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
