Nicolas Meier - Journey (2009) [Hi-Res]

In just a few short years UK-based Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier has carved a reputation out as one of the UK s most original guitarists. Drawing on a love of Turkish and Eastern music as well as Methenyesque fusion Meier has developed his own unique sound. Journey is his fourth and most complete album to date and again features the remarkable Gilad Atzmon on clarinet saxophones and Asaf Sirkis on drums. They are joined by the wonderful Uruguyaun pianist Jose Reinoso (who now lives in Barcelona and who Meier met at Berklee ten years ago), and by bassist Pat Bettison, who also contributes some pretty remarkable harmonica playing to the album. Journey is conceived as just that, a journey, which in Meier s mind can be read as a literal journey through different land-(or musical)-scapes. Or as a journey through life, in this case his journey through life with his beloved Turkish wife Songul (whose evocative paintings decorate the CD packaging). It's a journey enhanced by the magnificent contributions of all the band members and by Meier s own playing. He uses mostly the nylon string guitar, but his use of the steel string on part III of the suite sounds beautiful after Atzmon s solo, and elsewhere the lute like glissentar chimes on part six and elsewhere Meier s baglama (saz) adds an eastern flavour.

Tracklist:
01. Nicolas Meier - Sunrise (5:48)
02. Nicolas Meier - Journey (4:21)
03. Nicolas Meier - Mountain Baba (10:03)
04. Nicolas Meier - Silent Lands (7:55)
05. Nicolas Meier - Summit (12:25)
06. Nicolas Meier - Promenade in the Lantern Garden (5:35)
07. Nicolas Meier - Marble Dance (5:10)
08. Nicolas Meier - Sunset (1:51)