SALVATORE
RUSSO - Salvatore Russo
- (2002)Salvatore Russo: electric and acoustic guitars, Keys, Midi Guitar,drum programming.
Alfredo Paixao: Bass on traks 1, 2, 3, 6.
Francesco Esposito: Bass on traks 4, 5, 9, 10.
Fabio Fraschini: Bass on track 8.
Jurij Gianluca Ricotti: electric guitar on track 3.
Here's Salvatore Russo's debut album. It's an instrumental one, showcasin' Sal's multiple faces as a musician.
Start Race kicks in with a distorted groovy and punchy riff. It's absolutely clear that Salvatore loves to play rockfusion. He sounds like Greg Howe with an angrier attitude. While Howe often searches for a crystal clear sound, Russo prefers a rockier attitude. His sound is warm, full and powerful! The song in itself showcases Sal's preparation as a musician. Top-notch technique. And also the song is good, not only a base for Sal's trips on the fretboard.
The Sea Lane is a good example of a personal style and phrasin'. Cool octave displacement for the main melody. Cool bass interlude by Alfredo Paixao. Russo tends to favour legato technique, showcasin' a very fluid sound, and usin' also a lot of hammer-ons from nowhere (à la Greg Howe), creatin' a very percussive tone in his lines.
Hard Life is another hi-energy track, my favourite in the entire cd. Groovy single note riff. Then a change in mood for an elegant phrasin' over dilatated chords. Memorable 'chorus', with a melody which will fix in your head immediately. Then Sal gets angry again and kicks some butt before a neoclassic solo by Jurij G. Ricotti. Then there's an extra cool legato sequence which modulates over scary violin arrangements... WOW! I like this stuff, don't you? =)
Best Wishes is a ballad, where Sal can show us all his more intimistic approach to the instrument. Cool volume swells and then some memorable playin', remindin' me of Neil Zaza.
This track is sooo good! The chorus melody is played with the bar to add spice to it.
Chiara e Giulia (Marcheneiro Paulo) is a bass song, arranged by Paixao and played by Francesco Esposito. The proof we don't need to look to the States to find amazing players.
The Night Cat is absolute fusion, with a truly jazzy feel. That's perfect to relax a little. Sal swings as hell. Truly well-rounded guitarist who loves distortion. There are certain points where he sounds a little like Jennifer Batten with Tribal Rage on 'Momentum'. He also plays an infinite legato phrase: I wonder if his left hand is made out of titanium...
Manic Overdrive is just over the top: Van Halen on steroids... I think they should make an antidopin' test to Sal's PeaveyWolfgang guitar... =) Once again you can clearly hear Howe's influence, but Salvatore is able to fuse this strong influence with his own personality to create his very own style. Great closin' too!
Aquascape is an acoustic song. Russo plays this one with heart and intensity. A 'newage'-like track to listen with closed eyes...
Breakthru confirms what we heard in the previous tracks, with its in your face start, and its melodic twist. Wonderful chorus as always.
Waves (Palascìa) has another moody start... Oriental soundin' bends à la Marty Friedman. Then the track turns into another strong ballad, with Sal once more playin' his soul out... Great examples of how to articulate your playin', with bends, slides, wide vibrato and whammy bar manipulations. Catchy groovy line at around 4:00...
This album is a great rock-fusion one. The songs are all good, with compositional skills and not only vamps to solo over. The technique here is truly good, and Sal's personality, energy and musicality shines thru. Even better, the disc has a media part with photos, lessons by Salvatore and also tabs for licks from the cd's songs!!!!!! Too Cool!!!
A must have for any rock-fusion and Greg Howe fan.
Rating: 9-1/2.
(reviewed by Max)