New from the Butch Baldassari,
The Vespa Love Festival Sessions
.

Though the mandolin (in one incarnation or another) has long established roots in classical music dating back to Vivaldi, it remains largely recognized publicly for its prominence in American Bluegrass, and arguably to a slightly lesser degree, Celtic, other American Folk Music, and of course the Brazilian (Bandolim) Choro. Butch Baldassari has demonstrated a proficiency in all of these in his long-established career as premier performer, studio musician, and clinician.

In 2002, he pioneered the use of the mandolin in a slightly lesser known but marketable New Age project with Dave Hofner in Silent Sound, Nightfall, a quietly meditative lullaby-like collection of reflective instrumental music; while loathe to the Monroe purist, this music packed promising broader mainstream appeal. We're pleased to have acquired a copy of his most recent release, "The Vespa Love Sessions," a sax, mandolin, harmonica, and acoustic rhythm section collection of tightly produced smooth jazz, with producer and songwriter/guitarist, Frosty Horton.

Smooth, sonorous tone is not foreign to Baldassari's fingers. Lingering resonance and graceful sliding tremolo technique have been the Nashville based artist's signature for as long as he's been in the limelight. His sound perfectly complements the rich, lilting soprano sax of Tim Hoke on the opening track, "Mystery Night," and the warm welcome accompanying ensemble blend remains supportive of their melodic efforts through the entire CD.

With a ballad-like finesse reminiscent of smooth jazz guitar wizard Earl Klugh in "She Told Me She Loves Me," and the subsequent metronomic string drive evocative of world-popular Acoustic Alchemy on the 3rd track, "A Face in the Clouds," Butch's playing is easily at home with the most popular of today's ear-pleasing smooth jazz artists.

In addition to Horton's well-penned originals, the CD features some Contemporary Rock tunes, including a folkish version of Steve Winwood's "Can't Find My Way Home," with light percussion and harmonica that hand bakes another dimension to its instrumental candy. Butch's playing clearly demonstrates there's a highly appropriate place for well-executed mandolin tremolo in this genre. A turn to the more New Age path, "As Far As I Can See" features mandolin with the ethereal pad sounds of synthesizer in a creative rendition of Charlie Provenza's haunting melody.

"I see You Looking" is a bluesy Latin song with an ornery mocking clavinet sound injected in the background, though warmly enveloped in some supportive lush synth pad textures. A slightly more staid lullaby, "Children's Waltz" is a tender waltz ballad that again exposes Baldassari's tremolo prowess. "A Million Miles Away" dips into a folksy melodic sensibility, packaged with Horton's finger-style guitar strikingly akin to a James Taylor song accompaniment.

Obvious that Butch is a huge Beatles fan, the CD would be incomplete without a Lennon/McCartney hit, and "Across the Universe" does not disappoint. Mandolin and recorder shine in this instrumental rendition. The lamenting tremolo of the final track "Frangenti" weeps with restless longing, finishing off with soulful emotional introspection.

You'll find few mandolinists more capable of line and broad appeal than Butch Baldassari. The Vespa Love Festival Sessions is prime proof of this. We hope this serves to inspire other proficient mandolinists to summon the courage to bring the instrument as deeply into the Smooth Jazz genre.

Genre: Smooth Jazz
Release date: December, 2007
Label: Sound Art Recordings

Purchase information

Selections:
Mystery Night
She Told Me She Loves Me
A Face in the Clouds
Can't Find My Way Home
As Far As I Can See
I See You Lookin'
Children's Waltz
A Million Miles Away
Across the Universe
Frangenti


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