Website (Emerson)
Website (Lake)
Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra Records
Words: Craig Hartranft Added: 25.09.2014
Accomplished and Emmy award winning guitarist and composer Brian Tarquin got a few of his friends together to create an instrumental guitar jam album inspired by America's wounded warriors. The result is Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends Guitars For Wounded Warriors. As far as my research took me, I believe this album has no relationship with the Wounded Warriors Project nor is any veteran benefiting from the sale of the album (which is what I originally thought when the album arrived.)
Essentially, this album is for guitar players and those who simply love creative lead guitar theatrics. Those involved are celebrated and immensely talented musicians. Note the track listing at right for the participants. Excepting one song, all take military themes. Black Hawk obviously referring to the military helicopter. Taliban Terror, Baghdad, Escape Kabul, and Sand & Blood references to our ongoing military exercise in the Middle East. There's also a nod to the Vietnam War, and maybe loosely to Apocalypse Now with Charlie Surfs.
The exception to the military theme is Freedom with Steve Morse, having free reign to add his emotional guitar work to the foundation of steady somber piano. Otherwise, the guitar work in each song is riveting and blistering, yet wrapped up in tight arrangements with strong melodies. Whether these song convey the inspiration of military service they intend is probably left to a wounded warrior. But they sound pretty terrific. Again, if you like fiery and creative guitar to inspire your own creativity, Guitars For Wounded Warriors should be of some interest to you.
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If you like fiery and creative guitar to inspire your own creativity, Guitars For Wounded Warriors should be of some interest to you.
1. Black Hawk feat. Billy Sheehan
2. Taliban Terror feat. Bumblefoot & Rob Beach
3. Charlie Surfs feat. Chris Poland
4. 5 Klicks To Hell feat. Gary Hoey
5. Surgical Strike feat. The Flyin’ Ryan Brothers
6. Hunting feat. Chris Poland
7. Baghdad feat. Gary Hoey
8. Broken Arrow feat. Alex De Rosso
9. Sand & Blood feat. Hal Lindes
10. Escape Kabul feat. Chuck Loeb
11. Freedom feat. Steve Morse