Joel Harrison - Guitar Talk Vol 2. Jazz Duos (2025)

This disc is a discursive collection of improvisations based on Harrison’s bold, far-ranging compositions. They include a stirring tribute to the late Dickey Betts with Nels Cline, an anthemic jazz -rock piece with Mike Stern dedicated to Harrison’s hometown, Washington D.C., and a lovely Latin-tinged tune with Camila Meza, whose wordless vocals cast a spell. There are ambient, experimental romps with Anthony Pirog (of The Messthetics), a piece dedicated to singer Luther Vandross with Adam Levy, and a 12-string and electric combo with Gregg Belisle-Chi. Harrison plays numerous axes throughout, including both electric and acoustic 12 string, a vintage Gibson SG, a vintage Telecaster, and his Paul Reed Smith. The effect is an all-encompassing essay of what is possible with electric guitar. Tones, moods, approaches move and morph through this singular collection of empathetic voices.

Many of the artists that Harrison collaborates with are not only colleagues, but heroes. Nels Cline has been a friend of Harrison’s for almost 50 years. Mike Stern is somebody Harrison has been admiring and listening to for almost as long. Harrison says, “In a way this is a summary statement of what I feel as possible in this exposed, stripped down setting. And I decided it was important to put the classical and jazz recordings together. It’s all of a piece, part of the vast landscape of guitar architecture that I’ve dedicated myself to for decades.”

Tracklist:
1-1 Joel Harrison;Gregg Belisle-Chi - Endless Wars [4:59]
1-2 Joel Harrison;Nels Cline - Dickey Betts' Dream [6:41]
1-3 Joel Harrison;Wolfgang Muthspiel - Song for Carla Bley [4:43]
1-4 Joel Harrison;Mike Stern - D.C. [4:15]
1-5 Joel Harrison;Nels Cline - Rang, Bang, Thrum [3:05]
1-6 Joel Harrison;Adam Levy - Listen To Luther Sing [5:05]
1-7 Joel Harrison;Camila Meza - Point The Way [6:01]
1-8 Joel Harrison;Wolfgang Muthspiel - Snow On Ash [6:53]
1-9 Joel Harrison;Anthony Pirog - Food Scarcity [7:55]
1-10 Joel Harrison;Brad Shepik - The Journey Never Ends [5:32]
1-11 Joel Harrison;Anthony Pirog - Etude 11 For Improvising Guitarists [2:33]
1-12 Joel Harrison;Gregg Belisle-Chi - Blues For All Of Us [2:39]