Pete McCann - Most Folks

New York based Jazz Guitarist Pete McCann’s third CD Most Folks is an eclectic collection of contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Latin, Rock and probably everything else in between. Sonically, he’s somewhere between John McLaughlin, Alan Holdsworth and Vernon Reid with two tunes on the CD paying tribute to McLaughlin and Holdsworth.

“JM”, who McCann considers to be “one of the all time great guitar Gods”, lives up to McLaughlin’s name as McCann explores the “moody” harmonic limits of the tune, stretching the boundaries in a chaotic fashion of screaming, overdriven, whammy bar splendor. The mix of sax and overdriven guitar near the outro is dramatic as is the break from gnarly guitar to clean. Incendiary Saxophonist John O’Gallagher plays a great solo as well as he “breaks free” of the harmony in a free sounding climax. JM would be proud I’m sure.

“Worth”, a dedication to Alan Holdsworth, is a heartfelt ballad that features McCann’s clean legato playing and sensitivity. He chooses his notes well and with feeling, refraining from the more frenzied path which he could have easily taken given the theme of the tune. Rounding out the tune, John Herbert gets a nice bass solo spot with drummer Mark Ferber keeping it all together. In fact, Herbert and Ferber do a wonderful job providing stalwart accompaniment for McCann, O’Gallagher and Pianist Mike Hotober, which I’m sure wasn’t easy given the complexity of McCann’s compositions.

That being said, however complex McCann’s tunes are, they are still very musical, which at the end of the day, is what we all strive for. “Most Folks”, “Rack ‘Em Up”, “About Face” and ‘Split Decision” remind me of the 80’s group Lost Tribe and the late Michael Brecker’s more recent work. And “Yes My Friend” could be taken straight from a Living Color album. Relatively speaking of course.

Filled with angular heads, dense harmonies and dissonant overtones, McCann’s compositions feature compelling improvisation and muscular technique which should make both the novice and advanced musician ecstatic. Make no mistake though, this is a players music pure and simple with McCann’s impressive playing standing right up there with Adam Rogers, Ben Monder, David Gilmore, Dave Allen and other players in their class. He can go from straight-ahead to overdriven frenzy without skipping a beat and does both as flawless as anyone I’ve heard. “JM” is a perfect example of that and is definitely worth a listen.

And while he can shred and whammy-bar his way through a tune with the best of them, he can also be thoughtful and sensitive. “Third Wheel”, “Las Tias” “Jojo’s Waltz” and “Hunter Gatherer” are prime examples of his introspective playing as he plays a tender sounding nylon string for the first two tunes mentioned and a dark-ish clean tone for the last two tunes.

Most Folks is a musical document of hard edged improvisers, intricate compositions and complex arrangements. Yet surprisingly, it is also a very warm sounding CD providing drama, sensitivity and fun for the listener. This is not a CD that you play in the background at dinner parties, unless of course your quests are way sophisticated and urban hip. If so, don’t expect much conversation though. Your guests will be trying to listen to the music.

Go to www.petemccann.com/ to see what else Pete McCann has to offer.

Lyle Robinson