Wild Muse

Wild Muse

ASIN: B00000DBT2

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah perennially straddle the lines between flamenco, jazz, Middle Eastern, and Afro-Latin music, deftly assimilating their influences and backed by superb four-piece bands. Wild Muse, their eighth studio album, is no exception, offering yet another splendid brew of Strunz & Farah-style Latin guitar music. The difference here is that while some recent albums were filled with fast tempos and dramatic winds, Muse focuses on simmering works that are as intense in a quieter fashion, like the beautifully romantic "Natural Flow." "Zagros" and "El Faraon," however, are more rambunctious, propelled by fiery guitar licks, dancing percussion, and the agile bouzouki playing of Danny Papakalos. As always, the nimble fingers of Strunz & Farah fly across their acoustic guitar frets as if it were oh so easy. Another bonus on Wild Muse is the bass work contributed by Carlitos Del Puerto; his sinuous licks deftly wind through the musical maze and add another layer to the complex compositions. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

This is gold mine.......2005-11-15

This is a gold mine of wonderful melodies, beautifully transcribed and played by Earl Wild. Some of the transcriptions available from Wild was just too hard to play. Regrettably, CD's of these beautiful songs themselves can not be found on Amazon in the original vocal/piano form.

Average customer rating:

Short but sweet
one of my favorite classical guitar CD's
Great relaxing music

Wild Mountain Thyme

Manufacturer: Delos Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Ana Vidovic Guitar Recital
Message of the Sea: Celtic Music for Guitar
300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces
Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense

ASIN: B000005Z2P
Release Date: 1998-03-12

Tracks:

Wild Mountain Thyme
Da Chara (Two Friends)
Air
Green Galliard
Mysterious Habitats
Return From Fingal
Irish Jigs
O'Carolan's Farewell To Music
English Suite: Prelude
English Suite: Folk Song
English Suite: Round Dance
Chant
Cancion y Danza
Suite Compostelana: Cancion
Suite Compostelana: Muneira
The Frog Galliard
The Most Sacred Queene Elizabeth, Her Galliard
Grimstock
A Fancy
David Of The White Rock
Over The Stone
Fanfare
Scott's Muse

Customer Reviews:

Short but sweet.......2007-01-12

I liked the title song though it was too short. I didn't like the fact that the remaining songs were not remotely of the same genre, but instead were essentilly finger exercises for classical guitar.

one of my favorite classical guitar CD's.......2004-10-27

Scott Tennant is an astounding performer, and in my opinion, one of the top 5 classical guitarists in the world. If I had to choose one favorite on this CD, it's his interpretation of Bogdanovic's "Mysterious Habitats". He has got such amazing presence, tone and feel in his playing. He plays with clarity & strength & never sounds mousy or muted. This CD is necessary for anyone studying classical guitar or anyone that just enjoys virtuosic classical guitar and interesting pieces. Just compare Scott's tone to any CD by John Williams, Christopher Parkening or Andres Segovia and prepare to be blown away. If you like this CD, also check out the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), of which Scott is a member.

Great relaxing music.......2004-06-04

I borrowed this CD from our local library & it is wonderful! I highly suggest purchasing a copy - you will enjoy it.

Average customer rating:

Delicious!
Yes -- they still make great albums
Yes -- they still make great albums
A Dignified and Welcome Contribution to Spiritual Music!
An amazing piece of work!

Feather & Bone

Manufacturer: Premonition (Emd)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Vocal Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005AKII
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

How Can I Keep From Singing?
I Am The Mountainy Singer
O Virtus Sapientiae
Minuet
Gigue
Hymn To The Muse
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Ave Maria
Radiant Flame Of Gold
Mother, It Is Night
N'Da
Lone Wild Bird/MacIntosh's Lament

Customer Reviews:

Delicious!.......2002-02-12

I love this CD. Laurel Masse has a remarkable voice which she uses with great expertise on this collection of beautifully performed and arranged songs. Listening to this collection is a very special experience you won't want to miss.

