Saturday, March 6, 2021

World Music Mix: Lyle Workman(USA)- Uncommon Measures (Blue Canoe Records 2021)

 Bursting at the seams with soaring arrangements and virtuosic performances, Lyle Workman's ‘Uncommon Measures’ showcases not only Workman’s unparalleled musicianship, but also his profound empathy and expansive emotional vocabulary. The songs here are living, breathing entities, constantly growing and evolving in ways both subtle and drastic, and the production is similarly unpredictable, veering from larger-than-life bombast to whispered intimacy and back, sometimes within the very same track. The result is a record as extraordinary as it is unexpected, a captivating, transportive song cycle that manages to scale the dizzying heights of joy and sadness, love and friendship, self-discovery and celebration, all without a single word.

"Lyle Workman is a completely accomplished and inspired guitarist, musician and composer,” says Steve Vai.” He has a wicked command of the instrument and is perhaps one of three players I know of that can wield exotic orchestral compositions with either a screaming or whispering guitar. ‘Uncommon Measures’ is the masterful evidence of this.”

Featuring guest appearances from Vinnie Colaiuta, Abe Laboriel Jr., Matt Chamberlain, Tim Lefebvre, 63 piece orchestra conducted by John Ashton Thomas at Abbey Road Studio 1, and many other talented musicians