MVP - Centrifugal Funk (CD)

All Music Guide

This is the second MVP session featuring Frank Gambale. This time, he is set alongside underground legend Shawn Lane and exNelson hired gun Brett Garsed. The songs here are fairly weak and can be a bit grating due to the backbeats supplied by Joe Heredia. It would be interesting to know what Miles Davis would have thought of this version of "So What." Brett has a clean, '80smetal sound and plays with pristine technique. He manages to make his solos interesting and is rarely selfserving. Lane, on the other hand, has a very distinctive and unique sound. His technique is difficult to analyze because his sounds are so bizarre that it's often difficult to know what he's doing. Gambale's sweep picking technique has been well documented, and his jazz and fusion experiences establish him as the superior player here. Brett and Shawn serve as better dueling partners and do so on "Hey Tee Bone," one of the session highlights. "Splatch" contains some incredible pyrotechnics by both Frank and Shawn..., while "Lane's Blitz" is a good example of Shawn's demonic sound and speed. "Lovestruck" is the session's most exciting tune, featuring one of the most inspired solos Gambale has ever recorded. The three trade blistering solos as the song builds to a crescendo. Aspiring guitarists are encouraged to approach this with caution at the risk of getting discouraged. Simply put, this is an exhausting listen. - Robert Taylor, All Music Guide Read more Less