Dan Baraszu

"chopsmeister" Jazz Times - April 2006 issue Berklee grad and Atlanta resident Dan Baraszu is a chopsmeister whose punchy, percussive attack comes out of the George B enson-Pat Martino school of single-note burn. He and his cohorts--pianist Kenny Banks, bassist Zack Pride and drummer Kinah Boto--break out of the gate charging hard on the frantic Latin-flavored opener "April Fools," as Baraszu quickly establishes his take-no-prisoners approach to soloing. His adeptness at chordal melodies and octaves on the relaxed swinger "Inconstant Moon" shows an obvious Wes Montgomery influence, while his crisp, rhythmically assured playing on "Into the Blue" is another tip of the hat to the early- '60s Benson-Martino bag

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"chopsmeister" Jazz Times - April 2006 issue Berklee grad and Atlanta resident Dan Baraszu is a chopsmeister whose punchy, percussive attack comes out of the George B enson-Pat Martino school of single-note burn. He and his cohorts--pianist Kenny Banks, bassist Zack Pride and drummer Kinah Boto--break out of the gate charging hard on the frantic Latin-flavored opener "April Fools," as Baraszu quickly establishes his take-no-prisoners approach to soloing. His adeptness at chordal melodies and octaves on the relaxed swinger "Inconstant Moon" shows an obvious Wes Montgomery influence, while his crisp, rhythmically assured playing on "Into the Blue" is another tip of the hat to the early- '60s Benson-Martino bag. Baraszu stakes out his most original territory on the spacious and moody title track, played on nylon string acoustic guitar, on the lively calypso "Smudge" and also on his scorching closer "Neutron Star," which was inspired by Stevie Wonder's "Too High."...Baraszu distinguishes himself as a new guitar talent worth watching on this fine debut. -Bill Milkowski Jazz Times "Virtuoso" Download.com Great to hear a no-frills,but plenty of thrills mainstream guitarist. Baraszu weaves in and out of licks from the masters Montgomery and Pass - but streams ahead with his own fresh brew. Chordal work is sharp and clear while the notes are struck cleanly and evenly - with heaps of tonal variety, color in attack and rich inventiveness in phrasing. Worthy of the title virtuoso. -david j.baird- entertainment reporter "Melbourne,Australia "Deeply Soulful" Cnet.com By introducing the cyclical scalesmanship of South Philly living legend Pat Martino to the round tone of gentle master Wes Montgomery, Atlanta's Baraszu tempers post-fusion bop into something deeply soulful. Take him as a sign that contemporary jazz guitarists are learning how to savor tradition without sacrificing their prog yearnings. Editors Review

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