California Guitar Trio - Pathways

Acoustic bliss.

Three guitars performing a set of laid-back originals and tackling some Beethoven in the process? It may look like a new-age gimmick at first. But there's really little fluff to be found in the CGT catalogue; they're one of the most cerebral and disciplined guitar groups around, even if they occasionally touch on the realm of Muzak and NPR. Maybe it's inevitable. What sets them apart is their inhumanly-tight interplay, their melodic inventiveness and their stylistic range that knows no boundaries. Duke Ellington, Bach, Dick Dale, Queen, Japanese folk, Yes, Mussorgsky, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, a range of inventive originals.. the Trio's covered them all.

Regardless, it's a rare thing to hear so much talent and virtuosity presented so un-pretentiously. It takes some good skill to tackle Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" on guitar for example (especially the rapid-fire Presto Agitato movement) as they do here, and their original compositions are marvels of fluid guitar interplay. They don't just play jumbles of notes clamoring on top of each other - the melodies weave over and around each other without ever becoming static, and their skill with melody makes it all beautifully listenable rather than hitting you over the head with dizzying blizzards of flashy technique. Outside guests pop up on sax and Warr guitar from time to time, but for the most part it just focuses on Paul, Bert and Hideyo doing what they do best.

Pathways also had the highest concentration of original CGT songs to date at the time. Their newest album Whitewater shows just how far they've come in the writing department; on this one, their originals and well-chosen covers were balanced to the best effect of any of their albums. Maybe I could wish they'd covered more of a classical range instead of devoting three tracks to Beethoven alone, but that's a small quibble. The fun factor of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" being followed by the surf-guitar classic "Misirlou" does earn them some points.

Pathways is one of the best intros to the group out there, although Whitewater and Rocks The West won't disappoint either. And don't miss them on tour - they do all this stuff live and then some. September 11, 2004

Leaping Pathways That Help Quicken Desire

The California Guitar Trio was formed by Bert Lams, Hideyo Moriya and Paul Richards. All three perform acoustic guitar, on this CD, in unedited live studio performances. This 1998 recording is their third work together as a trio, after the 1995 disc "Invitation" and 1993's "Yamanashi Blues".

Before their formation as a trio, Bert, Hideyo and Paul had previously appeared in various configurations of The League of Crafty Guitarists and had also served as three of the five members of the Robert Fripp String Quintet.

On "Pathways", a significant level of performance maturity is clearly in evidence. Thankfully, such maturity has been assigned to a repertoire consisting of classical arrangements along with original, intelligent progressive compositions that match well to their classical sensibility.

In addition to the guitar trio configuration, a number of tracks include saxophone played by Bill Janssen and Roger Lambson. The touch tapped Warr Guitar, performed by Trey Gunn, is included on a few of the tracks as well.

"Pathways" will serve as a beautiful introduction to the work of the California Guitar Trio. It showcases some of the finest examples of their warmly sensitive musical expression. December 4, 2002

Some super tracks and some iffy ones...

My basic point is: I love most of the tunes the California Guitar Trio (CGT) creates, in particular: Arroyo and Scramble. These two "songs" are magnificent works of art, dense, complex, stunning.

Sometimes I really enjoy their interpretations of other people's music (like Classical Gas) but most of the time their versions of well known classical pieces leave me cold. I think the CGT puts a lot of heart and effort into playing pieces of music that are better played by an orchestra (all the Beethoven pieces fall into this category).

Bottom line: I salute the CGT for their stunning original musical creations but I find the majority of the songs on this CD somewhat uninteresting. January 27, 2000

This is a GREAT CD!! These guys are INCREDIBLE!!!

If you love classical guitar get ready, these three guys do things you won't believe. Incredible precission that is real, I have seen them live! And the sound quality is out of this world. October 14, 1999

Absolutely superb

I think that it is hard to come accross an album that is so easy on the ear and enjoyable as this one.

An absolute must buy for anyone who appreciates the classical tones of guitarists! November 8, 1998

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