Testament gitarist Alex Skolnick er også en kritikerrost jazzmusiker og kommer denne kvelden til Herr Nilsen med en fremragende trio!
If you’ve attempted to keep up with the news cycle in
recent years, then Conundrum (Palmetto/MRI), the title of the Alex Skolnick
Trio’s new album, should be a no-brainer. “It represents the sense of confusion
many of us are feeling in the midst of the strangest sociopolitical upheavals
of our lifetimes,” says Skolnick, the guitarist and composer who helped define
thrash metal as a founding member of Testament, before establishing himself on
the international jazz scene. “This album captures many styles in an effort to
channel that angst into art and inspire others to do likewise.”
Ironically, given its globally pertinent message,
Conundrum is in many ways Skolnick’s most intimate record yet. It is the
trio’s first new studio album since 2011’s Veritas, and it features original
music almost exclusively, with six compositions by Skolnick, one apiece by
bassist Nathan Peck and drummer Matt Zebroski, and a gorgeous interpretation of
Erik Satie’s “Gymnopédie No. 1.”
Far removed from the musical tunnel vision of “guitar”
or “shred” albums, Conundrum reflects Skolnick’s wide-ranging knowledge as a
player and, even more important, as a listener. “What would I want to hear,
regardless of the instrument and regardless of technique?” he asks. “That’s the
type of music I try to create as an improviser and composer.”
The multi-layer, multi-section songs that resulted
are, in a word, sweeping—and include plenty for guitar heads to dig into after
all. Skolnick’s “Unbound,” part of which originated on piano, kicks off Conundrum
with springy slapped harmonics. Beautiful chordal work follows, as well as
soloing that lays out the guitarist’s m.o. as a lead player: to tell a story by
varying his attack, tone, intensity and harmonic approach with masterful
control.
Born in 1968 and raised in the Bay Area, Skolnick was
still a teenager when he made heavy-metal history on Testament’s essential
debut, The Legacy. The band remained a major touring act in heavy music.
Most recently Testament has been hitting arenas and amphitheaters as part of
Slayer’s blockbuster “Final World Tour.” Skolnick immersed himself in jazz at Manhattan’s
venerable New School. It was there that he dug even deeper into recordings by
Miles, Trane, Wes, Jim Hall, Scofield, Metheny and more; studied with jazz greats
like saxophonist George Garzone and bassist Reggie Workman; and formed his
trio, which debuted on record in 2002 with Goodbye to Romance: Standards for a
New Generation.
And while Testament continues to thrive, it’s the trio
and its repertoire that Skolnick can see growing old with. “These days I still
love playing screaming, loud guitar and heavy metal, though I don’t think I’m
going to be one of these guys who’s past social-security age and in a rock band
and touring,” he says. “But I can see myself doing these songs with the trio
for many years to come.”
ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO (live video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F5lbWissR4
ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO (live video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj0PTucbsMw
ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO (live video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-gqmetYqxk
Alex Skolnick Trio "Electric Eye" (Judas
Priest): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6WRMwU5uHo
Line-Up:
Alex Skolnick (Testament, Stu Hamm Band, Metal
Allegiance): GUITAR
Matt Zebroski (Brother Josephus, Daisy Joplin): DRUMS
Nathan Peck (Maynard Ferguson, Maria Maldaur): BASS