Search - Tony Furtado :: Tony Furtado Band

Unique artist with unique talent

Aaron D Bornstein | Chicago, IL USA | 11/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ever want one of those hidden gems for your collection? This is one of them (though this band doesn't deserve to be hidden). If you ever get the chance to see him play live, don't miss it. He is a virtuoso on the banjo (as skillful as Bela Fleck) but also plays a number of songs on slide guitar on this album. It has everything--bluegrass/newgrass, blues, folk, cheli, jazz and most off the songs are his own blend of all of these elements. Some are instrumentals and others have lyrics. All of it is very approachable to anyone who is not an aficionado of any of these areas. Everyone I've had listen to it has wanted a copy. Absolutely one of the best albums I own."

Musical border crossings

Andy Plymale | Richland, WA United States | 08/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From Cojema Music mastermind Cookie Marenco comes the self-titled debut CD by the Tony Furtado Band, out of Boulder, Colorado, the home of other high powered acoustic outfits such as Leftover Salmon and the String Cheese Incident. Originally a bluegrass banjo player, Furtado's talent lies in mixing different musical styles into concoctions that are much greater than the sum of their parts--Furtado's arrangements are musical prisms for seeing well-worn musical styles in fresh light. The talented composer and arranger draws on traditional ("old-time") Appalachian music, delta blues, Celtic music, funk, jazz, and world beats. His touring band consists of Furtado on banjo and slide guitar, and a drummer, bassist, and electric guitarist who all come from jazz and rock backgrounds. The result is music that is infectiously danceable while satisfying the critical ear of the jazz listener, all the while retaining the deep soul of traditional music. A special treat of the CD are three guest vocal appearances by blues/folk singer/songwriter Kelly Joe Phelps. Also making cameo appearances are alt-rockers Brain and Buckethead and jazzers Kai Eckhardt and Paul McCandless."

One of the best cd's i own!

Andy Plymale | 04/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me just make this easy on you... BUY THIS CD!!!! Tony Furtado is one of the most talented musicians i've ever heard. His music, which blends bluegrass, jazz, blues, folk, Irish, etc, cannot be defined by any one genre. While being one of the best banjo players around, Tony also tears it up on slide guitar.
If you ever get a chance to hear him live, BY ALL MEANS, go see him. i've seen him live six times now, and each time, i get absolutely blown away. Buy this cd and then you'll want to buy all his other cd's too."