Guthrie Govan - Erotic Cakes [2006]

Saca só o naipe desse sujeito. Parece que voltou de Woodstock a pé e parou no caminho para tocar guitarra e relaxar. Só que esse elemento aí com cara de hippie 60’s, toca muito, mas muito, pra caralho mesmo! Além de ser influenciado por todos aqueles caras dos anos 60 e 70, Guthrie Govan se deixou levar pelos virtuosos do final do século, caras como Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen... Esse segundo detalhe, normalmente não me cai bem, porque não sou muito chegado a esse estilo de guitarra “malabares”, cheio de escalas bachianas, mais tapping e o escambau. Artistas como Richie Kotzen, Paul Gilbert, Blues Saraceno e companhia me cansam os ouvidos depois da segunda música. Mas Govan tem um diferencial, porque ele mescla bem a técnica moderna com a velha escola a la Hendrix, Zappa, Beck... E ainda por cima coloca um tempero jazzístico originário da influência de Joe Pass, do qual ele é fã declarado. Toda essa mescla de estilos e técnicas está muito bem balanceada em Erotic Cakes, primeiro trabalho solo desse guitarrista inglês, lançado pelo selo Cornford Records, que ainda conta com a participação de Richie Kotzen e Bumblefoot.

Guthrie Govan é natural de Chelmsford, Essex, Inglaterra, nasceu em 27 de Dezembro de 1971 e começou a tocar guitarra com apenas três anos de idade, tendo seu pai como grande incentivador, mas aprendendo inicialmente de ouvido, sem ajuda de professores. Sua primeira apresentação ocorreu aos nove anos, quando ele e seu irmão tocaram num programa de TV chamado 'Ace Reports'. Além da música, ele tinha um apreço pela gramática e chegou a cursar língua Inglesa na universidade de Oxford, porém, abandonou depois de um ano a fim de se dedicar exclusivamente a uma carreira musical. Como viver de música não é uma coisa fácil nem na Inglaterra, para segurar as pontas, ele arrumou um emprego em uma rede de fast food. Em 1991, depois de ouvir algumas demos e se impressionar com a técnica de Govan, Mike Varney, da Shrapnel Records, ofereceu-lhe um contrato de gravação, mas ele acabou recusando por achar que ainda não era o momento apropriado. Dois anos depois, ele inscreveu a música “Wonderful Slippery Thing” (presente no Erotic Cakes), em um concurso da Guitarist Magazine's arrematando o prêmio de "Guitarrista do Ano". Com isso, algumas portas se abriram e ofereceram a ele um trabalho para transcrever uma peça de Shawn Lane na revista Guitar Techniques, Govan se tornou um colaborador fixo da publicação pondo um fim naquele maldito trabalho na fast food. Desde o final dos anos 90 que ele vem trabalhando ativamente como professor de guitarra, lecionou no Guitar Institute de Acton, na Thames Valley University, e na Academy of Contemporary Music; atualmente ele ensina no Brighton Institute of Modern Music. Como professor, ele ficou conhecido por sua capacidade de ensinar um amplo leque de estilos. O que você pode conferir nesse interessante link do You Tube: Who is the Best? Ainda no campo docente, Govan publicou dois livros chamados Creative Guitar: o primeiro “Cutting Edge Techniques” e o segundo “Advanced Techniques”. Como se pode notar pelos nomes dos livros, eles tratam de inovadoras técnicas para o ensino da guitarra.


Em 2001 ele se juntou ao grupo de rock progressivo Asia, uma banda que reuniu verdadeiros ícones do estilo, mas nunca me desceu bem. Permaneceu com eles até 2006, quando formou com os ex companheiros do Asia John Payne (baixo e vocal) e o Jay Schellen (bateria) o GPS, lançando naquele mesmo ano o disco Window To The Soul (bem chatinho por sinal). Govan também aparece em Your Music Is Killing Me (2007), disco de estréia do The Young Punx um grupo inglês de música eletrônica de pista, ou seja, melhor nem ouvir a não ser que você goste do estilo clubber. Como tocar nunca é demais para um musicista dedicado, ele se apresenta regularmente no Bassment Club de Chelmsford, em Essex na velha Inglaterra. Se por acaso você estiver de bobeira por lá, numa noite dessas, vale a pena conferir Guthrie Govan de perto com sua banda de jazz fusion The Fellowship.

