Max Schultz, Erik Soderlind - Dedications (Max Schultz) (2010)

Tracklist

01. Mont-Saxonnex
02. Mimosa
03. Dedicated to You
04. Road Song
05. Lotus Feet
06. Bossa for Pat Metheny
07. For Django
08. Pat Martino
09. John and Paco
10. Blessed Relief
11. Drifting
12. Even Steven
13. Song for Sco
14. Mr. Stoneface

For some time now I have been playing duo with the very talented young guitarist Erik Söderlind. When Laila Gavatin approached me with the suggestion that we make a CD in dedication to our guitar heroes, it turned out that Erik and I have many favourite names in common: Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, George Benson, Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Joe Pass to name only a few.

There are also some guitarists who have meant a great deal to me. John McLaughlin, who, with his expressive, powerful and extremely personal style, not only influenced me but also opened up many doors musically for me. He succeeded in making me discover, in addition to other jazz guitarists, Indian music and flamenco. My piece dedicated to him is inspired by his collaboration with flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. Jimi Hendrix was the one who inspired me to begin playing the guitar in the first place. He was a brilliant improviser who influenced many people in jazz, including Miles Davis, and we play here a version of his “Drifting”.

Frank Zappa, a composer who, in his own words, “happened to play the guitar”, was a considerable influence on me with his original style. Here we play one of his more jazz-oriented tunes, “Blessed Relief”. John Scofield, with his concentrated blues style that I like very much, receives a little gospel-type tune of mine dedicated to him.

Naturally there are other guitar players that have influenced us but this is the selection that Erik and I agreed upon. They constitute a group of fantastic musicians who have meant an enormous amount not only to us but surely to everyone who is interested in this form of music, Jazz. (MAX SCHULTZ)

As regards guitar duos, in classical guitar literature there are plenty of examples to choose between, however that is mostly notated music. When looking at musicians associated with improvised music in the fields of jazz and contemporary music the numbers of guitar duos are fewer. However, guitar players usually love getting together and seeing what comes out of it but there is often a difficulty in co-ordinating the roles of each player so that one doesn’t “cancel out” the other. There are many things to consider in the way of bass lines, chords, melody statements and who will lead and who will support etc. Therefore when a successful guitar duo comes upon the scene it is something to be celebrated. These two musicians have worked hard at the job of building a composite sound, matching their instruments to one another carefully and, perhaps, most important of all, deciding upon a duo repertoire that will hold the interest of the listener.

This CD “Dedications” featuring guitarists Max Schultz and Erik Söderlind is a perfect example of guitar duo playing where everything falls into place. On 6 of the 14 tracks you will also hear the sensitive bass playing of Fredrik Jonsson and on 4 tracks some astutely played percussion by René Martinez.

Intended as a tribute to many of the world’s finest guitar players, some regrettably no longer with us, this is a musical journey through a guitar player’s hall of fame, together with some originals written by Max and Erik in homage to some of their favourites.

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