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Eric Wollman: East Coast Shoes (CD, 50:00); Impression Records 4148.4, 1997

	Fans of Allan Holdsworth’s solo offerings such as Metal Fatigue, Wardenclyffe Tower, 
Secrets, and his I.O.U. period are going to enjoy the expertise of guitarist Eric Wollman. If I 
had received this disc, being told it was actually a soundboard “live bootleg”, originating from a 
decades-old Holdsworth gig -- Wollman’s stylings might just have fooled me. He is that good in 
his chordal meanderings and legato leads. “House of Rhinos”, “Sizemic Riptitude”, and 
“Kaleidoscope” all are strong echoes of that ‘80s Holdsworth era.
	Upon hearing “Emily’s Song” one will not think Holdsworth but instead that Andy Summers 
or Pat Metheny crystal clear, mellow jazz. Perhaps a touch of Mike Stern might be felt in melodic 
improv flourishes but that “Sterno” overdriven punch is absent here. On ”Narr-Lee” and 
“Calliope” we hear fine bass solos by Gene Torres to more of Wollman’s Holdsworthian chordal 
passages. You hear reverb with that slight echo delay/ (chorus?) in most of Wollman’s leads. This 
tends to give Wollman’s riffs a “comin’-down-the-hallway” hollow or that “tunneled” touch 
rather than immediate, in-your-face presence and warmth. On “East Coast Shoes”, I believe a 
“harmonizer timbred effect” is used -- offering a delightfully bizarre solo voice. It works well!
	“Cruisin’ For A Fusion” offers more fine soloing by Torres and Wollman’s solo is upbeat but 
mellowed blend of Holdsworth runs and Stern tone. A jazz standards atmosphere is strong on this 
cut. “Spirals” is a splendid example of how well Wollman develops and interweaves intricately 
satisfying chord progressions. Wollman has the pluck and rolling fingerwork down perfect. One 
very minor complaint here -- “Spirals” was so shining and delicate in its myriad of exotic and 
dream-laden chords that the legato leads’ voicings seemed so “darkly growling” as to be intrusive 
in  what the piece truly needed. Here was a perfect composition for Wollman to augment his 
“sunrise” chordal moods with a uniquely “light-filled”, lead voice rather than one that he uses 
effectively and frequently elsewhere. It was a very Holdsworth moment nonetheless. This of 
course is my personal subjective sense and it is Wollman’s song after all is said. In a Stanley 
Jordan/Metheny/Summers fashion Wollman serenades us warmly into dreamland with “Ellenwood 
Place” as an outro to one very fine and strongly recommended offering. Last but not least, all is 
moved along and held together seamlessly and rhythmically by Pete Quintalino on drums. A great 
job all the way around! A must for Holdsworth adherents and fusion guitar folk.
	~ John W. Patterson
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