Salvatori, Tom: Parlor Favorites

Parlor Favorites from acoustic guitarist Tom Salvatori is an interesting collection of eleven tracks where the man behind this album presents six of his own compositions alongside a further five acoustic reinterpretations of similar works by some of prog and fusion’s finest exponents. Cleverly, the six original pieces are placed front and centre, coming before any of the more recognisable pieces, allowing the album to flow very organically as we wander through the beguiling three part “Summer Suit in G Minor�, which is every bit as warming as that name suggests. From there the flowing “What Is Said Is Done Now� and “�Low Tide� lead us into the more complex atmosphere of “Wandering�, which feels pleasingly at odds with what’s come before without breaking the mood or tone that’s been set.

Salvatori is an excellent player with sumptuous tone and touch, and that informs “Native Land� quite expertly, while “Looking Back� reinforces another of the talents of this guitarist - namely the ability to have the music genuinely be able to convey the titles of their respective instrumental pieces. From there we head into familiar - but different - territory, with “Le Clochard� by Jan Ackerman, “Peace� (Robert Fripp), “Horizons� and “Hands Of The Priestess� both by Steve Hackett and “The Ancient (Excerpt)� (Steve Howe) all seen through Salvatori’s lens. Cleverly, all five are treated with real respect, but also given a few little twists to make these more than mere straight run-throughs of already well known pieces, with the two Hackett moments, for me, working especially well.

That the original compositions on this collection aren’t completely overshadowed by their more illustrious album-mates, says much about the skill and care that has gone into them. Allowing for both aspects of this journey into Tom Salvatori’s parlor to be most rewarding.

Track Listing
1. Summer Suit ino in G major
i. Optimistic Thoughts
ii. On the Boulevard of Hopes and Dreams
iii. What’s Left is Threadbare
2. What is Said is Done Now
3. Low Tide
4. Wandering
5. Native Land
6. Looking Back
7. Le Clechard - Jan Akkerman
8. Peace, A Theme - Robert Fripp
9. Horizons - Steve Hackett
10. Hands of the Priestess - Steve Hackett
11. The Ancient / Mood for a Day - Steve Howe

Added: November 5th 2022
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Salvatori Productions
Hits: 499
Language: english

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