Short Reviews [Adam Rudolph / Go: Organic Guitar Orchestra - 2015 - "Turning Towards The Light"]

December 21st, 2014, saw composer, bandleader, and percussionist Adam Rudolph convene 11 of New York City’s finest and most adventurous guitarists in a New Jersey studio. In attendance were guitarists Rez Abbasi, Nels Cline, Liberty Ellman, David Gilmore, Miles Okazaki, and Marvin Sewell, all on electric guitars and effects; Damon Banks on bass guitar; Marco Capelli on acoustic guitar, effects; Jerome Harris on electric guitar, electric bass guitar, and lap steel guitar; Joel Harrison on electric guitar and national steel guitar; and Kenny Wessel on electric guitar and banjo. Rudolph provided some charts, and then conducted and directed a performance which was a combination of somewhat structured and improvised music, with himself at the helm. This is the tenth album in the series he began developing in 2001, Go: Organic Orchestra, but this is the first time he used just guitars. The result is a combination of modern classical, electronic and avant garde jazz, which brings forth thoughts of the likes of Pierre Schafer, Stockhausen or Subotnick. This is not easy listening music, and I must confess it did take a lot of effort to get through it the first time, but the second time of listening was somewhat easier, and it was only on further plays that the hidden depths and beauty started to make themselves visible to me. This music is full of contrast, packed with dynamics, with space often used as an additional instrument to get the best out of the arrangement. All those involved had to pay attention not only to the ideas laid out in the charts, but also to the conductor and then to what was taking place around them as they had to find the right place to come in and what they could add to the maelstrom of sound. This is only for those who like to experiment with music, but for those prepared to take the time this is quite something.