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Steve Greenbaum

Sometimes, when life takes an unexpected turn, you're lucky enough to find what is important to you. Steve Greenbaum did just that when his life took a sudden change of direction. Inspired and with newfound time on his hands, Steve began focusing more of his time on writing music. The result is Taking a Turn, his first CD. What started out as a solo acoustic guitar project inspired by a Pat Metheny side project, evolved into one of the most interesting releases of the year. Steve discovered the acoustic finger-style guitar playing of Michael Hedges and Adrian Legg. Amazed that music from a single guitar could be so captivating, Steve became motivated to focus his own playing on the acoustic guitar and the use of alternate guitar tunings.

Greenbaum's musical influences are evident throughout the disc. The album's liner notes salute the Grammy Award winning album, Beyond the Missouri Sky, by Pat Metheny and Charlie Haden. The influence of that recording is most evident on "November Unfolding", a poignant acoustic guitar piece with an acoustic bass accompaniment. "Outbound" blends jazz and a western tinged motif to provide a Bill Frisell-like Americana feel to the song. Seeing Toots Thieleman in concert during the project sparked the use of harmonica on this track.

Steve is currently busy promoting Taking a Turn and writing material for his next recording project. Please visit SteveGreenbaumMusic.com, iTunes and Amazon.com for more information on Steve Greenbaum.

Gear

Breedlove — Ed Gerhardt guitar


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Album Review

Steve Greenbaum: Taking A Turn

Read "Taking A Turn" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone


Let's dispense with the need for the labelling of Taking A Turn. This is not a mainstream jazz album. Guitarist/composer Steve Greenbaum has fashioned these ten originals into a multi-purpose album.

Several of the tunes would find airplay on smooth jazz radio, and they are certainly pleasant enough, particularly with Vince McCool's trumpet on “Liquid Blue" and “Tryst" emulating the style of Chris Botti. Greenbaum has rendered each of these selections into a different set piece that would ...

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