Breathtaking playing from beginning to end
author: Guitar Player Magazine
Al Garcia plays acoustic and electric guitars, guitar synthesizer, bass, hand percussion, and even some trap drums on this self-recorded and produced album. The music falls squarely into the jazz-rock-fusion category, with obvious Allan Holdsworth and Jeff Berlin influences throughout. But, while Garcia clearly displays the requisite chops for the genre, the compositions are what elevate this disc above the all-too-common fusion wankfest. Most of the pieces have a joyous and buoyant feel despite their harmonic complexity, and the upbeat melodies and Latin rhythmic touches offer accessibility beyond the usual fusion fare. I could have done without the overly cutesy electronic bombast of “The Pleasures of Progress,” but otherwise, this is a great record, featuring beautiful guitar tones and often-breathtaking playing from beginning to end.
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the most well arranged instrumental music
author: MJBrady
This is the second cd I have had the pleasure of reviewing by Al Garcia, and trust me when I say, that Al Garcia needs to be heard by todays hardcore fusion fans, Al is a very proficient musician both as a bassist and guitarist, yet most notable of his talents are his innate imaginative compositions, which demand technical excellence, which are delivered not only by Al Garcia, but a supporting cast of more than capable musicians. Perhaps Al needs to find a clever band name to get his music more exposed, none the less, what I have been enjoying about this cd, is that the music provides a depth of complexity that reaches far beyond most fusion that is being heaped out these days. Crafting instrumental music that challenges the listener is not the common approach for many musicians in this genre, few are taking the time not only to refine their skills as musicians, but to painstakenly create elaborate themes and progressions to which they execute those same skills is the sign of a serious technician.
Al Garcia's music on Alternate Realities treads the fine line of jazz/rock fusion and progressive instrumental, meaning, the songs are not merely mundane vehicles for stunt soloing in each instrument, but highly refined songs with direction and sophistication, the music certainly would appeal greatly to those of you that have bands like Bruford, Happy the Man, Helmet Of Gnats, Metheny, Tribal Tech, Weather Report, Caldera, DiMeola, and other in your collections of favorites. Al himself cites the likes of Holdsworth, Eric Johnson, Jeff Berlin, Bela Bartok, Brand X, ELP, Jaco, Yes, etc as major influences to his love and passion for music, and with his feet standing in both the fusion and progressive worlds, it is no mistake that his music perfectly reflects his deepest regard for these challenging musical cultures.
At the point of this review, my feelings are that Al Garcia needs to be heard by the fusion circles that are existing today, this cd rates as some of the most well arranged instrumental music I have had the pleasure of musing over in recent years, and as for his playing? It's rare when I cannot tell a multi-tasking artist's first instrument, and in Al's case, it's really blurry to me whether he prefers the bass over the guitar, not that it matters, as his mastery of each is ever present through each song here, he displays not only true artistic expression on each instrument, but also quite a diverse arsenal of genre's are exhibited as well.
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Equally skilled on any instrument he touches.
author: Michael Popke
Taking influences from guitarist Allan Holdsworth and bassist Jack Bruce — not to mention artists as disparate as Charlie Parker and Yes — California-based multi-instrumentalist Al Garcia has recorded a second album of progressive, jazz and space rock sprinkled with bursts of electronic, Latin and cinematic music. It’s really almost too much to digest, but Garcia brilliantly paces the (almost) all-instrumental Alternate Realities — allowing the music to become more animated and adventurous as the disc’s 57 minutes unwind. The opening title track portrays a peaceful sonic landscape that seems to indicate that Alternate Realities will be a charming if unchallenging listen. But by the third track, “The Red Queen’s Race,” Garcia picks up the pace and lets fly some fancy arpeggios while firmly finding his bottom-end footing. He continues to do so on “Secret Correspondences” (a laid-back piano-based tune that nevertheless gains intensity) and the acoustic “Materia Prima” (which tastes like Santana). By the time later tracks like “The Pleasures of Progress” and “Calculated Risk” come around, Garcia’s musical might hits its peak, with distorted spoken-word passages, alternately jagged and soaring synths, and epic arrangements with complex time signatures. Throughout, Garcia’s wondrous sense of melody remains intact, and although he receives a little help on drums and piano, Alternate Realities essentially is a one-man project by one dexterous man who appears to be equally skilled on any instrument he touches.
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Alternate Realities is recommended
author: Scott Yanow
Al Garcia is best known as a highly versatile and skilled bassist, but on Alternate Realities his bass playing is only part of the story. Although he can play all kinds of jazz, this is a fusion set in which Garcia is heard on electric and acoustic guitars, electric bass, guitar synthesizer, percussion (congas, bongos, timbales and hand percussion) and, on three numbers, drums. In fact, via overdubbing, he plays all of the instruments except for drums on five numbers (which are either by Chris Garcia or Dean Rohan) and a piano introduction by Fred Ramirez on “Secret Correspondences.”
To his credit, the ensembles on Alternate Realities sound very much like a working band rather than the playing of a single person. The nine originals are complex yet accessible and sometimes rather catchy.
While one is reminded in spots of the classic fusion of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Return To Forever and perhaps Weather Report, this music is not quite as intense and self-consciously virtuosic, instead leaving space and paying attention to dynamics and pacing while sounding spontaneous.
Fusion has long been castigated by those who prefer acoustic jazz or mistake it with the recent smooth music. Al Garcia on Alternate Realities shows that there is plenty of creativity and life to be found in creative fusion. Alternate Realities is recommended and available from www.algarciamusic.com.
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