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"Jazz is in the sound. Jazz is in the rhythm. And jazz is in the legacy of the music being passed along from musician to musician, and generation to generation. It is our duty, honor, and pleasure to be part of this thread in the fabric of jazz music." - Peter Erskine |
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 Wednesday, 07 January 2009 |
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Brent Magstadt |
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Written by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
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Wednesday, 28 December 2005 |
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I have a problem-There is so much good
music on this CD I am perplexed where to start. I loved every track.
Brent Magstadt is a multi-tasking
musician in the studio and his self-titled album documents his
brilliance. He plays everything from soup to nuts, well actually the
acoustic and electric guitars, bass, percussion & bamboo, along
with some spirited vocals that reminded me of Tommy Shaw during the
vintage Grand Illusion period of Styx. After I listened to
album for the first time, I asked Brent if he was a Styx fan and he
responded with a resounding yes!
This is not an easy task to explain
everything that is happening on this album, let me just say that
there is a multitude of genres bubbling in this musical stew. To make
it a little more clear I would have to place it all squarely in the
jazz-rock-fusion arena, although if you listen enough you will hear
other influences creeping in, like blues and world to name a few. How
many CDs have you heard lately that have a didgeridoo on it? (I love
the name of that instrument! It sounds like something that you would
find in Dr. Seuss story) Check out “Simple Thoughts.”
When the album kicks off with the intro
“L’Inizio” you may think you are in for some kind primal world
tribal hip-hop experience-do not let that throw you off, it is just a
little ditty to get you in some rhythm, and then it segues right into
“Percolator,” which has some rockin’ guitar licks to get your
juices flowing. Then as quickly as that song kicks in it changes with
some jazzy sax sounds with a funky rhythm section, then some choppy
riffs from Magstadt’s six-string. When it reaches its completion,
Magstadt does his best to wow you with some amazing fretwork. I mean
the dude is on fire, he really impresses as a versatile and together
musician. There is so much happening in one song! This is the premise
of the entire recording so expect to be “locked in” while
listening from start to finish. And just to show you that there is
more to him than playing instruments, he lets loose with a great
vocal arrangement called “All Of Your Toys.” It points to
corporate America and the excessiveness and greedy people that are
running the show. The track features some nice acoustic guitar work
that gently invites a more significant electric guitar sound that
gives it a slick modern day rock sound. “Samba de los Rockos” is
a Latin flavored composition full of vibrant and colorful expressions
making it one of the more interesting tracks on the CD. One moment
you feel like doing the Samba then a trumpet comes in and paints the
picture of a bullfighter taking his last stand against his foe, then
all the timbales and congas get in a groove and have you dancing in
your seat. It is all great stuff.
With this much to say about a few
tracks it certainly must have peaked your interest by now? Well, I
hope so, because that is the tip of the iceberg. If you like nothing
but variety for your listening experience that is what you will get
on this CD in every track. Brent Magstadt may be the most significant
and innovative artist that you have never heard.
© Keith "MuzikMan"
Hannaleck-
http://www.muzikreviews.com
- Brent
L. Magstadt-acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, vocals,
percussion & bamboo
- Jack
Barbash-electric piano
- Richard
Persons-horns
- Van
Crozier-saxophones
- Scott
C. Fishbach-didgeridoos
- Fletcher
Andrews-drum kit, tablas, congas, timbale, miscellaneous percussion
- Luke
McQuillin-electric guitars
- Doug
Findley-tenor saxophone
- Annie
Roberts-cello
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