An excellent second recording by Teja Gerken
Matthew Hayden | Northern California USA | 08/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Teja Gerken's second CD, "postcards," is a remarkably good recording of solo fingerstyle guitar. Recorded without overdubs, what Teja (and occasional friends) play is what the listener hears. It's plain that Teja took his time after the release of his first CD, "On My Way," to ensure that "postcards" came out just right. The mix of instruments and songs on this recording span the scope of the instrument, with tunes played on six-string, 12-string, and classical guitars, as well as varied harmony, from angular fingerstyle to a jazz waltz.
In addition to seven self-penned pieces, "postcards" sports five tunes penned by Bay Area fingerstyle professionals: Steve Baughman's tongue-in-cheek "Planxty Bongwater", Patrick Francis' "Full Moon Waltz", Dale Miller's "Noe Valley Sunday," Duck Baker's "Old World," and Pete Madsen's "Day of the Dead." Gerken adds his own spin to each of them, and it's a credit to his ability that these players have entrusted him with their tunes.
Like "On My Way," his first recording, "postcards" opens with a tune dedicated to an important local venue. "5927 California Street" is named after the address of San Francisco's Bazaar Cafe, an all-acoustic venue where Gerken has for several years hosted a successful monthly event focused on acoustic guitar. The harmonic content of the tune sets the mood for the rest of the recording, opening with an angular cascade of notes and falling into rhythm and rich and somewhat mysterious-sounding harmonies almost immediately.
"5927 California Street" is followed by fingerstyle guitarist and frailer Steve Baughman's puckishly named "Planxty Bongwater." The word 'planxty' was coined by ancient Irish harper Carolan to describe pieces written for patrons. Baughman, who has no patron - or maybe he does? -- turns the form on its head with advanced harmony and rhythm, and Teja takes pains to ensure that the tune retains the feel of Baughman's
Teja's own "First Smile" is a lovely delicate filigree of a tune, but it has a certain amount of attitude as well. It's loose-limbed and it saunters; it's impressionistic, with just a dab of film noir. Patrick Francis's "Full Moon Waltz" is evocative of jazz waltzes, bringing to mind Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debby"; it's almost pianistic.
"Noe Valley Sunday," played on a 12-string, shows Gerken wielding a light touch on the notoriously difficult instrument. It calls to mind early early Peter Lang and Leo Kottke - playful but serious music, showcasing Gerken's significant technique without hammering listeners over the head with it.
Classical guitars clearly hold no terrors for Teja, who showcases a remarkable tone and subtle but insistent interior melodies on Duck Baker's "Old World."
"Precision and Emergency" requires a footnote: the title of this upbeat DADGAD tune comes from an inexact Internet translation of an Italian web review of "On My Way."
That review also noted - as Gerken wryly notes in the liner notes - that it was "a duty to buy the CD." Not bad advice for "On My Way," and by all accounts, good advice for "postcards." It's a selection of remarkable tunes played with excellent technique to deliver a consistent and aurally satisfying experience."
Brilliant fingerstyle guitar
David King | Atlanta | 07/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My two favorites on Postcards would be "Full Moon Waltz" and "Precision & Emergency".
His choice of nylon string classical is really perfect for the waltz. There are moments when I would swear I heard elements of Laurindo Almeida and even the immortal André S. This is one of the most interesting guitar-songs that I've heard in a long time. The song was written by Patrick Francis, and Teja does full credit to the composer. Anyone who can write songs this good is definitely worth checking out.
Precision is virtually a clinic on pull-offs at high speed. The song is aptly named--the urgency in the rhythm is barely controlled. He generates a huge tone, even though he's capo'd at IV. I think this arrangement would challenge even the greatest masters.
Postcards is definitely a fun ride for fingerstyle fans.
Highly recommended.
Dave King
"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1