Search - Andrew York :: Perfect Sky

One Guitarist's Tour de Force

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 01/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are two modern guitarist who share the honors for being the best of today's masters of the classical guitar - Andrew York and Scott Tennant. Tennant is a bit better technically, but I consider York the more 'musicianly' of the two. In a large part that is because York has proven himself the more willing to try new approaches and create is own compositions. And when he feels it necessary he is equally at home in the world of steel strings and electric pickups. Perfect Sky is an album designed to demonstrate exactly those facets of York, and by any measurement, is completely successful.Nine of the thirteen compositions on this CD are original to York. While they have a New Age sound to them, carefull listening shows that the technical work behind his clean melodies sets him well apart from standard fare. Spend some time listening to the neck work on Andecy or the counterpoint in Green Galliard and you will see what I mean. Each piece has special moments of brilliance, but what stands out for me is Yorks strong sense of melody, which never seems to desert him. Two of my favorites are Perfect Sky and Muir Woods, two experiments in the use of jazzy chord progessions.York's arrangement of Guaraldi's Linus and Lucy is a pure whirlwind of technical work. Every time I hear the harmonic arpeggio's I get exceedingly jealous - these require a level of precision that is totally out of my fumble fingered league. But this entire piece is pure showing off, a perfect demonstration of a master guitarist for who style is a choice, not a constraint. Then there is the complete believability of the Nutcracker ballet piece and the hysterical complexity of Couperin's Les Barricades Misterieuses.And the list goes on and on. There is literally no mischosen or misplayed work on this album. Something to marvel at in an age which has become sadly accepting of shoddy corners. York has other albums that demonstrate his classical side (and let's not forget his and Tennant's membership in the Los Angeles Guitar Quartett) but Perfect Sky is the album if you are looking for a deeper look into Andrew York as a musican. Highly recommended."

York is one of the wonderful modern guitarists.

taka(Japanese | Tokyo, Japan | 04/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a classical guitarists too. Though I may be a young man, I tend to like modern guitar sounds than old guitar sounds like F.Sol or Tarrega etc. I like special tecniques that have not been made ever. But I always like all the modern guitarists. The most favorite guitarist is R.dyens. I like his unique rythm and melodies and high tempo sounds. A. York is my favorite guitarists too. In a CD, I chanced to listen to Sunburrst, I was tempted with the high tempo sounds and blight melody and unique bass topping.
But in addition to such songs, he can write slow ballade songs too. The ballade is good too.But in Japan, his guitar score peace is a little high price. If it have possible, I wish that the publishers make song books.Anyway, A.York is a new age revolutional gutarist that blow new fresh wind to classical guitar genle.Thank you for reading poor English."

Classical Jazz Virtuoso

R. Scot Johns | Boise, Idaho United States | 09/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This original edition - on Artifex Records - has a different track listing than the two pressings which followed. Aside from an altered running order, "Andecy" and "Reflections" are not on this edition, although a fine rendition of Bach's "Allegro" is. This version of "Linus & Lucy" - entirely on solo guitar - is one of the finest ever performed. As the liner notes attest, all tracks are single takes with no overdubs."