Greg Howe - Five

The first track, ‘Just Kiddin’, written by Michel Camilo, is a lively number, with a bit of a Latin feel to it. The guitar work is of course brilliant, coming from this very accomplished and fluent guitarist. Half way through this track, Greg switches from electric, to acoustic, then back to electric again near the end.

Second track ‘Sit’ is more typical Howe style, which in my mind means great, starting with some laid back funk, then going into Holdsworth-influenced fusion, with little bits of the opening funk theme popping up here and there. The playing here is flawless as usual, brilliantly displaying the way that Greg can play without sounding like he’s using one technique, then another technique, but rather everything just sounds like fluid music. Approaching the end there is a bit of a bass solo, while Greg just plays a few fills, before coming back in to finish the song.

The third track, ‘Three Toed Sloth’ has a few more influences from traditional jazz. The main theme is atonal and the sound produced could easily cut the tusks off of a walrus. The track seems to follow ternary form, with the middle section toning down a little, for a brilliant bass solo, followed by a beautiful guitar solo, before going back to the A section again to finish off.

‘The Terrace’ starts with some amazingly vocal and emotive guitar, with wonderful bends and vibrato, with chords on keyboard to accompany. The music slowly gets a bit more involved, with more virtuosic playing from Greg. This is a great sounding track.

Fifth track ‘Acute’ begins with a riff with some guitar and bass interplay, followed by some lead guitar. A third of the way in the pace changes a little, with a bass solo, accompanied by a cool funky backing. The lead guitar then returns for some more great fusion soloing.

‘Quiet Hunt’ is a bubbly piece, played on acoustic, with a possible Di Meola influence. This is unlike any of the other tracks so far. The acoustic tone on this album is a fantastic sound. This track is at times quite laid back, and at others more intense, with a slight ebb and flow.

‘Back Mock’ is, as may be expected, a mock of JS Bach, with a harpsichord sound on the keyboard and very baroque lines from Greg. The piece is only short, but before the end progresses several hundred years, into the jazz-fusion style in which it finishes.

The beginning of 8th track ‘Plush Interior’ sounds a bit like “look at my interior. Really cool, isn’t it.” Whereas by the time it ends it sounds more like it’s saying, “but that’s not what’s important in life, but all manifested as superb guitar playing. There is an impressive variation in sounds here, staccato, legato, etc.

‘Dusty Maid’ is, again, full superb and varied playing. The track has lots of different sections and dynamic changes, making it quite progressive.

‘Skyline’ is a Howed up blues piece, showing some more of Greg’s versatility

The playing on this album is flawless, and if your into fusion, or just virtuoso guitar, this album is definitely going to satisfy.