Old Pit Guy wrote:beat hit wrote:This new Fafard is really good... Been enjoying it more and more.. Vinnie's playing is very seasoned and contextually smart... He recorded the 10 tracks in two days... wow...
http://www.antoinefafard.com/adperpetuum.html
I finally took delivery of this one. I generally like it but find it compositionally uneven and lacking in variety when compared to Occultus Tramitis. Some of the tunes are very dense, made worse for me by the guitar tone. I've only done two listens, though. Solus Operandi took me awhile but I came to really like it.
"Occultus Tramitis" is very good but I prefer his latest.. In fact one of the main reasons I like it so much is the guitar.. I mean, De Villiers has always been on my top 5 favorite guitarists (he's lesser known in the U.S).. Love his sound and tone actually, his melodic phrasing and how leaves space in his solos NOT just a show off of technical prowess for its own sake. His playing on this album could very well be his very best to date.
There aren't as many guests on this project as the previous ones and the whole album was co-produced by De Villiers which differs from his previous two, which might in one sense explain your perception that it lacks in variety. Vinnie did a superb job, I got to appreciate and enjoy Vinnie's playing the more I listened to it... What he chooses to play and when.. How he comes into the drum solo on the 5th track is classic Vinnie = TASTY!! The half-time shuffle on the 1st track is nice too.. Would be curious to see how he incorporates the tom patterns in his groove while keeping the Hi-Hat shuffle going.. I am sure he switches to his left hand.. Again, love his ideas on this one.
The 6th track (drum-duo with Gary Husband) is very well written IMHO, nicely done by both Gary and Vinnie.. Gary's drums overdub shows off his deep musicianship once again.
Gerry Etkins is also one my favorite keyboard player, classic Etkins solo on the 3rd track.. ME LOVE IT!! I keep going back to this CD, listening again and again... That's a good sign I think...
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