Posted on: December 20, 2009 Posted by: anfnewsacct Comments: 0

Jazz standards. Lets see what I could be less well versed in. Christian Zydeco Music? Naked albino yodeling? Actually, I’ve taken a survey course in jazz, and while I can’t say that I am familiar with any of these tracks besides “Maiden Voyage”, each track sounds as expertly played and recorded as some of the originals must have been. While each of these tracks have considerably longer run times than most popular music today, the nuanced playing of Frank is such that one can listen to seven or eight minutes of just eir’s guitar playing without being bored in the least. “Standards 1” may not be as experimental as Heavy Metal Jazz Concepts, but Frank plays at a much higher level and stays much more close to the originals than those individuals who created the aforementioned album. I wouldn’t’ suggest this album for someone that is wanting a high-tempo, up-beat CD, but rather for an individual who wants to slip off their shoes, sit down, or zone out to this music.

What really astounds me are the incredible myriad of noises that Frank can draw from eir’s guitar, whether it be the traditional sound, a more horn-like riffs, or even something that is comparable to a piano. Frank Singer is human, and it almost seems in some tracks that there are limitations to what a guitar can do – in “Have You Met Miss Jones” some of the guitar lines seem forced, and are a stark contrast to the rest of the guitar riffs which mesh well with the track. Overall, there aren’t any real points of contention on this disc – “Standards 1” is much more like a Opera with different movements than any old punk CD with 12 or 13 cuts.

Frank Singer is a very busy individual, and eir’s contributions to the number of bands that ey is in is due to the high level of professionality that ey exerts on “Standards 1”. While none of the tracks that Frank plays on this disc are eir’s, they are still imbued with ey’s spirit in the sense that a guitar in eir’s hand is a living, breathing instrument. Check out a number of other projects by Singer to unearth some of ey’s other facets, such as Tito, J.D. and the Sons of Rhythm, and One World Tribe.

Rating: 6.0/10

Top Track: Maiden Voyage, Have You Met Miss Jones

Frank Singer – Standards 1 / 12 Tracks / 2001 Naked Kitty Productions / http://www.franksinger.com / [email protected] / Reviewed 13 April 2004

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