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Looper's Delight
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Hi all...just got back from a cross-country trek (played solo looping shows in Utah, Nebraska, South Dakota, Idaho, wyoming...all the places we looper's don't usually get to (unless there is a Snake River LoopFest in the works that I have not heard of....) All the shows were warmly recieved, even tho I was more than once greeted with the (somewhat expected) "how'd you do that?" Nontheless, it was a gas, and a relative success. Just wanted to congratulate all the Y2K2 Loopers...I wish I coulda been there! And another big salute to Rick! Oh..to the point. I found my new CD reviewed at bassically.net, and thought I might share with you (since everyone here seems to enjoy posting their reviews!) "From Ekstasis Productions comes bassist Max Valentino's debut solo project, A Caravan of Dreams. On his first self-produced outing, Valentino paints haunting soundscapes, explores exotic Middle Eastern flavors, and reveals hints of Spanish vibes. Utilizing his instrument of choice, the Godin A4 acoustic bass guitar, throughout the majority of the tracks, and state-of-the-art sound processing technology, Valentino has assembled a thoughtfully textured collection of multi-dimensional, looped-based compositions. While most of the tracks found on this recording are based on live improvisations, you'd never be able to tell it. These tracks sound so good, it seems like Valentino's dense orchestrations were meant to be. Although some tracks are developed into seriously interwoven electronic arrangements, Valentino's acoustic bass guitar lends an organic feel throughout his music. Unlike the rut in which many of today's contemporary bass loopers find themselves falling into, Valentino is able to maintain the listeners attention from start to finish. Valentino's compositions are all wide ranging in sounds, styles, and textures. During his sonic exhibitions, Valentino demonstrates his skills as a composer by producing completely eclectic, unaccompanied compositions with intense chordal workouts, slapping, two-handed tapping, and traditional fingerstyle techniques. Lush chordal sequences, lyrically improvised melodic phrases, and percussive-laden figures are all infused into this recording. A complete track listing includes: "Into That Still Dark Night", "Alegria", "Here & Now", "Djam Karet", "Drifting", "A Caravan of Dreams", "Farfetched", "Anika's Tune", "Hidden Roads", "Ghost Town", and "Into That Still Dark Night (Reprise)." Bottom Line: With his debut release, A Caravan of Dreams, Max Valentino has redefined the future of solo bass performance. Emotionally evocative, wholly musical, and technically awe-inspiring best describe this recording." The CD is heavily loop-laden, which is barely mentioned here, but then again it is a bass-site. Nonetheless, it was a good thing to come home to. Max _________________________________________________________________ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com