In this modern world of electronics, the guitar is used for a wide range of atmospheres as well as showing off bop chops. Here are a couple recent explorations with six strings.
Daan Kleijn forms a modern trio with Tobias Nijboer/b and Joost van Schaik/dr through a mix of originals and jazz covers. His tone is soft and he likes to use space, delicate with van Schaik’s brushes on”Bird Song” and relaxed on his solo intro to a graceful “Where or When.” Cool introspection takes place on a pastoral “Moonlight in Vermont” and calmness with Nijboer during Tom Jobim’s “Estrada Branca.” The most assertive moments are with some edgy and dark strings riding over rumbling drums on “Isn’t This My Sound Around Me” and a deep groover as the team bops on Duke Pearson’s “Gaslight.” Sepia tones.
Sonic landscapes abound as guitarist Ben Monder does a series of duets with Aaron Shragge, who plays Dragon Mouth trumpet, flugelhorn and the eastern wooden flute called the shakuhachi. Gasping brass and woodwinds create dreamy atmospheres on “Companion,” “Blue Bird” and “It’s Ours” as Shragge’s horn is muted, open or plunged and his flute is ethereal and otherworldy. A six part “This World of Dew Suite” combines strummed and picked guitar drapery to create dark tones with dashes of electronica as Sharagge sighs and moans. Lots of ambience with long shadows.