Born: February 27, 1977 Primary Instrument: Guitar
Swinging, soulful, energetic, gifted, flawless, these are just some of the words that have been used by critics to describe Connecticut based guitarist Dan Arcamone. Equally at home as a composer and performer, Arcamone’s powerful yet elegant style has been winning over audiences and critics alike. A diverse player, Arcamone is equally at home creating arcing melodies on a ballad as he is taking the reins on a burning, rock-fused solo, qualities that have caused him to make waves as both a leader and sideman. His debut album, Trioisms, immediately turned heads and brought critical attention to Arcamone the player and composer. All About Jazz described the album as “genre-defying” and “ground breaking,” two monikers that Arcamone wears well. Drawing from a diverse array of genres such as rock, pop, jazz and the avant-garde, Arcamone's musical style is hard to pin down with a single term, needless to say it the result of years of focused study and focused performances. These experiences have culminated in a personalized approach to the guitar that challenges the listener to think outside of their common expectations, while inviting them to join Arcamone on his sonic explorations.
Awards:
2005 and 2007 winner of Best Jazz Group in the Fairfield County Weekly Readers pollNew England-based guitarist Dan Arcamone delivers a boundary breaking, genre-defying album with his debut, Trioisms. The album features Arcamone's trio of drummer Tom Ash and bassist Rich Zurkowski, who are constantly pushing the guitarist to new heights of creativity in his solos, as well as delivering memorable improvisations themselves. By bringing in influences from rock, funk, blues and jazz, Arcamone has created an album that is intellectually stimulating while remaining true to its roots. All of the compositions on the album were written by Arcamone and each is a showcase for his wide range of influences. The opener, ”Reptomin,” draws upon a groove and driving melody line reminiscent of guitarist Tim Miller's ”Untied,” while “Bambolina” contains a faint trace of Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays' ”Half Life of Absolution” during its melody section. Far from being an imitator or clone of his idols, Arcamone is able to bring out his influences while, at the same time, inserting his own personality. Each time Arcamone plays a lick or pattern drawn from the jazz guitar tradition he skillfully twists and turns the idea to make it his own.
Zurkowski and Ash bring their A game to every track on the CD. Both musicians attack each tempo and groove with their utmost ability and are able to bring the maximum amount of emotion out of every melody and solo section. While both musicians are talented compers, they also contribute memorable solos. Ash's drum solo and trades on “So Long and Goodnight,” as well as Zurkowski's bass solo on “Jane Doe,” are well- crafted, melodic and filled with energy and forward momentum.
Arcamone is a guitarist with incredible chops and harmonic ability. While other guitarists with his ability to burn up the fret board may overextend themselves and rely too much on their technique, Arcamone creates a good mixture of high-energy runs, groovin' chords and singable melodies. With such a strong debut, the sky is the limit for this young East Coast guitarist.
Dan Arcamone at All About Jazz. Visit Dan Arcamone on the web.
Track listing: Reptomin; Bambolina; Tracings; Line Dancing; Impulse; Jane Doe; Smile; (Re)Kindled; So Long and Goodnight; Skyline; Wish You Were Here; Felinomin; Quiet. Personnel: Dan Arcamone: guitar; Rich Zurkowski: bass; Tom Ash: drums.
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Minor 7th Jan/Feb 2009 issue review of Dan Arcamone ”Trioisms”
There have been some exceptional trios fronted by jazz guitarists which have eluded the radar of even diehard jazz fans -- Bill Connors' fusion trio on Pathfinder Records in the 1980s, Pat Metheny's trio of 1999/2000 and more recently, Tim Miller (see Minor 7th's review of Tim Miller's ”Trio”). The trio format may be rare because it requires a truly inventive and virtuosic guitarist to successfully transform the energy of just three individuals into something much larger... all while grabbing the public's notoriously brief attention. Dan Arcamone is such a guitarist, and who on his debut CD ”Trioisms” enlists Rich Zurkowski on bass and Tom Ash on drums to create a wonderful independent release which, in a perfect world, would be worthy of major label interest. Arcamone achieves a warm tone between that of acoustic and electric by miking his PRS hollowbody, and in the process pays sonic homage to Pat Martino and Pat Metheny, two influences from whom he's borrowed this distinctive timbre. It's difficult to categorize Arcamone's music into subgenres, but some tracks (”Reptomin,” “Tracings,” ”(Re)kindled,” “So Long and Goodnight”) might be most easily labeled fusion, others (”Wish You Were Here,” “Bambolina,” “Jane Doe,” “Smile”) simply modern jazz in the tradition of Metheny, Mike Stern or Kurt Rosenwinkel. “Trioisms” is a tour-de-force in jazz guitar composition and performance, and will hopefully provide a springboard for Dan Arcamone into a deserved musical future that will defy the fate of a handful of artists that went before, and who bet everything on a trio. © Alan Fark
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Trioisms Reviewed In Just Jazz Guitar (Nov 2008)
Dan Arcamone
Trioisms (Arced Records)
Dan Arcamone - Guitar
Rich Zurkowski - Bass
Tom Ash - Drums
Trioisms presents Dan Arcamone, Rich Zurkowski and Tom Ash on guitar, bass and drums respectively. The trio is modern, swinging, soulful and full of energy. Arcamone presents himself as both a gifted composer and as a gifted guitarist. As a player Arcamone negotiates even the most complex harmony with a relaxed yet flawless style. He employs some pretty interesting lines and seamlessly blends those with chords throughout. One wonders if he ever misses a note, as Dan's lines seem to flow effortlessly. As a trio, it is difficult to describe how “in the pocket” the band is, but Zurkowski and Ash are the perfect rhythm section, blending groove, chops and sensitivity. The 13 pieces are all originals by Arcamone. All are complete compositions with impressive harmonic structure and a clear melodic sense. Groove also plays a large part with each tune as well. With Triosisms, Dan Arcamone and co. demonstrate that they have all the right stuff: sound, chops, arrangement and groove. Trioisms is worth a listen.
Reviewed by Eric Elias
Dan Arcamone - In Motion (2010) Mark Small, Brad Mason, Kat Calvosa, Rich Zurkowski, Tom Ash
Dan Arcamone - Trioisms (2008) Rich Zurkowski, Tom Ash
LP Passion for Music Vol. 6 (2005)
Damon Grant Project - Sonidos Nuevos (2003)
Damon Grant Sextet - Improvisation (2001)
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Primary Instrument:
Guitar
Location:
Norwalk, CT
