THE HAND FARM

Scott McGill maybe is not among the most well known jazz fusion/rock guitarists in last 3 decades, but his style and manner of composing, his guitar tone and ideas are definetly among the most intresting ones you'll ever hear. Even famouses drumer Bill Bruford and the excellent keybordist Jens Johansson were pretty much very impressed by McGill guitar technique specially on his debut The hand farm from 1997 issued at Mellow records. His career lasting for almost 3 decades, being member in diffrent bands like Finneus Gauge or colaborating with many musicians. His first solo album The hand farm showing that he must be far more known then is seen today. helped by a bunch of talented musicins, Scott offer an instrumental album crossing bounderies from jazz fusion to jazz rock with progressive rock leanings. His playing is excellent , quite unique and inventive just listen to the first 3 pieces, The Great Unwashed, The Secret Linen Service and Pools, very fluent and catchy passages. The rest of the pieces are also great. I was simply shocked that this album is so unknown, really, here is everything for any fan from jazz fusion lover to prog listners, the album is diverse, intresting and as a plus has a truly great art work. For me definetly a winner from all sides and one of my fav albums of the genre. This is not usual stuff, only killer tunes for serious listners. Easy 4 stars.

If I had received this CD without liner notes or the disc itself unlabeled and had to name the guitarist, my vote would have been Bill Connors doing one of his finest tributes to Allan Holdsworth. Chord phrasings, song structures, legato leads yet edged with furious picking brought to mind Connors' Step It or Assembler release. The virtuosity McGill explodes with over and over is my kind of guitar work. McGill burns the frets closer to Holdsworthian modes than anyone I have ever heard. His execution stands inseparable from Bill Connors' and goes beyond Shawn Lane's. I heard snatches of Eric Johnson bleed through in places but McGill cranked up the speed, mixed up his lead phrasings and he went right back into jazz-rock fusion. You'll also hear superb Andy Summers tone and styling in many places.

Don't be misled, McGill isn't into jazzy, "out there" abandon. He knows how to kick out some serious rock jams in the midst of complex stop-n-go time signatures. In speaking with Scott by phone I was amazed to find out he was more a picker than left-hand legato runs predominately. You'd never know it by the seamlessly smooth flow of notes.

Hand Farm is graced by the expert musicianship of Kevin Woolsten and Matt Cantwell on bass. Anthony DeSimone drums right up there with the likes of Wackerman, Chambers, Husband, and Weckl.

File this future classic under favorite, killer fusion right next to Connors and Holdsworth. McGill is a musician's musician and a nice guytoo. Highly recommended.