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One of the most interesting metal CDs to reach my battered ears in recent months comes from an independent label called Guitar Nine Records.
"Hands of Danz" boasts quite an unusual gimmick. Six bands get two songs each on the album. The leaders of these six bands are all named Daniel or Dan or Danny. Weird, but anything to sell a few more of those shiny little disks.
Compilations aren't usually recognized as stellar products, but "Hands of Danz" just might cause headbangers of the world to unite in enjoying some accomplished if not exactly overwhelming.
The variety of bands, however doesn't lead to a variety in the music put forth. One common denominator is that all these guys are talented and play with a certain amount of skill.
Now it's been argued for decades that metal monsters don't necessarily need talent. As long as they can play the basic three chords of rock while dressed in funny outfits and making sure the knobs are turned all the way to the top level on every speaker a band can afford. More than with any other genre, metal mavens demand a uniformity that sometimes leads to a lack of imagination.
To fans of the metal trade, the lack of vocals on this album may be cause of concern. Having heard enough bad singing to last several lifetimes, I find "Hands of Danz" refreshing in its willingness to rely on music and to dispense with warbling that often sound like the death throes of a farm animal.
Here are the six leaders: Dan Shimmyo from East Meadow, New York: Daniel Wentworth of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Dan McAvinchey of Raleigh, North Carolina; Dan Begelman from Flushing, New York; Danny Masters of Colorado, and Dan McInerney of Preston, Washington.
You can buy the album direct from the company. It's $14 postpaid or $19 shipped outside the U.S. Order from Guitar Nine Records, 8201 Hambleton Court, Raleigh, NC 27615. You can order online at www.guitar9.com.
Wonderful Salute
The recent death of Charlie Byrd removed from the scene one of the most talented jazz guitarists of the past 100 years. For the last 25 years of his life, Byrd was a member of the talented stars recording on California's excellent Concord label.Earlier Byrd won international renown with his bossa nova collaboration with Stan Getz. Byrd's association with Columbia Records proved trying when the label attempted to turn Byrd into a pop performer. He still managed to produce some excellent music, but it was his association with Carl Jefferson of Concord that produced the best music of his long career.
If you have any doubt of that statement, you need only to open "Charlie Byrd: The Best of the Concord Years," a double set which contains a cornucopia of mesmerizing melodies that you'll keep close by your CD player for a long time to come. The 31 selections offer a wide view of all that Byrd and his guitar could produce.
The compiler of this double album, Jim Ohlschmidt, has demonstrated his talents in going through the many albums Byrd recorded, coming up with gems that demonstrate time and again how Byrd could reach deep into the meaning of a particular song. Mostly the CDs consist of lovely standards, with a surprise here and there. The second disc contains a generous sampling of the Spanish songs that helped make Byrd practically a household name.
For some Byrd fans, hearing "Desafinado" again makes this package worth the investment.
Charlie, somewhere in Heaven some beautiful music is being made.
Lovely Lady, Lovely Voice
Despite three Grammy nominations, Nnenna Freelon remains an unknown to much of the music buying public. That's a shame, because she's a beautiful young lady who possesses a dynamic voice and a genuine aptitude for singing in the jazz idiom.
Freelon's sixth album, "Soulcall" (Concord Records) marks the first time she has been the producer as well as leader. The results are solid, showing once again that Freelon has a spectacular ability and sings with power, grace, and solid emotion.
The 13 tracks wander over a huge amount of territory, from jazz to soul to religious music. By demonstrating her versatility, Freelon shows she's brave enough to include two familiar hymns on her program. One, "Amazing Grace" is done twice, in different arraignments. The other, "You're Nearer/Nearer My God To Thee," is a quiet stunner.
The album is peppered with guest performances by some top names in soul and jazz, including guitarist Joe Beck, saxophonist Kirk Whallum, the Sounds of Blackness, and Take 6.
If you're not already a Nnenna Freelon fan, try this album out. I think you'll appreciate my suggestion.
And if music isn't enough, Freelon plays a pivotal role in the new Mel Gibson-Helen Hunt movie, "What Women Want," to be released at Christmas.
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