman from Blogcritics and Triniman's Blog.



Goodbye Svengali is dedicated to ledgendary composer, leader, producer and musician Gil Evans (1912-1988.) I heard about Ray Russell a couple of months ago when I heard one of his songs on a sampler from Wire Magazine. I was blown away by the performance of the title track, with its lone trumpet intro and dark, cool, atmospheric feel and guitar playing that bursts out of the silence like a fireball at night.



The album has some spooky fusion moments, and is at times experimental sounding. Even on the quiet tracks like Without A Trace, and Wailing Wall, the sound of Russell's lone guitar with its otherworldly harmonics, echoing, is sad and majestic at the same time. I love that sort of contradiction in music. If you're expecting straight-ahead jazz, look elsewhere.



Ray's guitar sound can be delicate or indistinguishable from the balance of ferocity and skill of some of the major rock virtuosos, like Jeff Beck.



The sound is first rate, as well. Ray Russell is well known to musicians but not as well known to the public at large. Goodbye Svengali isn't easy listening music by any strecth. It's challenging without suffocating you in it's presentation, which mists around you and is punctuated with flashes of Russell's electric guitar lightning.



One thing is for sure, after playing this CD over and over, I would love to see Ray Russell live!"