"RUSH": Tom Guarna's New CD is a Winner

Guitarist Tom Guarna

If you are looking for some new New York type of jazz, high energy with compelling yet soulful compositions and an all star cast, then look no further. Tom Guarna's latest album, "Rush," is guaranteed to satisfy your inner jazz critic. Guarna is one of a new breed of musicians who has studied the traditions, has skills to burn, but is not afraid to push the envelope and go outside the box. 

I like to call this music New York Jazz, although some might erroneously call it Fusion. It is not fusion in the sense of reminding us of the Jazz Rock of the late 60's and 1970's, although Guarna and company are no doubt familiar with the subgenre. There is a lot of swing, and with the exception of electric guitar and Fender Rhodes on some of the tracks, it's an otherwise acoustic album. If one means fusion in the sense of this is music with many influences fusing to create a

singular sound, then I'll accept that. But this is no Return To Forever ripoff; Guarna has his own vision and "Rush" unmistakeably brings it to life.

From the title and opening track, the SOUND of this recording will grab your attention. It's a big, clear sound, all of the instruments sound warm, and it's full without sounding overly compressed. The song "Rush" is a kind of spinning wheel of energy based on a low register 3/4 guitar riff; from there, Guarna and saxophone monster Joel Fromm join together to play weaving lines while the rhythm section of pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Orlando le Fleming, and drumming master Johnathan Blake drive the engine. Guarna's composition's are heavy, but they don't take themselves too seriously, and there is plenty of space for blowing. On "Shambleau, " a kind of D minor swing which really opens up, Joel Fromm begins his solo with a high degree of harmelodic nastiness which I don't often hear from him. 

Danny Grissett has been in high demand as an accompanist for years; I especially enjoy his floating textures on "Dreamland." I've recorded with Johnathan Blake and used to play with him quite a bit; now, it seems as though every time I turn around and say, "That drummer on the recording is KILLING! Who is it?" -well, 9 times out of 10, it's Johnathan Blake; he's nailing everything Guarna has given him. A tune like "Movement and Repose" is clearly an

Johnathan Blake

obstacle  course of a challenge, and Blake, as well as bassist le Fleming, handle it with ease.

I'm hoping that "Rush" will be the album that will push Tom Guarna into the conversation which includes Kurt Rosenwinkle, Johnathan Kreisberg, and Gilad Hekselman; Guarna is easily in that category, in fact, this recording proves he is in his own category.

"Rush"(Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records) will be available for download on Itunes on February 25th. Also, check out the BJUR site, as well as Tom Guarna's site. Also, here are Tom Guarna's tour dates:

Feb 23

Tom Guarna Quintet

CD Release Show

55 Bar

NY NY

Jon Cowherd - fender rhodes

Orlando le Fleming - bass

Chris Cheek - saxophone

E.J. Strickland - drum

9pm to 12am

March 1

Manuel Valera's New Cuban Express

Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center

Houston TX

8pm

April 16th

Tom Guarna Quartet

The Blue Whale

Los Angeles CA

CD Release Show 8pm to 12am

Mark Ferber - drums

Dave Robaire - bass

Miro Sprague - piano

April 17th

Tom Guarna Quartet

CD Release Show

Dizzy's

8pm to 11:30pm

San Diego CA

Joshua White - piano

Mark Ferber - drums

Bass - TBA

April 18th

Tom Guarna Trio

Vibrato

8pm to 12am

Los Angeles CA

April 21

Tom Guarna Masterclass

Portland State University

Portland OR

April 22

George Colligan Group

Jimmy Mak's

Portland OR

Damian Erskine - bass

Reinhart Melz - drums

George Colligan - piano/keys

8pm to 12am

April 23

George Colligan Organ Trio

Jo Bar

Portland Or

8pm to 12am