4 Pack Guitar Picks for Acoustic & Electric Guitar Players - Perfect for Beginners, Professionals & Music Lovers - Ideal for Practice, Performances & Recording Sessions

Product Description

About The Artist Ed Baran has been performing in the Baltimore, Maryland area since the 1970's, since graduating from the Community College Of Baltimore's Music Department, as a sideman on the bass, guitar, and keyboards with many jazz swing bands - The Townsmen, Middle River Dance Band, Eddie Bere's Orchestra. His musical interests range from jazz, blues, pop, Latin, ethnic. His first solo CD "Four Guitar Lovers" reflects this genre. "I always wanted to arrange and perform music in my own "romantic" style, in a solo setting, which allowed me to "stretch out" my guitar in an intimate environment. As a sideman, you have to play what the bandleader expects of you according to his band's sound. I am fortunate to have met bandleader Mr. John Zunt of The Townsmen 15 years ago. He allows his musicians to play in their own individual styles, which makes music interesting to listen and dance to. Playing in his band was a learning experience for me because it allowed me to experience the many musical styles, tempo/key changes, and harmonies/rhythms, that big band music is famous for". "Four Guitar Lovers" while the title implies just solo guitar music, is actually a compilation of many combination of instruments and styles with the guitar in the spotlight. But the opening original track, Bassec, quickly reveals a smooth jazz chart with the Fender Jazz bass and Kentucky mandolin sharing the melodic/solo work.. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time a bass and mandolin have been paired together in a light funk "old school" styled chart. I like experimenting with instrumental colors to create new sounds, like pairing up the melody on 'Afro Blue' with an alto flute and mandolin, and a male choir. Growing up in the mid 60's, I really liked the r&b sound of The Drells, Booker T, etc. And this chart lightly reflects that fun sound". The music on this new CD is centered on traditional jazz/Latin guitar. E C Boss, Sambade' are two original Latin charts along with Road Song, a Wes Montgomery guitar classic. "Spain and Latin America helped define the romantic, passionate, and explosive sound of the guitar today. I had this in mind when I wrote and arranged E C Bossa and Sambade'. Without a doubt, the octave playing of Wes Montgomery opened the door for the smooth jazz sound today. I arranged his chart as a jazz/bossa to emulate his technique." Is the only music on this project centered on jazz or Latin? No. The guitar is a versatile instrument and so is the genre on this CD. Afro Blue, Cello Suite in D Major, E C Blues in G, and Topped Pine Boogie, will take the listener from ethnic, classical, traditional blues, to a little New Orleans style boogie. For those who liked the traditional guitar work of Charlie Byrd or Tony Mottola, Dream A Little Dream Of Me, and Alone Again, Naturally are the two romantic ballads on the CD. "Charlie Byrd and Tony Mottola inspired me while I was learning classical guitar. The nylon string, finger style guitar is my favorite instrument of choice for warm ballads. I tried to capture Charlie's style in "Dream...". Although Tony Mottola was never quite known as a traditional jazz guitarist, his accompaniments highlighted Frank Sinatra's ballads. He played in a very tasteful style and I tried to emulate this in "Alone Again..." You need time to relax from the stressful situations in today's modern world, and this CD will fit the bill. Grab that bottle of champagne, light the fireplace, that special someone... and let the music do the rest. A special thank you to Mr. Tomas Ceolte from Donegal, Ireland - copy of his e-mail sent on Monday 03/30/2009: Hi EddieB....what a privileged man I am to have a kind guy like you as a friend!!!!! Hey, your CD arrived this morning. Man it is fantastic!!! I really mean it. What a wonderful collection of fantastic numbers...I had the CD playing for a couple of hours this morning and I can't decide on my favorite ...each one is great....at the moment I'm attracted to SAMBADE, CELLO SUITE..DREAM A LITTLE DREAM....TOPPED PINE BOOGIE...what amazing playing of so many instruments....hey I'm so glad I met you my friend...God bless you....your friend (big time!)....ceolte ----------------------------------------------------------- MORE LISTENER COMMENTS: HEY ED ME AND DEBBIE LISTENING TO YOUR CD FOR A COUPLE HOURS THE FIRST DAY. WE LOVE IT! FOUR GUITAR LOVE IT WONDERFUL COLLECTION OF SONGS.EACH ONE IS GREAT. SHE TOOK HER CD TO WORK. DEBBIE's CO WORKERS AND TEACHERS AT THE SCHOOL LOVE IT TO, MY GRANDSON LOVES IT TOO. LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A HIT WITH US. AMAZING ALL THE INSTRUMENTS I CAN HERE. YOUR FRIENDS JIM AND DEBBIE ----------------------------------------------------------- To: Ed Baran - Four Guitar Lovers Subject: Re: DJ 'M' Saturday, April 04, 2009 Hi ED I like this CD I like all the (track's) it makes me go out and have a good cigar... but good job on (tracks 9 10 11 12) good dam job good dam job. Hi ED when will the next CD be out? I love (track 11) the most good dam job. ----------------------------------------------------------- Ed, please send a hard copy of your CD to WDCB WDCB c/o College of DuPage Attn: Paul Abella Music Director I might also suggest re categorizing this. You're calling this easy listening and smooth jazz, and it's not. It's just hands down some great Brazilian influenced jazz, and I'm impressed. -----------------------------------------------------------.