Reviews

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4955 reviews
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Entrada Archtop Guitar
Scott Tarulli
Berklee Professor Reviews Lefty Entrada

See Attached Video Review by Scott Tarulli of Boston, MA

Judge.me YouTube video placeholder
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Vol. 4 - Ticket To Improv
gerald mckinnon
volume four

Super excellent

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The Jazz Lines
Jack Marchewka
Just getting started

Worked though the first two lessons of the Jazz Lines book (more to go), but it opened a door for me. I’ve come to understand there is a difference between theory and harmony. This is about learning harmony. If you want to play jazz learn harmony.

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Vol. 4 Wave
Mike Sanders - Las Vegas, NV
One of Conti's Best Solo Lessons

All of the Robert Conti DVDs are top-notch, but this one takes the cake. He takes what some consider to be a harmonically complex tune and breaks it done into the simplest of terms. From here, the viewer is taken through the lesson a few measures at a time, with each concept explained in detail and with care. Once you have the lesson under your hands, you not only have an impressive solo but an increased vocabulary of lines to use on other songs and a better understanding of how to approve improvisation over any song. Great fun and well worth the effort. If you are new to improvisation, I recommend learning from a few of Conti’s “Ticket to Improv” DVDs first as you will internalize the lesson much faster and have a greater understanding of the concepts presented.

Preferred Gauge Strings

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Preferred Gauge Strings
Jack Marchewka
My choice of strings

For my Entradas. These strings came with my Entradas so I’m sticking with them. Live the wound 3rd string. Great tone and playability!

Chord Melody at Its Best!

This is a great DVD to start building your chord melody repertoire. Mr. Conti walks you thru the classic “Since I Fell for You” and provides you with several ways to approach the tune using a series of different chordal harmonic arrangements. Besides learning to play the song several different ways, Mr. Conti is at the ready with his famous “Off the Sheet” tips. These are items that not part of the regular lesson plan, but are sure to help take your chord melody playing to an even higher level. Of the Chord Melody arrangements, this is my personal favorite, but after finishing the DVD, I purchased ALL the other Chord Melody DVDs as I was so inspired to learn more.

The Jazz Quintet (1981)

$9.99

This outing has Conti performing with an all star rhythm section including: Mike Wofford, Piano; Herman Riley, Saxophones; Jim Plank, Drums; John B. Williams, Bass

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Description

The Jazz Quintet – Recorded In Los Angeles, March 1981
Originally Released On Discovery Records

Conti’s third album displays his overwhelming mastery of the jazz guitar in the hard bop jazz idiom. And once again, Conti’s skill as a prolific composer becomes evident. Pete Welding, who is one of the most highly respected music critics said it best in a Guitar World magazine story and review: “Make No Mistake, Conti Is A Monster Musician Who’s Got It All Covered!”

This outing has Conti performing with an all star rhythm section including: Mike Wofford, Piano; Herman Riley, Saxophones; Jim Plank, Drums; John B. Williams, Bass; As evident when listening to this album, each musician made marked contributions. Conti was especially taken by Mike Wofford’s superb rendition of “In Memory Of” a solo piece written by Conti, who states: “Mike Wofford epitomizes the term “Master Musician” His exquisite interpretation and performance of that piece of music brought me to tears. When I heard the playback, it was almost a spiritual experience – he played every lilting nuance as if he was in my thoughts when I wrote the music! It was the high point of that recording session!

Note: One week before The Jazz Quintet was recorded in Los Angeles March,1981, Robert Conti also appeared as a guest soloist on Gerald Wilson’s “Lomelin, The Orchestra Of The Eighties” which featured an all-star lineup of West coast jazz musicians.

Southeast Entertainer Review by Pete Mandell

We saved the best for last. This is, quite simply, one of the best jazz albums to come along in a long, long time. As annotator Pete Welding notes, “…Conti has fully arrived.” Those who have caught guitarist Conti’s rare public appearances in this area are aware of his prodigious skills. The man is a monster player, with a seemingly never-ending flood of inventive musical ideas and a technique that is dazzling. In a live performance, however, the music roars by and is gone. Captured in “The Jazz Quintet,” Conti’s abilities can be savored in replaying, studied for their brilliance and be better appreciated. A pleasant surprise here is Conti’s impressive compositional skills. He wrote and arranged the seven tunes included on the disc. They range from a hell-bent-for- leather blazer titled “String Fever” to a floating and anguished ballad of the Strayhorn variety (“Chelsea Bridge,” “Lush Life,” etc.) titled “The Agony Of Ecstasy.” “Rotation” employs the familiar chord structure of “Cherokee” (a Conti favorite), taken at a tempo that only the gifted would attempt. “the Street Life Of South Philadelphia” (Conti’s home turf) is a very catch melody in 6/4 time that reminds, at times, of Miles Davis’ “All Blue.” A long and lovely ballad titled “The World Today” contrasts with a funky romper called “Hollywood and Sunset.” The eminently talented Mike Wofford is on piano (he solos on a lovely ballad entitled, “In Memory Of”), and Herman Riley is heard on soprano, alto and tenor sax and flute. John B. Williams is the dependable bassist and Jim Plank handles percussion duties. Joe Pass, Pat Metheny – whoever, look out. Robert Conti has arrived — and he’s ready.

Jazz Improv Mag. Review by Ethan Gutzeit:

Robert Conti is awesome! His debut jazz recording “The Robert Conti Quintet Featuring Mike Wofford” is as viable today as it was when it was released in 1980. The first tune “Rotation” is an up tempo swing tune that Conti eats alive with his blistering single note lines. “The Agony Of Ecstasy” is a ballad with Herman Riley on Soprano saxophone playing the haunting melody punctuated by string arrangements and subtle comping by Wofford and Conti. Conti adds some nice chord soloing and some single note material. “Hollywood and Sunset” is a medium swing tune with another great Conti solo representing a Philadelphia guitar sound started by Pat Martino. “In Memory Of” is a song Conti wrote after the passing of his father in 1979. Conti lets Wofford take over and play this wonderful ballad tune solo with a gentle touch. “The Street Life Of South Philadelphia” is a 6/8 grooving tune with a vamping section followed by a turnaround for the form. Conti shines on this original from the period. “The World Today” is another soulful ballad penned by Conti. He takes a great extended solo with much attention to taste. Conti also shows his chops soloing with octaves. “String Fever” is an up tempo rhythm changes tune showcasing Conti talent on the timeless jazz form.

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A.L.-.U.C.
Getting all 3 of your CDs

I'm getting all 3 of your CDs... are you ever gonna put Laura on CD?

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