GUITAR ROMP - BRIAN GAUCI

CD Review by D.M. Wells

Brian Gauci can make a guitar do just about anything he wants it to, not the least of which is sing. I figure that’s why I didn’t notice the absence of any vocals until I was halfway through the CD. I’m not kidding.

That’s not to say he didn’t have ample assistance from his backing players, and he’s got the best guys playing musical chairs here – John Adames (drums), Martin Aucoin (piano), Uli Bohnet (bass), Eugene Smith (djembe), Danny B (harmonica), Garth Vogan (bass), Gord Montgomery (drums), Joe Allen (trumpet), Michael Fonfara (B3 and organ), Pat Carey (tenor and alto sax) and Jim Casson (drums).

With an eclectic mix of players like this, you can be guaranteed a wide diversity of sonic treats. It’s almost equal parts jazz and blues, but there is enough variation within each of those two genres that the lines often cross over and spill into other musical realms, as well. Mr. Gauci (which rhymes with “glossy”) incorporates rural, urban and ethnic influences, particularly of the Latin and Gypsy Swing variety (e.g. Blues à la Française) on several tracks. Funk, gospel, even a little bit of rock’n’roll – it’s all here.

On “Dat Blu”, apart from Uli Bohnet’s subtle but solid bass, Brian programmed the entire accompaniment. Although I particularly liked the guitar licks on this one, the programmed beat was occasionally distracting.

The CD, generally-speaking is upbeat and musically infectious, but my favourite tracks were the more soulful ones - “Space Garden” (now, there’s a theme song, if I’ve ever heard one!), “Love is Here to Stay”, and “Come Take My Hand” (that B.B. King would undoubtedly love).

The pièce de résistance, “Black Cat Blues” is the finale, on which Martin Aucoin shows he’s every bit as adept as his more well-known counterpart, Michael Fonfara. There is some sweet noodling going on here, with that tinny player-piano effect evoking an old-time juke joint. Danny B’s tantalizing harmonica blues and Brian’s mournful slide guitar will exorcise any feelings of superstitious bad-luck suggested in the title.

If it’s possible to feel like you’ve been through a world-class art gallery of the musical kind while listening to a collection of songs, this is the one to visit, again and again.


www.briangauci.com


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