Lady Of Khartoum, The

G. FEWELL & E. HOFBAUER - Lady of Khartoum
Creative Nation, 2007

AVANT/WORLD JAZZ – The creative guitar duo of Garrison Fewell and Eric Hofbauer draw from jazz, middle eastern and west african music in this almost entirely improvised set. They get a wide range of sounds by preparing the guitars (inserting objects under the strings), striking them with sticks, etc., and keep the focus on melody, mood and texture rather than noisemaking. Excellent stuff.

Note: 10% of proceeds are being donated to Darfur refugee relief efforts

Fo's Picks: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15

1. 1:40 – calm, lapping introduction
2. 4:00 – relaxed line over percussive drone, light spinning, then insistent
3. 2:38 – goofy, plinky ditty for two prepared guitars.
4. 6:09 – moody exoticism and bouncy dissonance over quiet rattles
5. 3:38 – tense but low-key improv, loosens up in the middle
6. 1:10 – gloopy melody floats and melts like a lava lamp
7. 2:55 – relaxed, relatively straight version of a Thelonious Monk tune
8. 1:48 – quick chaos, plinky guitar lines tumble over each other
9. 4:13 – quiet, atmospheric: tinkly bells and random, warped tones
10. 2:43 – laid-back improvisational jam
11. 3:47 – wacky cartoon/hillbilly version of "Bye Bye Blackbird"
12. 3:48 – friendly cool-jazz riffing, slightly warped at the edges
13. 2:38 – bluesy/reptilian guitar slinks through lots of rattles & bells
14. 1:29 – happy little jam references bebop
15. 6:18 – atmospheric start, then a warmhearted, improvised ballad; pretty

[Fo] – 6/1/08