Yes -- they still make great albums.......2002-01-19

I collect a great deal of music, and this album is superb. Mixing genuine spiritual intensity with unmatched musicality, this musical experience is beyond compare. There is not a weak moment, and it includes possibly the best recording of "Motherless Child" I've heard. A must have.

Yes -- they still make great albums.......2002-01-19

A Dignified and Welcome Contribution to Spiritual Music!.......2001-10-22

Those of us who adore spiritual albums are very lucky that one of the founding members of the Manhattan Transfer has decided to turn her talents to a cause that interests us so!

In this album, Laurel Masse baptizes an old music hall with her GORGEOUS voice and spiritual impromptu songs that spill right from her beating heart.

Some of my favorite pieces on the album were "Radiant Flame of Gold", a very powerful safety/comfort chant embracing either "Saint Brigit" or "the Goddess, Brigit" depending on your religion. I also enjoyed "The Mountainy Singer" which is just a lively, spirited, catchy tune. And her improvisational pieces are absolutely divine.

I'm very into voices, and this is a STRONGLY voice-centered album, so let me try to describe her voice in case it's helpful to anyone. Her singing style is NOT opera on most pieces. It's a Streisand-like voice, very clear and powerful with only light vibrato. It'll draw you in on the very first song and make you wish you could sing like that!

I'm glad she made this album and I would recommend it to others who like very dignified spiritual music.

An amazing piece of work!.......2001-06-18

This CD is truly amazing. What a gift! Laurel Masse's willingness to expand her musical horizons has brought forth an astoundingly varied and beautiful piece of work. From the opening notes of the Quaker hymn "How Can I Keep From Singing?" to the closing track, "Lone Wild Bird/MacIntosh's Lament," this ia multi-layered, richly hued CD filled with intensity and heart. The range of selections alone defies classification, and the beauty with which she infuses these songs is thrilling. This is not "background music"--like all true art, "Feather and Bone" challenges your senses...and, eventually, opens your heart and mind. Thank you, Laurel, for following your own sacred heart as an artist, and taking your audience along on the journey.

Average customer rating:

Another Great Strunz & Farah Album
Superficially Repetitive But Never Boring
Strunz and Farah misfire
Threw this one out the window
Excellent!

Wild Muse
Strunz & Farah
Manufacturer: Selva Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

Flamenco | Latin Music | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Fusion & World Fusion | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Zona Torrida
Heat of the Sun
Stringweave
Guitarras
Americas

ASIN: B00000DBT2
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Tracks:

Camino Real
La Sirena
China Moon
Alisio
Manzanillo
Nuevo Sol
Zagros
El Faraon
Natural Flow
Joya Perdida
Manos Del Tiempo

Amazon.com

Jorge Strunz and Ardeshir Farah perennially straddle the lines between flamenco, jazz, Middle Eastern, and Afro-Latin music, deftly assimilating their influences and backed by superb four-piece bands. Wild Muse, their eighth studio album, is no exception, offering yet another splendid brew of Strunz & Farah-style Latin guitar music. The difference here is that while some recent albums were filled with fast tempos and dramatic winds, Muse focuses on simmering works that are as intense in a quieter fashion, like the beautifully romantic "Natural Flow." "Zagros" and "El Faraon," however, are more rambunctious, propelled by fiery guitar licks, dancing percussion, and the agile bouzouki playing of Danny Papakalos. As always, the nimble fingers of Strunz & Farah fly across their acoustic guitar frets as if it were oh so easy. Another bonus on Wild Muse is the bass work contributed by Carlitos Del Puerto; his sinuous licks deftly wind through the musical maze and add another layer to the complex compositions. --Bryan Reesman

Customer Reviews:

Another Great Strunz & Farah Album.......2006-02-15

It seems like you can't go wrong with these artists. Wild Muse is splendid and eloquent in its exploration through elegant forms of sound. I own 6 Strunz & Farah albums, and cannot complain about any of them. They are all great. The ones that stand out to me as the best are Americas, Heat of the Sun, and Stringweave, but no Strunz & Farah title that I have come across is bad. I also own Zona Torrida and Rio De Colores in addition to Wild Muse. Every title I mentioned is top notch. Start building your Strunz & Farah collection today!

