Search - Tim Volpicella :: Many Places

"Many Places" Pushes Boundaries of Musical Form Guitarist and composer Tim Volpicella has released "Many Places," his second solo CD on the Open Path label. The new CD pushes the boundaries of musical possibility, with 14 original tracks that deftly pull together elements from a wide spectrum of music. The CD offers a sophisticated combination of jazz, blues, Middle Eastern and other world music components, resulting in a gratifying program of dynamic tension and release. "Many Places" is a testament to Tim's abilities as an arranger and producer. While Tim's electric and nylon-stringed guitar occupies a prominent place on the CD, it shares the spotlight as needed in the service of each song. The CD opens with haunting piano by Russell Ferrante of The Yellow Jackets, who surfaces throughout. The human voice takes a central role on track two, as Giuseppe "Peppe" Merolla trades leads with Tim's guitar as a fully realized, non-verbal vocal instrument. Russian singer Irena Mikhailova creates an Eastern European feeling with her expressive, other-worldly chanting on track four. Tracks five and 14 feature the luxurious, bluesy sound of a Hammond B3 organ, played by Bob Adams. Tracks two, six and ten feature Renata Bratt's deft cello playing, and saxophonists Dann Zinn, Kristen Strom and Hafez Modirzadeh meet various pieces of sampled world music to create a rich, multi-textured melange on track 12. Zinn is also featured on tracks four and 14, and helps create a Middle Eastern sound on track 11. Additional performers include bassists Stan Poplin and John Shifflett, drummers Peppe Merolla, Jason Lewis and Wally Schnalle, Katrina Wreede on viola, and Darin Neasham on synth. Merolla also assumes trumpet and Flugel horn duties. -30-