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| Guitarist Gene Ess "Sandbox and Sanctum" New album release “Sandbox and Sanctum” is Ess’s latest work. It is a series of eight (8) original compositions tied together into a song cycle for quartet. The music takes us through an audio journey of all things innocently joyful and sacred in our lives. The performance on this album is filled with individual fire and collective coherence. The album features master bassist Harvie S, along with expressive drummer Gene Jackson and Grammy nominated, Donny McCaslin. Both McCaslin and Jackson add their prodigious talents throughout Ess’s innovative compositions. McCaslin’s angular lines on the first track “Free 2 Fast” create a memorable solo propelled by Jackson’s rhythmic comping. Ess burns throughout the album with a deep woody tone creating lines lyrical and compelling. Guitar Player Magazine has described Ess’s compositions as “electrifying fusion, played with solid technique and soul”. Wayne Zade from AAJ states “Ess is a full-fledged master of taste and touch. His solos are model essays of eloquence and compression. His very special moments occur on acoustic guitar on Ballad for a Swordsman and a very electric rock-ish Sun Matsuri.” 2005 - Sandbox and Sanctum, Song Cycle for Quartet SIMP Records, USA Line Up: Gene Ess (Guitars), Donny McCaslin (Tenor, Soprano Saxophone), Harvie S (Bass) Gene Jackson (Drums) write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |