Like your guitars with no strings attached? (sorry, couldn’t resist!) Check out these to albums that are ear friendly.
Taking a leave from the Gipsy Kings, guitarist and vocalist Diego Baliardo teams up with Marlon et Gibson/g, Antoine Ona/b and Pacheco Rodolfo/perc for a stripped down Spanish caravan that sounds like Ottmar Liebert on a good day, as well as his own alma mater. Baliardo’s voice is perfectly leathered, and picks to perfection on the swinging “Me Voy a la Playa” and “Cara Bonita”. Rodolfo works overtime on “Bambino” and the upbeat “Casita Mama” with the strings in flamenco moods on”Mi Nino” and “Mi Cintura”. Pass the Paella!
Reza Khan sounds like he drank from the well of Earl Klugh on the smooth as silk collection of originals. He teams and with fusion giants Mark Egan/b, Philippe Saisse/key, Maurizio Zottarelli/b Matt King/p and some six stringed guests on upbeat pieces like the sleek “Waiting For The Sky” Brazilain “Broken River”. Saisse’s synth work is tasty on the jazzy “Somewhere East” with some soft ideas floating on“See Stars”. Khan plugs in and digs in on the toe tapping “Neo Funk” and skips over the irresistible cadence of “Seven Miles Road”. No slim pickins here!