Search - William Ash :: The Phoenix

Straight & to the point

N. Dorward | Toronto, ON Canada | 01/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nothing fancy about this album: Ash is a guitarist who's upfront about his dedication to the Wes Montgomery sound, & it's front & centre in this stripped-down guitar/bass/drums trio disc (with bassist Dwayne Burno & drummer Mark Taylor). Ash writes good, unfussy tunes, usually just a riff over straight-arrow chord changes; he has a veiled, unsentimental guitar sound; & though he's got plenty of chops (just listen to the uncompromisingly fast reading of the Charlie Parker tune "Constellation") he doesn't usually blitz the listener, just winds round the chords like ivy. The dark, moody, live-in-the-studio sound is old-fashioned--producer Luke Kaven says he wanted something that sounded like "the warm sound of a Rock-Old jukebox playing your favorite 45s". Without the artificial separation there's occasionally a slight buzz on the drums picked up from the guitar, but it's never displeasing. If you're a big fan of Wes or Grant Green or other less-is-more jazz guitarists, then give this one a try: it's a small album, but built to last."