Superficially Repetitive But Never Boring.......2004-04-11

Strunz and Farah have been on my radar screen since I heard a cut from Primal Magic on Austin radio station KGSR so many years ago. I liked what I heard so much, I pulled off the freeway to call the station in order to find out who was playing that music! Though I was on my way out of state, I made a quick detour over to a favorite locally-owned music emporium and picked it up on cassette. Since then, Strunz and Farah have remained high on my list of favorites.
I have had Wild Muse for a few years now and decided to throw it on today since I hadn't listened to it or the band in a while. What an excellent recording! I played it in my office all day to the delight of everyone who heard it.
I like the entire CD. No song stands out as the "best" as on some previous albums. To the untrained ear, some of the music seems superficially repetitive, but it is never boring. Any "sameness" is unfailingly on a high plane that copy-cat groups fail to match.
Strunz and Farah seemingly have a lock on the world music genre with their formulaic blend of Latin, Gypsy, and Middle Eastern sounds with a dash of African inspired percussion for spice. Wild Muse steps away from the group's usual heavy bias toward the Latin sound to include a few tunes that might just have easily come from Athens or Istanbul. Danny Papakalos' bouzouki wizardry on Zagros and Faraon had me reaching for a glass of retsina. The CD closes with a pleasant vocal selection, the inclusion of which has become part of the Strunz and Farah recording tradition since the success of Americas.
If you like acoustic guitar duos, you are sure to like this CD. There are a lot of copycat "world music" duos around, some of them quite good and there are also some excellent jazz guitar duos. But few of any genre come close to the virtuosity, compatibility and musical vigor that Strunz and Farah have shown over the years.

Strunz and Farah misfire.......2000-11-04

I am a huge fan of Strunz and Farah. I've seen them live, circa "Americas"/"Heat of the Sun", and I truly looked forward to a continued musical journey with their last studio release, "Wild Muse". Was I disappointed! I have tried to listen to this disc, but it just doesn't catch my attention the way the last three studio discs did. The musical direction has changed, with a heavier jazz influence. I know jazz is historically where these guys came from, but previously in interviews, Strunz and Farah even admitted that no one was buying their recordings back then. So why change course and head back in that direction? I can only assume in considering the cd title, "Wild Muse" is an attempt to explore an artistic direction more personally fulfilling or musically challenging to the artists themselves, now that they have attained a measure of commercial success. Do yourself a favor. If you are looking for an awesome world music cd, get a copy of the raw "Primal Magic", flawless "Americas", or the slightly more mature and refined "Heat of the Sun". These discs capture the essence of what Strunz and Farah are all about. And catch their show. You won't be disappointed.

Threw this one out the window.......2000-03-22

A weak record compared to what they've done before. These watered down Gypsi-Kengs-on-speed minus the vocals meets jazz doodlings wear on me real quick. If you want great Strunz and Farah buy "Frontera" or "Guitaras" instead.

Excellent!.......2000-03-17

I had the privilege to be introduced to Strunz & Farah by some very wise and wonderful friends of mine, and I am beyond impressed! The smooth and light guitar licks take me away and release all of my stress. Wild Muse continues the tradition of melodic Latin jazz that we have com to expect from this group. I purchased this for my department, and word has quickly spread like wildfire among the rest of the company. Struz & Farah is now a big, big hit with everyone here at Andale! Thank you very much gentlemen.

Average customer rating:

My Name Is Nommi Girinkinin

Manufacturer: Muse Circle Kids' Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA336G
Release Date: 2002-12-10

Average customer rating:

Soul Direction

Manufacturer: Wild Muse Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA9QDU
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Jazz Music:

Jazz Music

Jazz Music