Search - David Arkenstone, Nicholas Gunn, Johannes Linstead :: Live!

Awesome & Uplifting

Lucinda E. Triplett | Calif. | 06/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have every CD that David Arkenstone has put out. I have almost every CD that Nicholas Gunn has put out also. When I saw this being offerd I knew I had to have it as it was being offered with a DVD of them performing. I have never seen them perform in concet.



Upon getting my CD/DVD I first played the DVD and was thrilled to watch them play in concert. It was there that I saw Loren Gold and Johannas Linstead (who are also on the CD/DVD), whose music I had not heard before until now. I was hooked. I now am going to have to look into their CD's and probably see which ones I will want to buy of theirs. They really put on a show. It is all done live and the CD is done the same as the DVD. There music is fantastic!!! It keeps you moving and on your toes. It lifts your spirits when your day wasn't one of your best. I play the CD in the car when I am running errands and find myself playing it over & over."

CHECK OUT THE GEMINI SUN CONCERT RECORDING FEATURING ARKENST

Cali | 08/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"LIVE! (CD/DVD)

FEATURING NICHOLAS GUNN, DAVID ARKENSTONE, JOANNES LINSTEAD AND LOREN GOLD



I first heard David Arkenstone several decades ago on a CD called In The Wake of the Wind and I became a fan. Then, maybe a decade ago, I came across flutist Nicholas Gunn doing a series of albums about the deserts of Arizona and the Grand Canyon, and I got hooked on him. About two years ago I heard an album by Johannes Linstead and found him to be one of the catchiest new modern flamenco guitar players to come along. I have never heard pianist Loren Gold before, but he apparently has a couple of CDs out and tours with pop acts.



So all four of these acts are signed to the Gemini Sun label after kicking around elsewhere over the years (apparently Gunn runs the label). Since all four of these artists are comfortable performing in concert (which many so-called new age artists aren't), they decided to do a concert together and record and film it. The artists all get interviewed briefly too (although I did not care for that part much).



This combination CD and DVD package is the result, and it is actually quite exciting. The concert moves rapidly with a lot of energy. Each musician gets a spotlight section and then they join together for the 7:30 encore piece. They have one band that plays behind all of them including a couple of guys on drums and percussion giving a world-beat flair to many of the tunes.



Very seldom do new age artists put out concert albums. Many of them are simply studio hounds and don't play live. A few play select shows, but seldom tour. It probably is not cost-effective. And when you do see one in concert, it often is at a Borders or Barnes & Noble store, plus the artist is playing by themselves to backing tracks, and the atmosphere is not conducive to really enjoying the abbreviated show. So to see four really good musicians with a great band perform in a regular concert hall, and hear them get to stretch out on several tunes (one of Arkenstone's compositions is over eight minutes), and jam together and with the band, it is a real thrill. And even though this package costs a little bit more than usual because it contains a CD and a DVD, it is worth it because none of us get much of a chance to enjoy this kind of music in a concert setting very often. I was not familiar with most of the material, but apparently all of it has been on the acts' various studio albums. So if you already know the tunes, you will probably really dig these concert versions. According to the record company's written background information, several of these live versions are considerably different than the studio versions (in one case the studio saxophone is replaced in concert by flute, for example).



I highly recommend this recording for anyone who likes energetic, non-synthesized, mostly-acoustic new age music; and for anyone who simply likes a good concert film of contemporary instrumental musicians playing their butts off.





"

Celebrating the art of instrumental music

Midwest Book Review | Oregon, WI USA | 07/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Part of GeminiSun Records' Audio Visual Connect Series, Live! is a two-disc CD and DVD set celebrating the art of instrumental music. Featuring Nicholas Gunn, Johannes Linstead, Loren Gold, and David Arkenstone, Live! offers the next best thing to experiencing the vibrance of their music show in person. In addition to performing live on stage, the artists also talk about what each song means to them, and the wonder that expressing oneself through music. The tracks are "Desert Crossing" (8:20), "Falling" (2:37), "For My Baby" (4:04), "Sunnyside" (5:50), "Earth Bones" (2:03), "Elves' Chasm" (4:47), "Apasionado Uno" (4:05), "Breathe" (4:10), "New Day" (5:13), "Dance in the Desert" (7:01), "Gypsy Camp" (5:45), "Spanish Town" (4:21), "Ambrosia" (4:38), "Streets of Old San Juan" (3:26), "Djunga" (7:33). 1 CD, 73 min. 51 sec.; 1 DVD, 74 min. 30 sec.

"