Bem amigos, aí está Guthrie Govan um cara que demorou para lançar seu primeiro disco, mas que toca guitarra com muita maestria, vai da palhetada alternada e chicken pickin’ à la Steve Morse, até tapping de oito dedos e solos de guitarra limpa. Eu não diria que ele é o mais “fodão” do momento porque, como já disse aqui, o estilo virtuoso exagerado me cansa um pouco, não gosto do Asia e também não curti o GPS. Mas sem dúvida nenhuma é um músico interessante que vale a pena conferir, principalmente neste Erotic Cakes.

Pois é né pessoal! Eu falei bem do cara, rasguei a seda nele, mas desci a lenha nos lançamentos, fazendo parecer que a única coisa boa dele até momento seria Erotic Cakes, mas não é bem assim e para deixar uma impressão melhor, posto como bonus uma apresentação com The Fellowship no Bassment Club, jazz fusion de primeiríssima linha!
Fonte: Wikipedia

A propósito: as duas gravações postadas aqui eu encontrei no blog Jazz-Rock-Fusion-Guitar

Guthrie Govan - Erotic Cakes


Guthrie Govan is recognised by his peers as possibly the scariest guitarist alive. Combining an unparalleled technical ability with a mastery of almost all styles, Guthrie is equally at home comping in a trad jazz combo as he is performing death-defying ‘shred’ guitar. Coupled with some seriously funky grooves and an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music styles, a wonderfully developed slide style and improvisational abilities to match anyone, he may just be the most complete guitarist out there. Govan (born December 27, 1971 in Chelmsford, Essex, England) is a guitarist known for his work with the bands Asia (2001-2006), GPS, The Young Punx and The Fellowship as well as Erotic Cakes (a vehicle for his own music). He is a noted guitar teacher through his work with the U.K. magazine Guitar Techniques, Guildford’s Academy of Contemporary Music and currently the Brighton Institute of Modern Music. He is also a former winner of Guitarist Magazine's "Guitarist of the Year" competition.

Govan began playing guitar aged three, encouraged by his father but initially learning mainly by ear. At the age of nine he and his brother Seth played guitar on a Thames Television programme called 'Ace Reports'. He then attended King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford) where he was exposed, via older classmates, to ‘shred’ guitarists of the time. After leaving school, Govan read English at the University of Oxford, though he left after a year to pursue a career in music. Around this time (by Govan’s own estimation, 1991) he sent demos of his work to Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records. Varney was impressed and offered him a record deal; ultimately however, Govan declined. Regarding his reasons he has explained: ‘it was as though all I really wanted to know was that I was good enough… I found I was getting a bit wary of the shred movement’.

In 1993 he won Guitarist magazine’s ‘Guitarist of the Year’ competition with his instrumental piece ‘Wonderful Slippery Thing’ (a version of which would eventually appear on his debut solo album); the demo of the track earned him a place amongst several other entrants in the live final, which he then won. Subsequently, he submitted a sample transcription (of a Shawn Lane piece) to Guitar Techniques magazine; this earned him a job as a contributor to the magazine, ending a spell working in fast food. Govan has since worked with ‘Guitar Techniques’, both on transcriptions of songs and on articles providing tuition to readers in particular techniques or styles. His work with the magazine enabled his belated solo album Erotic Cakes to reach a wider audience, not least because the magazine transcribed 'Wonderful Slippery Thing'.

Since the late 1990s, Govan has taught at the Guitar Institute in Acton, Thames Valley University, and the Academy of Contemporary Music; he currently teaches at Brighton Institute of Modern Music. In this context, he is known for his ability to teach a wide range of styles. Govan has published two books on books on guitar playing: Creative Guitar Volume 1: Cutting Edge Techniques and Creative Guitar Volume 2: Advanced Techniques. As the names imply these books aim to teach innovative guitar techniques.

