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GREG RAPAPORT
~WYRD~

THE DISC & ARTIST
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   My first thought after hearing Greg's "WYRD" CD. Was, "Where the heck has this guy been"? Clearly a dynamic player/composer. An articulate groove oriented Jazz player with a very smooth technique. A hard rocker of the intense breed. And solos with assassin like precision. A smokin' CD that's at times reminiscent of the Great collaboration between Greg Howe and Ritchie Kotzen, "TILT". The perfect union of jazz, rock and shred. Greg's CD leans more towards the rock side. The difference is Greg takes a BIG creative edge with "WYRD".  With the feel of a concept cd. In that all the songs seem to interlock musically. If you listen straight through the CD. You can almost hear a story line. (or maybe it's just me?)
   Still not impressed? He played the guitars, bass, keyboards and drum programming. His guitar playing goes without question (oh...man!). But his bass playing....that was a big surprise. WOW! Keep in mind that Greg's music is Jazz. Be it heavy....it's jazz. And his style is very funky and groove oriented. My point being that this isn't just a boom ba ba boom rhythm  line to jam over. This dudes lays down some of the baddest (as in awesome) bass grooves I've heard in a very long time. After a few listens from the CD.  I found myself  zeroing in on the bass line. Then I put the bass line together with the guitar. And I was in awe....absolutely! And the drum programming.....Again he amazed me. Many times when a "guitarist" (as in not a drummer) programs their own drums. It can be flat or redundant to disastrous. But Greg must have spent thousands of hours programming this disc. The programming, just like everything else on this disc, is precise and creative.
   As if all that weren't enough. He also handled production, engineering, artwork and design. Greg is consummate professional. Not only doing it all. But doing it with the skills of a veteran. A career in music must have been in the stars the day Greg was born.
   "WYRD" is a look into the progressive visions of Greg Rapaport. A look that's as sweet and light as it is deep, moody and often dark. An exact blend of jazz/rock/shred. Each style being dominant enough to be considered. Shifting effortlessly between styles. (all within the same song). One second you'll be pounding your head to a metal riff/solo. And the next be chilling to a nice tranquil jazz progression/solo. This contrast in styles creates a dynamic experience for the listener. The heavier music enhancing the lighter music. And visa versa.....Greg uses different sound bites cleverly placed throughout the CD to even further enhance the feeling that something much bigger is going on......If your a fan of any one of these styles there's plenty for you on "WYRD". A great Jazz CD that's also easily palatable to Rock Fans. And a great rock CD that should appeal to the Jazz fans.  

THE TRACKS

click here to hear samples all songs flash required  get flash free
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The C.D. opens with "11'th PORTAL"  A great song to open the CD with. The track opens with a few seconds of a sound bite (one of many dispersed throughout the disc). When all of a sudden Greg kicks in with a vicious attack. No build up. Just instant attack. It's as if you were standing on the corner day dreaming. And all of a sudden Greg cruises by at 160mph and just grabs you. The most shred based song on the CD. But with plenty of breathing room. Greg a Master of Dynamics. Brings it down just long enough to make you start feeling safe. Before the next attack. An infectious metal groove drives this straight forward gotcha by the throat, don't scream Rocker.
Track #2 "MADAH"   A funky jazz song. Primarily a smooth clean song. But the shred solos are cranked up and distorted. giving them a dynamic powerful presence. Shifting from a funky jazz feel, to a heavy funky rock feel. And back and forth. This is a Positively Smokin' tune. (Dig the bass line to this song too.) I think Greg got an "A" in funkinomics. Oh Yea! A heavy song but not in the "Metal" sense. More in the weighty sense (if you know what i mean..).
Track #3 "THE UNCONSCIENCE"   Almost an epic feel to this one. It's also one of my favorites. (i offer no explanation. i just like it).  About every minute the song goes through a change. It's like several different ideas in one piece. Kind of an Opus. Another heavy  (weighty) rocker. With a calming break in the middle that'll slow your heart rate. One of the hardest rocker on the disc.  This tune rivals "11th Portal" for shear insanity. Full of aggression and tons of shred.
Track #4 "BUGJUICE"  Plenty of heart pumping funkitude and lots of smoldering jazz shred. A song more rooted in jazz than rock. I don't know why, but I got the uncontrollable urge to do the James Brown slide while listening to "Bugjuice". This one you just gotta crank up!  Oh! man! Somebody get me a doctor.....I think I'm hooked on "Bugjuice". Two Words: Ferocious Jazz!
Track #5 "TRUST" A very tense hard rocker, with an ominous tone and plenty of aggression. It rocks from start to finish. There's a cool metal thumping change in the middle. After which time Greg winds up and he's off again. Greg shows off some of his metal shred chops here.
Track #6 "DIMINISHED RETURNS"  A funky jazz song with a couple of metal breaks. The last metal break features a sssmokin' shred solo. Hot Soloing throughout. (is it just me or is this cd getting heavier?)  There's no question Greg has mastered the style "Funk". If the was a question this would seal it. There's a re-occurring frippertronics type riff that just hooked me.
Track #7 "POWDERBURN"  This song just blew me away. Another one of those songs that creates a strong mental image. Featuring some of the safest and most frightening moments found on the CD. Not a constant burner. But when it burns....OUCH!!. Yea, I got the "Powder Burn" on my ears. This song just further empowers me to say that this CD is a "Masterpiece". Amazing.......
Track #8 "SLIK"  Oh! Yea! Now on this song pay attention to both the bass (you should listen to the bass on all the songs) and the guitar. And you'll hear the genius that is Greg. A very tasteful pleasant jazz piece to bring the CD down. Very nice indeed,,,,It's also one of my favorites. I'm glad Greg included this song. Because I really wanted to hear him play one song straight. And it shows that even without the flash Greg can still carry the torch. And carry it high.
Track #9 "DARKMATTER"  A heavy and dark (i guess the title gave it away) song, with a heavy metal overtone. Some extremely moody sound bites placed just right.  And some classic metal riffage.....A perfect "See Ya" for the CD.

"WYRD"
A GRAND PRESENTATION OF AN EPIC CD.