wow what on wow. this album is out there man. creative yet different in it's way. but absolute musicianship. superb: joe uk
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A Dutch Richard Hallebeek is fairly known in so-called guitar society. He graduated from Hilversum Conservatory and Musician's Institute (Los Angeles). So far he cooperated with the likes of Shawn Lane, Frank Gilbert, Carl Verheyen, and also with his teachers - Scott Henderson and Brett Garsed. He is strongly associated with a Finnish guitarist Antii Kotikoski as well. You can come across Richie's name in the booklets of Maximum Brain Disfunction's, The Flowriders', Isotope's and René Engel's releases. Moreover, he is a journalist of a Duch magazine - "Music Maker".

Richard invited to recording some famous stars like an Australian Brett Garsed and Shawn Lane. Brett played in AOR band called Nelson, but is most famous for his cooperation with T.J. Helmerich and their two CDs - "Quid Pro Quo" (1992) and "Exempt" (1994). However, Shawn Lane recorded a few solos on Mark Varney Project's "Centrifugal Funk" (1991). Obviously, you can as well hear Brett's parts on that compilation. Unfortunately, Shawn died in 2003 at the age of forty. It was after recording his solos for RHP a little while.

I'd call RHP a jazzy project, not only because of Hallebeek's and Lane's jazz education, but also thanks to rhythm section's parts made up of Udo Pannekeet (bass) and Sebastiaan Cornelissen (drums). We can find some instrumental similarities to Lale Larson's Ominox, but his presence and ideas in RHP couldn't have vanished without trace. I think that musicians sometimes make references to symphonic rock from the seventies ("Good Food"). RHP is a good proposal for devotees of Pat Metheny's and De Gladas Kapell's music. If you were looking for relaxing music that is best for losing in meditation and supporting in deceleration of daily life's mad pace, you are spot-on!
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The production is crystal clear and avoids sounding sterile as too many releases in this genre do. The addition of Shawn Lane (what was his last musical adventure) and Brett Garsed are sure to bring in a few fans that otherwise may not get to know of RHP, and they too will be satisfied with their artists contributions. There is a definite live vibe throughout yet each track posesses structure and avoid aimless meandering.

Highlights on jazz fusion albums are often hard to pick as its generally more "a sum of the parts", as opposed to "single entities". Yet Canoga Park stands out thanks to its mesmerising atmospheric depth and some sublime solos from Richard Hallebeek and Shawn Lane. Good Food has a nice almost 70's pomp prog vibe to it that again makes it worthy of its own mention.

Overall RHP is a very solid slice of jazz rock and I get the feeling this band will be killer in the live setting. Fans of jazz rock/fusion make sure you check this out!
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