Record Reviews

PETE OXLEY / NICOLAS MEIER ~ CHASING TALES MGP 016 (Barcode: 5051078939728) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by the guitar duo which pairs veteran players / composers British Peter OxleyFind albums by this artist and Swiss (resident in UK) Nicolas MeierFind albums by this artist, forging an intimate musical unit which is an oasis of sanity in today´s bare music desert. The combined biographies of these two Gentlemen and their collected prolific recording legacies speak for themselves, and are of course highly recommended for further exploration. The album presents twelve compositions, eleven of which are originals by Oxley and Meier and one if a Turkish song. The music spans a diverse collection of moods and styles, which paints a cohesive emotional image of melodic serenity and gentle flow, which involves virtuosic instrumental delivery, yet concentrates on the music rather than on technical proficiency. Acoustic and electric guitars are used interchangeably, and of course plenty of improvisation is present, but this is not a Jazz album per se, but rather contemporary cross-genre instrumental music spiced by Jazzy phrasing and delivery. Music connoisseurs will obviously enjoy the finesse of the arrangements and the intimate conversation between the two players, who manage to sound as if a much larger group of musicians is involved, but on the other hand the listener is able to hear every touch of every string. The modest approach of "less is more" is the leading scheme present throughout this album, which is rather rare as far as guitar oriented albums are concerned. Overall this is a gem of an album, which provides the listener with an opportunity to sit back and relax, enjoy the beauty of the sounds and absorb it straight into the soul.

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PETE OXLEY / NICOLAS MEIER ~ THE ALLURING ASCENT MGP 021 (Barcode: 5051078966120) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2018 - 2019 Released: 2019 This is the fourth album by the wonderful guitar duo comprising of British guitarist / composer Pete OxleyFind albums by this artist and Swiss (resident in UK) guitarist / composer Nicolas MeierFind albums by this artist. On this album they are supported by bassist Raph MizrakiFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul CavaciutiFind albums by this artist and percussionist Keith FairbairnFind albums by this artist, who plays on five of the ten tracks on the album, all of which are originals composed by Oxley and Meier, each contributing five compositions. The music is the usual exquisite Jazz-World Fusion, beautifully melodic and lyrical, with exotic rhythm patterns and diverse moods. The tunes are then developed into a continuous flow of guitar solos and interplays by the two leaders, who seem to have an infinite imagination as far as guitar licks are concerned. The three supporting musicians contribute a splendid accompaniment with Mizraki delivering some hair-raising parts and Cavaciuti driving the music forward with a steady and tasty pulsation. The entire album, from start to finish, is a wonderful display of superb musicianship and musical joy, delivered with virtuosity and obvious dedication by the musicians involved. It is a blissful listening experience and seems to be over in a blink of an eye, delivered with elegance, panache and typical European grace. This album is basically accessible to every music lover, completely free of any genre / style limitations, as the honesty and communicativeness of this music is completely universal. Well done again, my friends, hats off!

Updated: 13/04/2019Posted: 13/04/2019

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PETE OXLEY / NICOLAS MEIER ~ THE COLOURS OF TIME MGP 019 (Barcode: 5051078952628) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the third album by the superb guitar duo consisting of British guitarist / composer Pete OxleyFind albums by this artist and Swiss (resident in UK) guitarist / composer Nicolas MeierFind albums by this artist. This album presents an ambitious double CD release, with the first CD dedicated to the duo performances by the two guitarists, whereas the second CD presents them in a quartet setting with the addition of bassist Raph MizrakiFind albums by this artist and drummer Paul CavaciutiFind albums by this artist. Altogether the two CDs present eighteen original compositions by Oxley and Meier. The music presents a wonderful kaleidoscope of deeply melodic tunes, which flow gently, elegantly and touchingly one after another, mesmerizing the listener with their highly aesthetic beauty. But the music is also breathtakingly performed by these two virtuosi, producing a feast of sounds that simply takes no prisoners. Following in the steps of their previous album "Chasing TalesFind albums with this title", this album takes one more step towards perfection. Oxley and Meier sound as if they were one person and it is very hard to actually realize that the music is performed by two separate musicians. The finesse of their conversations and the telepathic communication is beyond perception. The music ventures again into World Music explorations, gliding over the Middle East and reaching the far shores of India. It is a great example of "music without borders", which is able to eradicate cultural and geographical boundaries, proving that music is indeed one. The technical proficiency and the diversity of sounds produced by these two players are phenomenal. The quartet recording is very much in the same frame of mind, with the rhythm section playing rather delicately and unobtrusively, expanding the sound to an ensemble environment, but still emphasizing the serene, relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. The feel is much more Jazzy, but cleverly eschews entering any Fusion excursions. The quartet CD compliments the duo recording perfectly, showing somewhat different aural environment but following the same principle of mutual respect and combining forces to achieve an effect greater than the sum of its ingredients. Overall this album is a masterpiece, not only due to the superb guitar performances and the beauty of the music, but also because it is completely different from anything else currently available on the music market. This album is a must not only to guitar connoisseurs, but also a fabulous lighthouse to other guitar players, which clearly points out that "less is more". I can´t imagine any music-loving person on earth not falling in love with this music instantly!

Updated: 16/07/2017Posted: 16/07/2017

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PETE OXLEY / NICOLAS MEIER ~ TRAVELS TO THE WEST MGP 008 (Barcode: 5060237700123) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is the debut album by the fabulous guitar duo comprising of British guitarist / composer Pete OxleyFind albums by this artist and Swiss (resident in UK) guitarist / composer Nicolas MeierFind albums by this artist. The album, recorded live during the duo´s 2011 tour, presents ten compositions, three originals each by Oxley and Meier, two pieces by Chick CoreaFind albums by this artist and one each by Pat MethenyFind albums by this artist and Milton NascimentoFind albums by this artist. In spite of the technical problems involved with recording this delicate music live, the resulting album has a wonderful sound quality. Readers interested in more detailed analysis of the music by Oxley and Meier and cordially invited to read my reviews of their albums: "Chasing TalesFind albums with this title" and "The Colours Of TimeFind albums with this title". Suffice to say that the duo presents the ultimate experience in virtuosity, elegance, good taste and human teamwork of the highest caliber and this album is every bit as good as those that followed. Presenting a wide rage of stylistic influences, the duo already at this early stage of their work together displayed superb intelligence and sensitivity. Mixing Jazz with World Music influences they created their own individual sound, by using a plethora of different guitars, each with its unique sound idiosyncrasies. As a result they managed to amalgamate a highly effective approach to the listener, making their music simply irresistible. If you don´t have any of their albums, this one is a great place to start, and if you do have others, but not this one, grab it as soon as possible, since your record collection is not complete without it!

Updated: 30/09/2017Posted: 30/09/2017

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