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Highly regarded among guitarists and other musicians for his virtuosity and dedication, New York guitarist Ben Monder assembled a program of original compositions, including three solo pieces, for his debut CD as a leader. Rooted in jazz improvisation, his music integrates wide-ranging influences, notably twentieth century classical (Bartok, Stravinsky, Carter) and rock, reflecting his experiences as a player and listener. The trio explores forms and textures, elaborating Monder's evocative melodies and distinctive harmonic language, often sweetly dissonant. The solo works, which are through-composed, guitaristic, and rhythmically challenging, sometimes bring to mind the complexity-within-simplicity and cyclic feel of process music. Monder plays electric guitar throughout but doesn't employ a panoply of effects; rather, his tone and attack bear the authority of one who has honed his approach to concentrate on the essential. Album Tracks 1. Muvseevum 2. Flux 3. Food for the Moon 4. Red Shifts 5. Jello Throne 6. Don't Look Down 7. Orbits 8. O.K. Chorale 9. Lactophobia 10. Propane Dream
