(5 / 5)
An off-the-wall belter of an album if you are a fan of creative guitarists treading their own path and blurring genre boundaries with superb original material.
If you play guitar and have no0t found this guitarist as yet, check her out and be very, very impressed.
“Anomalia” is the sixth studio album from award-winning New York-based guitarist, singer and songwriter Jane Getter, joined by a serious roster of top players.
Chad Wackerman of Frank Zappa fame, Adam Holzman who worked with Miles Davis, Alex Skolnik (Testament), Mark Egan (Pat Metheny), Gene Lake (David Sanborn), Stu Hamm (Joe Satrianni) are all part of the project. Billed as “special guests” are Vernon Reid and singers Randy McStine and Chanda Rule.
The nine-track offering builds effortlessly on Jane’s blending of jazz, rock, metal, and singer-songwriter styles, with masterful fretboard work on complex and dynamic compositions.
Citing musical influences such as Mahavishnu Orchestra, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, and Wes Montgomery, Jane has played with many luminaries in the worlds of jazz and rock.
On her first tour, with legendary jazz/blues organist Brother Jack McDuff, Getter’s musical language expanded to embrace the groove-oriented music that she saw thrilling audiences.
Getter has also toured and played with Lenny White, Ursala Dudziak, Jaimoe (of the Allman Brothers), Michal Urbaniak, Kenny Garrett, The Roots the jam, Mike Clark (Headhunters), Adam Holzman & Brave New World, and the Saturday Night Live Band
The new CD features a striking cover image by artist Lasse Hoile. The Eastern-influenced opener “Kryptone” smacks you between the eyes, with screaming guitar on a gorgeous prog’ cut.
“Dissembler” and “Still Here” continue the prog’ meets jazz ‘in yer face’ sound in very fine style, before thing slow a tad with the lovely “Answers”, one of the few tracks with vocals. “Safe House” changes tack with some graceful classical acoustic guitar skills.
All in all, pretty much an essential listen as one of the finest guitar-soaked albums released this year. She’s no plain Jane, that for sure….More please.
By Jimmy B.
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’
(4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’