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  | JON HEMMERSAM / DOM MINASI ~ THE JON HEMMERSAM / DOM MINASI QUARTET
CDM 1008 (Barcode: 616892902720) ~ DENMARK ~ Jazz
Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006
This album is a result of a meeting of two kindred spirits, both guitarists / composers, who present a fresh and unique approach to Jazz and guitar playing. Danish guitarist Jon HemmersamFind albums by this artist and his US partner Dom MinasiFind albums by this artist first met in 1994, but the friendship and mutual admiration had to wait for many years until it was finally documented on record. Each of them brought for the session one of their countrymen – Jon brought the drummer Kresten OsgoodFind albums by this artist and Dom brought his faithful bassist Ken FilianoFind albums by this artist. The resulting quartet performs a set of originals written by Jon and Dom, all perfect vehicles for the amazing display of the guitar skills on both acoustic and electric guitars. The compositions vary from up-tempo modern Jazz with freely improvised passages to melodic lyrical ballads and bossa nova pieces. The emphasis is of course on the interplay between the two master guitarists, exchanging licks, chords and ideas spontaneously and complementing each other on the fly. The freer passages might be a bit difficult for a casual Jazz listener, but overall the album is full of great melodies, exceptional playing and musical interplay, enough to satisfy even the most demanding connoisseur. Guitar duets often evolve into a competition, with the musicians trying to frazzle dazzle each other in the process. There is none of that here – Jon & Dom simply play with each other rather that against each other, creating a total that is more than the sum of its parts. I hear a lot of the Gypsy Jazz heritage on that album, especially on the acoustic pieces, which was one of the first genres to feature a double guitar lineup. Listening to this album, with all the elegance and intelligent performances it contains, is a delightful musical journey, which I recommend wholeheartedly.
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