Search - Alex Machacek, Marco Minnemann :: 24 Tales

My skull's contents have been officially melted!!!

Dale Turner | Los Angeles, CA USA | 06/12/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is EASILY the coolest--and most intense, yet humorous at the same time--collaborations/compositions I've heard in a billion years!!



I'm a huge (for lack of a better word) "fusion" fan, but I only like *some* stuff. A lot of modern "fusion" attempts strike me as trying too hard--"trying" to sound "out," or "heavy," or "spooky," or overly evasive (metric-wise, of harmonically-speaking). Those types of bands (which I won't name) usually leave me feeling like a new genre heading needs to be dubbed: "pointless fusion." But this BEAST (to me) is an unbelievable balance of: conviction, technique, finesse, darkness, hilarity (I almost drove off the road when I heard the "counting" section of that 13/16, or whatever it was, section!!!!), with great textural elements, wicked linear stuff, totally interesting variety of guitar tones.... NONE of it struck me as "pointless." I was hooked the entire time. GREAT motifs throughout, and I loved hearing things as they unfolded. Superb balance between energy and relaxed portions... Machacek's playing too, of course, is unfriggin' believable. I already knew that, but this is a great showcase of so much--composition, instrumental interaction, soundscapes... My skull's contents have been officially melted!!!"

Just When You Thought A Guy Couldn't Get Any Better ...

John Mcguire | O'Brien, FL | 06/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

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I am a fairly new fan of Alex Machacek's music, only becoming acquainted with him after listening to samples of "Improvisation" here at Amazon and subsequently purchasing the download mp3 CD about 5 or 6 months ago. I am a guitarist of 36 years, and a lifelong fan of progressive jazz.



For those of you unfamiliar with Alex, he has a very unique approach to the instrument, incredible technique, a seemingly endless vocabulary, and employs a variety of superb guitar tones. It's almost inconceivable that a guy could attain the level of mastery he has prior to reaching 40 years old of age. If you are a guitarist or a fan of true, pure, uncontrived jazz, you will not be disappointed by any project that bears this man's name.



Now, regarding his most recent project: I have had it for less than 2 days and have not been able to stop listening to it!! For fans of Frank Zappa -- especially during his heyday (while utilizing such great talents as Steve Vai, Chad Wackerman, Terry Bozzio, Doug Lunn, Mike Keneally, etc.) -- this will immediately strike you as ONE OF THE GREATEST MUSICAL PROJECTS EVER RECORDED. Since Zappa's unfortunate passing, there has been a huge musical void that only the brave (such as the aforementioned Mike Keneally) have dared to try and fill. "24 Tales" has probably got ol' FZ (wherever he may currently reside), himself, sitting up and saying "Damn!!"



Here's what one other well-known, innovative guitar pioneer had to say about this release: "You guys are f---ing nuts - this record is amazing!" - Allan Holdsworth



There is an interesting story that goies with the making of this disc. Here's a direct-copy excerpt from Alex's website:



"I have always liked drums," Machacek explains. "On so many fusion and jazz records, there is an extended drum solo - sometimes it feels obligatory. At a certain point I thought, `How would it sound if I compose something based on a drum solo? Drummers are always getting wilder with what they do in terms of meter and technique..." His fascination with drums led to several experiments with composing music based on (and performed on top of) improvised drum solos - a practice that reaches its fullest potential on 24 Tales.



"After I played my first gig with the drummer Marco Minnemann, I told him that I wanted to do an album with different drummers," Alex continues, "where they would provide me with solos, and I would write music for them. Marco said that he had recorded a solo - but it was fifty-one minutes long! At first I thought, maybe I'll take a section of it to work with...but eventually I decided to take on the whole thing." Minnemann's solo - a kaleidoscopic rush of rhythmic, textural, and even melodic devices, all improvised without a click track - became the backdrop for 24 Tales. (Minnemann also gave this solo to Trey Gunn, John Czajkowski and Mike Keneally, and their interpretations will be released subsequently.)



An astonishingly musical effort, nearly symphonic in its vast range of timbres, use of space, and elegant sense of structure and development, 24 Tales finds Machacek breaking Minneman's solo into 24 discrete (but connected) sections. "When I decided to do this," Machacek explains, "I listened to it - several times. Sitting in front of 51 minutes of drums can be a little intimidating. So I broke the entire solo up into those 24 pieces. Whenever I heard the mood or the rhythmic foundation change, I marked it as a separate piece."



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This disc is one of the most incredible musical efforts ever recorded. I think it is the best thing to happen to jazz in a VERY long time ... I can't say enough -- words are inadequate -- to describe how superb from every aspect this release truly is. The guitar work is extraordinary; so are the drums. ... But what really blows me away is the other-worldly quality of the compositions and the dense, lush, mind-blowing arrangements. This CD firmly documents the emergence (and maturation) of true musical genius, in every sense.



Buy this CD, and tell every fan of jazz, prog and/or jazz fusion whom you know about it -- so they can buy it, too! ... Musicians of this superlative virtuosity deserve more than to just sell "dozens of copies".

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