Search - Todd Hallawell :: Before My Time

Review of "Before My Time" Guitar Player Magazine

Andy Ellis | 06/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before My Time [Soundset] heralds the arrival of an extraordinary fingerpicker, Todd Hallawell. Winner of the 1997 National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in Winfield, Kansas, Hallawell attacks his Lance McCollum steel-strings with the precision of John Williams and punch of Jerry Reed. The disc's 14 instrumental tunes showcase his melodic clarity, bouncy swing feel, razor-sharp intonation, timbral diversity, and unerring technical accuracy. He has a restless musical soul: His solo selections include the spry classics "Brazil" and "Tico Tico," the harplike original "Leola Kay," and the funky "Reedology," as well as two superb, previously unrecorded compositions by Russian guitarist Nikita Koshkin. Hallawell also presents several duets-Reed's "Jiffy Jam" performed on baritone with sax accompaniment is a standout-three trios, and a sextet. His fat baritone rings again on John Fahey's "The Last Steam Engine Train" (played with guitarist Greg Sarena) and on the timeless Shaker tune "Simple Gifts," performed with Pat Kirtley, the '95 National Fingerstyle Guitar Champ. Gorgeous.Hallawell's righteous picking and rich arrangements sound so effortless and logical that it's easy to overlook his physical prowess. What can't be missed, however, is the music's scope-Before My Time soars, rumbles, whispers, and shouts. Each hearing reveals more detail and depth-truly stirring stuff.Andy Ellis"

Review of "Before My Time" by Alan Fark - Minor 7th

Todd Hallawell | 06/09/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Before My Time" is the debut CD for Todd Hallawell, who won the US National Fingerstyle Guitar competition in Winfield, Kansas in 1997, and who has associations with the Department of Music at Arizona State University. But this music is not just a stiff, erudite and professorial showcase of guitar technique, it's a collection of bouncy, cookin' and feel-good fingerstyle tunes which will just happen blow you over if you listen carefully. To the casual listener, Hallawell churns out these contagious melodies seemingly effortlessly. But the magic of Hallawell's playing is in hearing difficult riffs flow off his fretboard as fluidly as water flows downstream. The two tunes on this CD written by Hallawell are "Leola Kay" and "Cydney", and are beautiful songs "with the stylistic touch of Leo Kottke at his best" (so say the liner notes and I would agree). Hallawell has a gift for crafting a melody that latches onto your neurons and replays in your mind through the day. "Jiffy Jam", "Flat Foot Floogee" and "Reedology" are swing numbers to set the most stoic foot to tapping. "Brazil" and "Tico Tico" are Spanish-influenced, conjuring an ambiance of verandas and red adobe. "The Last Steam Engine Train" is what Blind Willie McTell or Reverend Gary Davis might sound like had they had access to digital recording equipment. My only reservation about this CD is the use of saxophone on "Flat Foot Floogee" and "Miss You Like Crazy", where the music might be better served as a solo guitar piece. Call me a purist... An excellent CD!"

Review of "Before My Time" Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Jim Ohlschmidt | 11/23/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"" The 1997 Winfield winner covers a lot of territory, from stunning solo arrangements of "Brazil" and "Tico tico" to nifty renditions of Jerry Reed's "Jiffy Jam" and "Reedology". Hallawell brings other musicians into the mix to good effect on "Flat Foot Floogee", where Jeff Ervin's saxes and John Moore's flatpicking help the old novelty swing like crazy, and "Simple Gifts" where Pat Kirtley's pristine picking brings a glow to the track. Three compositions by Nikita Koshkin make a nice set midway through the disc, but it's a pity Hallewell doesn't write more pieces like "Cydney" and "Leola Kay" two of the loveliest guitar melodies I've heard. Jim Ohlschmidt"