Stories Without Words
Jim Graham
Green Cottage Music
1998
19 tracks
In an indie world populated largely by singer/songwriters performing their own work, guitarist Jim Graham has something special to offer. Graham's second CD release of acoustic guitar solos features a broad selection of music from around the world intermingled with his own compositions. Graham's adaptations of music written for lute, fiddle, bagpipe, and other instruments give an interesting and unique edge to his traditional guitar stylings.
Stories Without Words has a much less new-age feel to it than did his first release, Mezcolanza. This is music that can suit many occasions and moods. Played quietly, it is ideal background for that private candle-lit dinner or for romance. Played softer still, it works well as a relaxant, as a catalyst for meditation. Yet, played with the volume turned up, it is vital and invigorating, music to enjoy while working or playing.
Barraged as we are at the turn of the century by big bands and the big sounds of small bands, it is easy to forget the pleasure to be derived from the subtleties of a single acoustic instrument playing lightly upon our ears. Jim Graham is here to remind us. This is music of the centuries, as contemporary as anything we may hear today yet reaching back in time as far as the world of Shakespeare.
Here is ragtime, flamenco, classical music, Brazilian and Scottish folk tunes: a delightful melànge of sounds from around the world smoothly blended by the adroit fingers of Jim Graham. To this mix is added a selection of seven original compositions.
Especially worth note here are the haunting Graham composition "An Gorta Mor," written in commemoration of the Irish Famine; "Bonnie Dundee," a lively rendition of the old Scottish bagpipe tune; "Romance," a delightful arrangement of a traditional melody; "Modinha," a Brazilian folk song which sounds almost Greek in Graham's translation; and the spritely "Silver Sand Rag."
Those wanting more information about Jim Graham or his music can find it at the guitar9 website.
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Review Written: February 16, 1999
Page Last modified: February 14, 2004
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