Govan’s debut solo album, Erotic Cakes, was released through Cornford Records in August 2006. In the album's sleeve notes, Govan states the album is named after an episode of The Simpsons; he also explains that when playing live, the band is billed as ‘Erotic Cakes’ rather than simply Guthrie Govan. In addition to bass by Govan’s brother Seth and drumming by Pete Riley, the album features guitar solos by Richie Kotzen and Bumblefoot on ‘Ner Ner’ and ‘Rhode Island Shred’ respectively. Seth Govan and Pete Riley also complete the Erotic Cakes live band. Several of the tracks on the album existed in various incarnations previously. Notably, versions of ‘Waves’ and ‘Rhode Island Shred’ appeared on the compilation Guitar on the Edge, Vol 1. no.4 (Legato Records, 1993); his inclusion on the compilation was organised by Mike Varney's brother, Mark. Furthermore a version of his ‘Guitarist of the Year’ winning piece, ‘Wonderful Slippery Thing’ appears on the album. While this is his first album, Govan had been collaborating with drummer Pete Riley on the music since the mid-1990s

The Erotic Cakes band line up, with the addition of saxophonist Zak Barrett, also forms jazz-fusion band The Fellowship. The band plays at the Bassment club in Chelmsford, Essex every Thursday night and has done so for several years. Govan’s earliest influences were Jimi Hendrix and Cream-era Eric Clapton; as such he describes himself as coming from a ‘blues rock background’. While he is ‘wary’ of 1980s technique driven guitar music (‘shred’) he cites the imagination of Steve Vai (as well as Frank Zappa, whom Vai played with) and the passion of Yngwie Malmsteen as influences. Jazz and fusion elements are an important part of his style: he cites Joe Pass as a pivotal influence in this respect.

Govan is known for his virtuoso command of the electric guitar, due to both his technical ability and proficiency in various styles. Govan’s ‘Myspace’ profile lists quotes from various guitarists to this effect; elsewhere, fellow virtuoso Joe Satriani has called Govan an ‘amazing’ guitarist.
From: Wikipedia

[*]

Joe Satriani:
Totally freakin awesome!!! this CD put a grin on my face a mile wide.

Richie Kotzen:
Guthrie Govan can do anything he wants as a guitarist. He has total command over the instrument; I love to watch Guthrie live as he always plays something new that the rest of us would never have thought of. He is truly a gifted musician and I am honored to be a part of Guthrie's 1st album.
(Guest solo from Richie on "Ner Ner")

Greg Howe:
Guthrie is a brilliant guitarist whose super high level of proficiency does not seem to be limited to any one particular genre or style.

Dweezil Zappa:
Every time I hear Guthrie play I feel like I have to fasten my seatbelt. He is an alien. His technique and execution is staggering. Ultimately what is most impressive about him is his musicality. He has total freedom on guitar... BASTARD!

Bumblefoot, a.k.a. Ron Thal:
I've known Guthrie since the days before email, when we'd write each other trading riffs. In the past years, we'd have long jams at NAMM conventions in California, and gigged together in the UK. And for all these years, I, and the rest of the world-wide guitar community have harassed him incessantly to please please release a full-length CD. Well, he's done it, and it's inspiring and mind-blowing and beautiful, as expected. Guthrie is the most-talented guitarist I've ever known,a great friend, and I'm honored to havecontributed to his album. Thank you Guthrie, for the wonderful music and all you are.
(Guest solo from Ron on "Rhode Island Shred")

Guitar Techniques Magazine:
"Totally freakin’ awesome.” says Joe Satriani. “This album put a smile on my face a mile wide!” GG’s debut has been around ten years in the making and is one of the most eagerly awaited debut releases. So was it worth the wait? Here’s what Whitesnake’s Doug Aldrich says: “I’m floored! Amazing songs and sick playing from the whole band! Waves is on my daily playlist!” And it’s true, from the moment that first track nudges the speakers into action you know the boy has exceeded even our greatest expectations. Weep at Eric, his tribute to Eric Roche, grin at his million-miles-an-hour country fest Rhode Island Shred and simply marvel at the magic of Fives and Ner Ner. Guthrie has produced a textbook CD for everyone interested in weapons grade rock guitar playing. As guest soloist Ritchie Kotzen puts it, “Guthrie is a truly gifted musician and I am honoured to be a part of his first album.” We have just one thing to say - go and buy it!

Bonus Post

[*]