Blurring The Edges
© Copyright-Peter Sprague
(690880000124)
Record Label: SBE Records
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Blurring The Edges is a group led by Peter Sprague, internationally renowned jazz guitarist who has performed with Chick Corea, Hubert Laws, Charlie Haden, Sergio Mendes, and David Benoit, and who has numerous solo albums to his credit. "Blurring The Edges" derives its name from the fact that the players integrate elements from jazz, samba, classical, flamenco, and other sources.
The group includes: Fred Benedetti, stunning classical and flamenco guitarist, who is a professor of music at Grossmont Community College in San Diego, having been a member of an Andres Segovia master's class and a performer with Dave Brubeck and Luciano Pavarotti; Tripp Sprague, Peter's brother and one of California's premier saxophone and flute players who has played with many West Coast bands including Mose Allison; and Hall Sprague, father of Peter and Tripp and veteran percussionist.
The band's new CD release, Blurring The Edges features eleven pieces, all originals composed by Benedetti and Peter and Tripp Sprague. It has received rave notices in California newspapers. George Varga, writing in The San Diego Union-Tribune, described it as "A most auspicious debut. What makes this album notable is the ease and authority with which the group's four members combine different styles to create a meticulously balanced whole. Together the four achieve a seamless sound that is by turns bright and buoyant, lilting and lyrical, and soft and sophisticated. The musicians all perform throughout with impeccable precision."
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Blurring the Edges
author: DOUG MARTIN
I listened to Peter and his group Dance of the Universe many years ago when they played live at local clubs like The Belly-up Tavern. Only recently have I reacquainted myself with his music after hearing Peter perform as part of The Primal Twang. That event also included Fred Benedetti, who joins Peter onthis album. Not only have these two artists achieved amazing competence and grace individually, but by fusing their respective styles and talents they reach a place that few other musicians even approach. The rich rhythms drawn from the Brazilian tradition meet the clear acoustic strings of the Flamenco style in a most comfortable and unforced way. It's a fusion resulting from a converstion that respects both musical sources. The results are a finely crafted collection of sounds that leave me feeling like I've just enjoyed a gourmet meal. This album and the second collaborative offering "Sombra" both dislay a clarity of vision and the requisite talent to bring that vision to life. "Blurring" doesn't do justice to the careful and masterful merging of these two musical styles by these two masters of guitar. The rest of the ensemble isn't too shabby either.
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