Dan Arcamone

– In his career, Dan Arcamone has performed with many artists who are based in New England. He is a guitarist whose music can be said to fall into the fusion area since his sound can be rockish while he takes adventurous jazz improvisations. But the word “fusion,” which conjures up John McLaughlin and Al DiMeola, is simplifying matters a bit since he does not sound like either one.

Mr. Arcamone, whose previous releases as a leader were Trioisms (2008), In Motion (2010) and In Colors (2012), is joined on Evolve by tenor-saxophonist Sean Nowell, bassist Henry Lugo and drummer Kenny Grohowski

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– In his career, Dan Arcamone has performed with many artists who are based in New England. He is a guitarist whose music can be said to fall into the fusion area since his sound can be rockish while he takes adventurous jazz improvisations. But the word “fusion,” which conjures up John McLaughlin and Al DiMeola, is simplifying matters a bit since he does not sound like either one.

Mr. Arcamone, whose previous releases as a leader were Trioisms (2008), In Motion (2010) and In Colors (2012), is joined on Evolve by tenor-saxophonist Sean Nowell, bassist Henry Lugo and drummer Kenny Grohowski. The music that they create is both electronic and at times electrifying. Mr. Arcamone often utilizes the guitar synthesizer to create keyboard-like solos while Nowell sometimes outfits his tenor with electrical devices that can generate a similar sound. Bassist Lugo and drummer Grohowski are quite active and assertive throughout, whether in ensembles or when they are in the role of accompanying a soloist.

The quartet performs nine of the leader’s originals. The opener, “In View,” lets listeners know that they should expect the unexpected. After the bass and drums bring in the song, the ensemble introduces a multi-themed work. Mr. Arcamone’s guitar solos can be thought of post-bop playing with a rockish sound although his electronic tones are individual. Nowell offers some mellow but creative tenor over the loose rhythm section before Grohowski’s drum breaks takes the song out.

“Burst,” a 16-minute performance, again features fluent work on the guitar synth that becomes high-powered, a relatively laidback tenor, and a powerful drum solo. “Arrows” has a fusion-ish melody with drum breaks, is catchy, and has Nowell coming up with a passionate statement. “Arrows” has Nowell utilizing electronics in order to play chords on his tenor but the performance is actually highlighted by one of Mr. Arcamone’s most intense solos of the set.

“Two Sides” is a thoughtful piece that starts out with an eloquent Lugo bass improvisation. Nowell’s solo picks up some heat as it evolves, leading to another strong statement from Mr. Arcamone.

“Leviathan,” one of the most memorable compositions on the CD, and “Perigee” both find the quartet recalling Weather Report a bit in its emphasis on ensembles and group interplay. As Joe Zawinul once said of his group, “Everyone and no one is soloing.” The interplay between the musicians, particularly on “Leviathan,” is impressive. Evolve concludes with “Apogee” which develops from laidback to passionate, and the brief guitar feature “Out View.”

Listeners who enjoy creative electronic music will find much to savor on Evolve.

AllAboutJazz.com Review March 2009 By Matthew Warnock

New 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

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