Wolfgang Muthspiel & Brian Blade
Friendly Travelers

With a name like his, Austrian Wolfgang Muthspiel has little hope of being adequately noticed and promoted by the English-speaking international critics to ascend to the global Olympus of jazz guitar. And it's a real injustice because Muthspiel is a musician and guitarist with many merits, and his name could easily be placed alongside people like John Abercrombie and Pat Metheny.

Curiously, he divides his time between classical music and jazz: he has transcribed the Goldberg variations for guitar and is the author of several concertos and chamber compositions. On the strictly jazz side, he boasts an impressive curriculum: studies with Mick Goodrick, collaborations with Tom Harrel, Peter Erskine, George Garzone, and a stint in Gary Burton's group. This all translates into the development of a language that, starting from the most popular guitar stylistics (Scofield and Metheny), arrives at a very interesting, engaging, and communicative personal synthesis.

After leading various formations under his name, Muthspiel decided to release "Friendly Travellers" in 2007, paying homage to his many sources of inspiration while at the same time showcasing an impressive array of guitar techniques, that see him on the electric, acoustic, and semi-acoustic instrument, often overdubbed, in a "conversation with myself" leaning solely on the (very skillful) sticks of the celebrated drummer Brian Blade.

Guitarists listening should prepare for a gargantuan feast, but there's really something for everyone here, as musical intelligence and good taste are certainly not lacking in our musician, as can be seen from the opening bars of "Gnadenvald." The soft and crystalline atmosphere might suggest a Metheny, but then Muthspiel strings together two solos played on two different guitars, in completely different styles. Immaculate is his technique on the semi-acoustic, but even more delightful is his electric guitar, effortlessly blending rock and jazz.

Also on the compositional level, variety reigns supreme; there is room for the reggae of "Youssou," while "Vallekilde" is a dark and pensive piece that brings to mind John Abercrombie's "Characters." "Friendly Traveller" is a charming, subdued folksong that seems written by Michael Hedges. Those looking for a robust guitar-drum interplay will find satisfaction in "End on 4." Beautiful is the rock of "Heavy Song," featuring once again the outstanding electric guitar.

In short, Muthspiel does not hold back and offers us an exotic and multifaceted mosaic of sounds, punctuated by Blade's highly musical drumming, discreet when necessary but capable of "hitting hard" in the more energetic and rock-like moments.

A fresh, original musician who, while respectful of the past, is full of ideas. As proof of the growing esteem he is gaining among his more renowned colleagues, Muthspiel shares a trio of only guitars with Ralph Towner and classical guitarist Slava Grigoryan: a supergroup that is currently on tour, with dates that will also touch Italy. Go see them if they happen to perform in your area; it's really worth it.