Artist/ Band: Gadi Caplan
Title: Look Back Step Forward
Label: Self release
Year of Release: 2013
Offical Artist/ Band Link

The Review:

Writing reviews for solo albums from previously unknown guitarists tend to provide me with my biggest source of surprises – both good and bad. The majority seem to come from flashy technically proficient guitarists with a flair for speed and manual dexterity, dazzling the listener with flash and laser light speed arpeggios, but little in the way of actual melody or songwriting abilities. Each song begins with a basic - and often - simplistic chord progression while the remainder of the tune is relegated to ego inflated speedy finger exercises, which seem to say “check this out”. And after the second or third song I'm bored and ready to move on to the next album in my stack to review.

And then there are those rare instrumental solo guitarists who display both technical proficiency as well as an amazing grasp of songwriting ability. Musicians who incorporate both the tear-jerking melodic sustaining leads of artists like Steve Hackett, David Gilmore, and Andrew Latimer (Camel), with the ferocious speed and dexterity of Robert Fripp and John Petrucci … plus the added bonus of musical composition and a knack for hook laden melodies.

And then there is the music of the Israeli born Boston guitarist Gadi Caplan and his 2013 release “Look Back And Step Forward”, and what we have is a talented musician/songwriter who has created a beautiful smooth jazz fusion album in which he not only displays his varied talents as a master guitarist … but proves himself to be a very generous artists who can step back from the spotlight and let his guest musicians take front and center stage, as on tunes like “It's All The Same” and “Tesha” which are dominated by smokey sax.

Flute, violin, keyboards and piano also take center stage throughout the recording, with the subdued acoustic or electric guitar-work of Gadi Caplan in accompaniment. And where needed Caplan provides his share of rapid-fire flashes of nimble-fingered fretwork with style and panache.

I'm reminded of the early albums of x-Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips in the quiet introspective piece “Charlotte”. While elements of Robert Fripp and the “Starless And Bible Black” era King Crimson filter through the edgier tune “Frostbite”. And intentional or not, traces of jazz guitarist Russ Freemen and his smooth jazz ensemble The Rippertons pop-up throughout “Look Back Step Forward”.

And even a bit of Ozric Tentacles can be heard on eerie mystical tracks like “Indian Summer” and “Monsoon Season”.

The line-up on “Look Back Step Forward” consists of: Gadi Caplan (Guitars), Michael Hruwitz (Keyboards and Piano), Gonzalo Allendes (Keyboards ), Christian Li (Keyboards), Noga Shefi (Bass), Maciej Lewandowski (Bass), Moses Eder ( Drums), Alex Santiago (Drums), Lihi Haruvi (Alto Saxophone), Michael Summer (Tenor Saxophone), Oded Weinstock (Violin), Jussi Reijonen (Oud), and Tucker Antell (Flute).

Highly recommended for fans of smooth jazz fusion.

Reviewed by Joseph Shingler on July 7th, 2013

Tracks:

01. It's All The Same
02. Charlotte
03. Brother
04. Within The Clouds
05. Frostbite
06. Indian Summer
07. Look Back Step Forward
08. Monsoon Season
09. A Latin Winter
10. Tesha

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