Album Notes

Textural landscapes; Sounds of old; Sounds of new; Solos nestled in soft six-string gloves; gentle snare-on tapestry; Powerful pugilistic pandemonium; Sounds of home; Sounds of wandering; No moss on the face of Mace; Scales of the falling having fallen; Blood, sweat and worm holes; Glutinous guitar gorging on the bean; Trees planted by the Brook; Sounds of familiar; Sounds of strange.

One pleasure of being in and around music for a long time is getting to watch new generations of musicians spring up, devour what came before them, and spit it back out refreshed and revitalized. That is certainly the case with Mace and his glorious band. Incredibly deep and layered compositions that never ignore the 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt GROOVE!” Beautiful and thoughtful settings for his soloists; the favor is returned with beautiful and thoughtful musical statements – every solo a gem. This is a recording deserving of many, many hearings – the reward is the ever-interesting territory under the surface.

Mace may be resting here for a moment but he won’t be stopping. I’m anxious to see where we go next…

Jim Pugh