Ulf Wakenius • The Guitar Artistry

 

Review by Dave Nathan
For the first time in a recording history that dates back to 1983, Swedish guitarist Ulf Wakenius has decided to go it alone with an album of a cappella acoustic guitar performances. Like his earlier recordings, he has a number of dedications to jazz guitarists, present and bygone, who he admires and to whom he feels he owes a part of his own artistry. Thus, there is a three-tune medley entitled "Barney Goes to Brazil," which notes Barney Kessel's guitar performances of three Brazilian masterpieces. Switching gears, or perhaps chords, he tips his axe to Joe Pass with "Li'l Darlin'" and then really reaches with "Cherokee," devoted to country picker Hank Garland. But this is no copycat album by any means. Wakenius has built up such a body of work over the years that he need not rely on emulating anyone to get attention. This album further demonstrates his impeccable, tasteful, and often subtle technique. A small note insertion here, a slight inflection there, alterations of voicings along the way -- all contribute to this guitar player's incredibly good sound. He can move from a rhythmically charged, up-tempo piece such as "Sweet Georgia Brown" to sweet and sentimental -- but not saccharine and maudlin -- renditions of classic ballads such as "When You Wish Upon a Star" or "On Green Dolphin Street" to a bluesy "Blues of O. P.," dedicated to Oscar Peterson, whose quartet he is a member of. When confronted with an album whose title announces it "the artistry of," listeners are all too often likely to find that such terminology is somewhat self serving. This is not the case here. Wakenius is an artist who deserves greater attention as an overlord of the instrument.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-guitar-artistry-of-ulf-wakenius-mw0000220610

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Reseña de Dave Nathan
Por primera vez en un historial discográfico que se remonta a 1983, el guitarrista sueco Ulf Wakenius ha decidido actuar en solitario con un álbum de interpretaciones de guitarra acústica a capella. Al igual que sus grabaciones anteriores, incluye varias dedicatorias a guitarristas de jazz, presentes y pasados, a los que admira y a los que siente que debe parte de su propio arte. Así, hay un popurrí de tres melodías titulado «Barney Goes to Brazil», que toma nota de las interpretaciones a la guitarra de Barney Kessel de tres obras maestras brasileñas. Cambiando de marcha, o tal vez de acordes, inclina su hacha hacia Joe Pass con «Li'l Darlin'» y luego llega realmente lejos con «Cherokee», dedicada al pianista country Hank Garland. Pero éste no es un álbum de imitación ni mucho menos. Wakenius ha acumulado tal cantidad de trabajo a lo largo de los años que no necesita emular a nadie para llamar la atención. Este álbum demuestra aún más su técnica impecable, de buen gusto y a menudo sutil. Una pequeña inserción de nota aquí, una ligera inflexión allá, alteraciones de voicings a lo largo del camino -- todo contribuye al increíblemente buen sonido de este guitarrista. Puede pasar de una pieza rítmicamente cargada y acelerada como «Sweet Georgia Brown» a interpretaciones dulces y sentimentales -pero no sacarinas ni sensibleras- de baladas clásicas como «When You Wish Upon a Star» o «On Green Dolphin Street» a un blues «Blues of O. P.», dedicado a Oscar Peterson, de cuyo cuarteto es miembro. Cuando nos enfrentamos a un álbum cuyo título anuncia «el arte de», con demasiada frecuencia los oyentes se dan cuenta de que esa terminología es un tanto interesada. No es éste el caso. Wakenius es un artista que merece mayor atención como señor del instrumento.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-guitar-artistry-of-ulf-wakenius-mw0000220610


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Tracks:
1 - Have You Met Miss Jones? - 5:29
2 - Cherokee - 6:46
3 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - 6:56
4 - A Blues For O. P. - 5:33
5 - Sweet Georgia Brown - 3:29
6 - Little Right Foot - 3:31
 - Medley: Barney Goes To Brazil - (7:03)
7.1 - Manha De Carnival -
7.2 - Brazil -
7.3 - Loro -
8 - Li'l Darlin' - 4:53
9 - When You Wish Upon A Star - 2:17
10 - On Green Dolphin Street - 4:37
11 - How Deep Is The Ocean - 5:00


Credits:
    Artwork – Anna-Lena Wakenius, Sofia Berry
    Engineer – Åke Linton
    Executive-Producer – Leif Collin
    Guitar, Producer – Ulf Wakenius
    Liner Notes – Oscar Peterson
    Photography By – Rolf Ohlson

Label:    Dragon (8) – DRCD 373
Format:   
CD, Album, Stereo, Digipak
Country:    Sweden
Released:    2002
Genre:    Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/release/8550570-Ulf-Wakenius-The-Guitar-Artistry-Of

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