Hertzog, Jake/Yishai Fisher: Stringscapes

With six solo albums to his credit and forays into rock, jazz and fusion one wondered what would be next for acclaimed guitarist Jake Hertzog. Well, the answer in a nutshell combines jazz and classical as he has teamed up with classical guitarist Yishai Fisher on their new release titled Stringscapes: A Portrait of the World in Nylon & String.

There are twelve tracks divided into four parts with each representing a major landscape on the planet; forests, the Arctic, oceans and deserts. A trio of tracks reflects each zone with the duo interpreting these scenes with music as seen through their eyes.

The disc begins with “Forest I: Endless Trees�. Varied notes and chords, sometimes harmonious, sometimes not and at times slightly dissonant. You can well imagine this is the forest, a complicated and synergistic place where a myriad of creatures exist. It’s a vibrant piece in constant motion. Next is “Forest II: Funeral in Green�, a much darker and unsettling piece reflecting the dying forests of the planet. The third and final forest piece “Leaves In The Dark� begins with hand drumming on the guitar and the scratching of strings setting in motion the jungle at night. The moods range from delicate to intense, again, setting the artist’s artistic visions. There are nine more tracks exploring the planet in the artist’s own unique and creative way.

You are probably thinking this work might be a little sparse and minimal. With only two instruments it is hard not to be but the musicianship is really quite delightful so if you are a fan of solo guitar by all means give this one a try. A Fret Monkey Records release.

Track Listing:
1. Forest I: Endless Trees
2. Forest II: Funeral In Green
3. Forest III: Leaves In The Dark
4. Arctic I: Stone Blue Veil
5. Arctic II: The Great White Space
6. Arctic III: Cold Life
7. Oceans I: Cascade
8. Oceans II: The Deep
9. Oceans III: Tides
10. Desert I: Dream Catcher
11. Desert II: Ghost Of The Mine
12. Desert III: Where The Red Sand Lives

Added: December 5th 2018
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 863
Language: english

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