TRACKS
1. West Mystic * 2. Nashville Dreams * 3. Ma'am Blue * 4. Scorched Earth * 5. Tabloid Exchange * 6. Métis Love *
7. Rick n' Bob * 8 In Your Own Sweet Way * 9. Sun Tea * 10. I Got The World On A String

Recorded at Zolis Audio, Toronto, Canada
www.washbrookmusic.com : www.dirtyicecream.ca
DICM-CD-082 - Rick Washbrook 2008 ©

The word jazz must be one of the most misused words in the dictionary and likewise, in the wrong hands, the guitar can be a most misused musical instrument; but certainly not in this situation. Rick Washbrook proves without any shadow of doubt to be a devoted slave and perfectionist in the art of contemporary guitar playing. Like many fellow guitarists he claims to have been influenced along the way by others, yet if the truth were told all modern day guitarists, especially in the jazz field, owe it to the gifted artistry of Django Reinhardt the Belgian gipsy who in the 1930’s fashioned guitar playing to virtually unassailable heights.

Rick Washbrook’s CD West Mystic offers a collection of pleasant, relaxing and enjoyable tracks including a number of his own compositions. These include the perfect opener West Mystic which visionary sets the mood for what follows. Nashville Dreams and Ma’am Blue are equally enchanting, whilst Tabloid Exchange, Metis Love and Sun Tea are also stamped with the Washbrook hallmark.

Rick has assembled a first-rate backing ensemble and the piano playing of Bob Erlendson is commendable as can be heard on the track Rick n’ Bob which he and Rick co-compiled, also on the Harold Arlen number I Got The World On A String.

This CD may be short on listening time, the ten tracks lasting just over forty minutes, but each number avoids the fault that so many other musicians perpetrate when featuring their own compositions, that of emphasising them with lengthy solo over-runs, often into the world of fancy.

Not wishing to detract from the otherwise appealing collection of numbers selected for this CD, the inclusion of a vocal on the last track I felt somewhat strange. No doubt the introduction of vocal renditions are necessary for Rick’s solo and club sessions but, having enjoyed the first nine all musical tracks the modern style vocal by Rick I felt was expendable in this instance.

Just by way of a thought for the future, are we likely to see a ‘Quintette du Hot Club of France’ style of album emerge ?