Search - Steve Erquiaga :: Erkilogy

Among the finest fusion albums ever recorded

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 06/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Steve Erquiaga in many ways was the backbone of Andy Narell's finest recordings, "Light in Your Eyes," "Slow Motion," and "Stickman." His lithe, sinuous rhythm guitar always seemed to zero in on the exact right sensibility Narell strove for in his island/fusion conception. His solo outing, "Erkiology," was not much regarded during the Narell band's heyday, and it's almost off the radar screen these days. Too bad.This is one fine album, among the greatest fusion efforts of its type. Why? First, Erquiaga proves himself to be quite a composer. He's mastered that fine line between compositional rigor and saccharin sweetness that so often does in jazz-fusion efforts. None of that gag-me-with-a-spoon stuff you get from many jazz/fusion outing. Check out almost any one of the songs, "San Sebastian," with it's ancien myterioso sensibility; "Pick It Up," with its impossibly natty island groove, brilliantly transformed mid-cut with a completely unexpected rhythmic shift and Narell coming in with some perfect guest steel-pan playing; the title cut, with its California live-oak-on-golden-hillside feel, "Afro-Centric," with its subtle synth washes courtesy of the great Mitchell Forman, its deep sax groove, and Erquiaga's finest solo on record. Second, his bandmates, especially Glen Cronkhite on percussion, always seem to provide the perfect atmosphere for him to unfold his unfailingly interesting melodic and rhythmic conceptions. Third, Erquiaga is, simply, a great guitarist, whether playing tasty rhythmic fills or single-note runs.Erquiaga, of course, went on to record some wonderful jazz/classical records, but this remains for me the pinnacle of his remarkable career.Eminently listenable, perfectly conceptualized, brilliantly pulled off, this, for me, represents the absolute high point of jazz fusion."

The FINEST Jazz-Fusion Guitar Work Out There !

Sherri | Trinity County, CA, USA | 04/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This work came out in 1990. I just heard it in 2006. This is, by far, the best jazz fusion guitar work that I've ever heard!! What a shame that this artist, apparently, hasn't done anything similar since then (at least...not that I have found). The guitar work is impeccable. The chord changes and musical rhythm are, at once, complex yet fluid. Other fusion guitarists with much more work out there don't come close to this work. Treat yourself and get this CD (even though, as usual, Amazon doesn't have samples of this magnificent work)! Mr. Erquiaga, PLEASE DO MORE OF THIS KIND OF WORK!"