Interactive Poll #9 - Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar

Anoushka Shankar & Patricia Kopatchinskaja – Raga Piloo – very enjoyable.  It’s a long and well executed conversation between instruments.  My cat was blissing out to this until that damn lawnmower (the neighbor’s) started outside.

Alice Cooper – Grand Finale – This song is proof of the talent of this band that would unfortunately be overshadowed by the persona that was to be created as time went on.

Kazu Matsui – Legend of the Lake – Was not available (?)

Tokyo Groove Jyoshi – What is Hip? – Funky & Fresh.  Japanese delight!  Excellent mix of cultures.  Probably posted most likely with Mick in mind, but is made of the stuff that I love in catchy music.  Contender!

Ludovico Einaudi – In un’altra vita – Lovely, new age style piano with flowing riffs and melody. 

Kaleidoscope – Taxim – great psychedelic rock with mix of western and mid-Eastern influences.

Janko Nilovic – Underground Session – Excellent fusion and a bit of an impressionistic vibe, the sort of thing that I love.  Mix of Western music and African rhythms.  The improvisational sections are not afraid to go off the rails and the symphonic jazz style is very appealing.  Contender.

Era – Tono – amazing violin work, definitely a showcase of talent.  I love how it goes out of control and how easily it all gets reigned back in.

Allman Brothers Band – In Memory of Elizabeth Reed – One of my favorite jams from them which I know too well.

George Benson – Six to Four – Again another one that is quite familiar to me already since I am an avid George Benson fan. 

Peace & Quiet – Looney Tunes – Another excellent rock jam, this time one that I wasn’t already familiar with.  Excellent find!

Bryan Beller – Casual Lie Day – smooth fusion groove.  Glad to hear the addition of horns later that sets this above the typical and usual talent showcase piece.  Yet it shows off his unique style as it continues and has a nice bass run.

Scorn – Forever Turning – Love the uneasy feeling of this, the impending suspense that the music brings.  Since I’m also an Art Zoyd fan, I’ll be looking into more of this.

Marla Leigh – Rhythms of Tof Miriam – Love this one a lot.  I was going to post something similar to this by another artist, but that will be saved for a later time.  Contender.

Philip Glass – Caught – Again, I’m quite familiar with Glass’ works, but not so much with this one.  Nice dramatic and cinematic feel.

Taylor Davis – Nebulous – Another amazing instrumentalist and yet another great talent showcase of a track.

Pelle Gunmundsen- Holmgreen – Planteaux pour deux – Bicycle horns and a cello….I wear a pan head for a reason….Push it down the stairs and see what it sounds like.  Another contender, but in the end, the bicycle horn section was a little too long and my mind started to wander until she changed instruments, but otherwise, I’m hooked.

Here are my top 3:

1. Janko Nilovic – Underground Session
2. Marla Leigh – Rhythms of Tof Miriam
3. Tokyo Groove Jysoshi - What is Hip?
4. Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen – Planteaux pour deux (honorable mention)

Excellent posts made this a tough pick once again.  Can’t wait to see what comes next.

Anoushka Shankar and Patricia Kopatchinskaja - Raga Piloo ~    Of course I’m familiar with Anoushka, had not heard this before, though.  Love the combination of sitar and violin.  A contender.

Alice Cooper - Grande Finale       ~  Knew this one from Alice.

Charles Ives - Piano Sonata #2   ~  Fun following the notes.  Loved the “excited” section where the notation did get visibly kinda crazy.  Tried for the life of me to get the bonus, maybe it will yet come to me?  I know the melody, and know I did not know it from this.  A contender.

Kazu Matsui - Legend of the Lake  ~  Knew the name of the artist, but hadn’t ever heard anything.  Beautiful and calming, gonna be hard to compete with the plethora of violins this time, though.  A contender.

Tokyo Groove Jyoshi - What is Hip? ~ Knew the song, of course, fun to see it played this way and they were very energetic about it.  More of a novelty feeling for me, though, even though they were quite good.    

Ludovico Einaudi - In un'altra vita (In Another Life)  Almost chose another by him that I just love.  This is also so perfectly him.  A contender

Kaleidoscope – Taxim ~  My entry

Janko Nilovic - Underground Session  ~  Enjoyed this one, very different from what I usually listen to, but loved the horns.

Era - Tono   ~  Also beautiful and moving.  So hard to not love violin.  So I’m not even gonna try.  A contender  

Allman Brothers Band - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed ~ Great tune, but of course I know it.

George Benson - 6 to 4   Also too familiar with this one to vote on it.

Peace & Quiet - Looney Tunes ~ Some pretty good jamming there, but just not top 3 for me.

Bryan Beller - Casual Lie Day ~ Obviously accomplished, but this one didn’t get me.

Scorn - Forever Turning ~  This works better for me than the in-your-face Gudmundsen-Holmgreen piece, but still just doesn’t get my gut.

Marla Leigh - Rhythms of Tof Miriam ~  Even though I also chose a Middle Eastern piece and am familiar with the genre, found myself humming the tune all morning and then going and buying the release.  Unless something else comes out, this is probably gonna be my #1 choice, although that may be predictable, coming from me. Obviously a contender.

Philip Glass - Powaqqatsi - CAUGHT! ~  Another Philip Glass piece is something I’m contemplating for another potential poll.  Very different from this, this was kinda busier and brassier than others that  I like from him. 

Taylor Davis - Nebulous 0  ~  Wonderful, I love violin (all of the bowed instruments).  A contender             

Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen - Plateaux pour deux  ~ Didn’t work for me at all.  I do like some experimental stuff, but it was too ducky for me.