E.E.R.

Tobias Hurwitz, Painted Sky (CD, 48:24); Hurwitz Records, 1997
Hurwitz Records
35 Gilland Court
Baltimore, MD 21236

            Painted Sky begins promisingly with an unusual piece called 
"Zen Guitar," pairing digitally* effected guitar with tabla drums. 
Hurwitz mimics the rapid fills of the tabla with hammer-ons and 
harmonics. It's interesting.
	Unfortunately, the record quickly degenerates into a 
conventional rundown of fusion and metal guitar clichés. There are 
three cover tunes: Deep Purple's "Space Truckin'," which is merely an 
instrumental version of the original; Bach's "Invention #8," which 
repeats the tired maneuver of metal guitarists playing elementary 
classical pieces with their fuzz boxes cranked to 10; and P-Funk's 
"Maggot Brain," which contains some pretty funny voiceovers but also 
an interminable, slow, heavy jam that doesn't go anywhere.
	The other original pieces all traverse the same territory: 
mostly slap bass funk** with metal guitar harmonies and quasi-flashy 
soloing. When Hurwitz goes for a clean solo sound, he can't quite cut 
the mustard - his time is off and his phrasing unconfident. Even 
former John Scofield drummer Dennis Chambers, who appears on a couple 
of cuts, can't make the funk tunes groove. There's an amateurish 
quality to the package overall. Better luck next time.
           ~ David R. Adler


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NOTE: Clarifications/corrections per e-mail dialogue with Tobias Hurwitz
and David Adler and the Editor . . .
JAN. 30 to FEB. 1, 2000
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* Mr. Hurwitz informed me that effects used "are vintage analog stomp boxes"
and not digital.

** Mr. Hurwitz felt that Mr. Adler's phrase, "slap bass funk" to be misleading,
as Mr. Hurwitz says "that that was mostly me slapping the guitar, not a bass".

(E.E.R.'s editor finds that the guitar-slapping employed by Hurwitz to be a truly
unique styling. Did AC/DC do chordal slaps?? Hmmm . . .)

In response, Mr. Adler states, "As for the slap bass issue, my use of the
term 'slap-bass funk' was meant to describe a style of music, not a guitar
technique. Any listener would agree that, strictly in terms of musical genre,
there's a good deal of 'slap-bass funk' on the CD. And some of that, at least,
involves someone slapping a bass, not a guitar."

E.E.R. honors Mr. Hurwitz's wanting details further elucidated
and E.E.R. also appreciates the fine job of reviewing and
feedback on multi-genred music handled deftly by Mr. Adler.

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Sounds like this discussion may be 100% resolved for E.E.R.
readers by just buying Hurwitz's CD and having a listen themselves!!  ~ The Editor
Contact Tobias at: tobias@tobiashurwitz.com
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E.E.R. strives to be fair to all and give readers "the real deal".
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