Waves Guitar

Bill Scorzari explores Impassioned and thoughtful landscapes in Through These Waves, his second full-length record. Produced by Jonah Tolchin (Yep Roc) and engineered, mixed, and mastered by Billy Bennett, the album of all original material was recorded over twelve days at the famed Bomb Shelter in East Nashville through the studio’s 1970’s MCI console and mixed to tape. In a recent interview with No Depression, Tolchin calls Bill Scorzari, “one of the greatest songwriters I’ve ever heard.”

It’s not every jazz musician who doubles on guitar and oud (the centuries-old Middle Eastern forerunner of the mandolin), but Gordon Grdina makes the combination work. He brought 14 difficult originals to the studio for a recording session with veterans Gary Peacock and Paul Motian, drawing on his interest in blending elements of Arabic music and various jazz genres. When Grdina is playing oud, the songs often seem like they evolved spontaneously in the studio, especially the meandering “Platform” and the dark “Renunciation.” On guitar, Grdina’s gift for spaciousness and lyricism in the longing “Distant” sounds reminiscent of Jim Hall. The brooding “Cobble Hill” is another striking performance. While Peacock and Motian had their work cut out for them engaging this music, they provide terrific interaction with Gordon Grdina throughout the sessions.

The latest in-store compilation from Starbucks Entertainment is the perfect summer sampler, an 18-track collection of old and new surf tunes, from classics of the genre like Dick Dale's "Miserlou," the Marketts' "Out of Limits," and the Chantays' "Pipeline" to tracks from surf revivalists like Laika & the Cosmonauts' "N.Y. '79," making this set a nice introduction to all that is surf and summer.