ALESSANDRO BENVENUTI: Sonic Design

Alessandro Benvenuti

Sonic Design

© 2002 Alessandro benvenuti (634479188350)

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Alessandro Benvenuti blazes a fusion trail with all-instrumental, high-powered guest guitarists, such as the world-renowned Frank Gambale and Prashant Aswani.

tracks

1 The Sense of Change
2 Eternal Dream
3 Time Has Come
4 Egocentric
5 The Golden Cage
6 7 Reasons to Love Her
7 10 Km More
8 Jama'

notes

* Alessandro has just finished his debut album entitled "Sonic Design."

* "Sonic Design" features 2 tracks with world-renowned Guitarist Frank Gambale (Chick Corea, Vital Information). Prashant Aswani(Greg Howe, Herbie Hancock) is also featured on one track of Alessandro's debut solo album.

* Alessandro collaborated with Joy Malcolm of the world famous band Incognito. This album is been released in all Europe in the Spring of 2002 on Oxyd Records.

* Alessandro writes an instructional column entitled "Tech 'n Tone" for Italy's number one guitar publication, Axe Magazine.

* Alessandro is a top instructor at The Guitar Cap Music Institute in Rome, Italy.

* The last four years Alessandro has been performing at Italy's largest outdoor festival (Foro Italico, Stadium of Rome). Among the performers were Mark Knopfler (Dire Strates), Ronnie James Dio, and Jethro Tull.

* Alessandro performs throughout Italy with his progressive rock band Alter Ego. They are currently in rehearsal for their album entitled "Messiah of Silence."

* Psycho released a compilation CD featuring Alessandro with his band Alter Ego, Judas Priest, Stratovarious, Hammerfall, and Napalm Death.

* In addition to his live performance and instructional skills Alessandro is also a excellent session player. He works at Circe Digital Studios, Blue Lab Studios, and Rodgers Digital Studios.

* Alessandro recently performed on a national television show entitled "Speciale POP." RAI sponsored this event and aired the show internationally. Alessandro is scheduled to perform again sometime this year.

* Alessandro has had many great reviews and interviews with leading rock magazines such as Chitarre, Metal Shock, Flash, and Psycho.

* Alessandro endorses Peavey guitars, Mesa Boogie Amps, and Seymour Duncan PickUps.

reviews

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  • Alessandro Benvenuti - Sonic Design
    author: Mikolaj Furmankiewicz

    You can remember Alessandro Benvenuti from the projects J.A.M. and Raw (by Joy Malcolm). An Italian haven't collected a sizeable discography yet, but the thing is that not quantity, but quality has a siginificance. That's another matter that Mr. Benvenuti is a busy man, because he fulfils his duties as a teacher at the International Music Institute (Rome) and writes for "Axe Magazine" (it is the most important Italian title dedicated to guitar music beside "Chitarre"). Here you will be able to meet two guest musicians of merit for guitar art: Frank Gambale (Chick Corea, Vital Information) and Prashant Aswani (Greg Howe, Herbie Hancock). I haven't mentioned them accidentally, because both axemasters are influenced by jazz. Although the latter one is well-known for a wider audience, he deserves your attention first of them. If we see through his biography, we notice that he has cooperated with Herbie Hancock, that is a pianist and jazzman who is as well considered the precursor of jazz fusion indeed! That piece of information tells us much of what motives Benvenuti were directed to assemble such a group of musicians. As it turns out that both Frank Gambale and Prashant Aswani always have had the inclination to fusion. The first one is an outstanding specialist in sweep-picking technique, and it has an immense importance for the album's reception. That technique consists in striking two or more strings with a pick at one go and facilitating the right hand's motion in this way. Definitely more difficult is alternate-picking technique, in which the upstroke of the picking is followed by the downstroke, and a guitarist takes turns in doing it. It requires not only a great dexterity, but also an ideal synchronization of motions. Alessandro decided on the first solution, not forgetting about frequent slackenings. Italian guitarist's solos are performed similarly to saxophonists, for instance Kenny G. Mentioned solo parts are challenging and melodious. The keys under Gian Marco's rules (Alessandro's brother) imitate piano tunes and they are the essential part of Benvenuti's music. Mr. Benvenuti, recording his debut CD, placed a bet on melodiousness, light improvisations, "delicate" references to fusion and temporary trips in funk style's direction ("Jama'"). It is of great importance for potential audience that Alessandro is hard to be compared to one of contemporary guitarists. I guess that "Sonic Design" can be such a release that future listeners simply will have a nice time with it. You can believe me or not, yet pleasure is one of the main reason to listen to music!

  • Must-have item for all guitar music lovers
    author: Co-hey

    Technique, melody, songwriting, sound production... Everything in this CD is more than the perfect! If you are into rock/metal/fusion instrumental music like Greg Howe, you'd better check this CD now!

  • Cd totally rocks, buy it now
    author: Mario Giacuccia

    This guy shreds away and has alot of meaning in his tunes. I get sick of guys that just wiggle their fingers but Alessandro actually plays deep sounding music. This cd brings tears to my eyes everytime I hear it. You are the pride of Italy!

  • Too great ,so good
    author: Bernie Zwass

    Man, this dude is awesome!!! You gotta buy this disc!!! His guests like Gambale and Prashant aren't too shabby either.

  • Amazing fusion guitar work!
    author: Will

    Truly a master of the Fusion guitar!

  • Phenominal!!!!!! Grrrrrrreat!!!!
    author: Douglas Kerns

    This is absolutely amazing. It defies the imagination!!!!! Yours truly Douglas Kerns.

  • If you are a guitar techie, you must check out this album, Sonic Design.
    author: Eclectic Earwig Reviews - Christopher Ruel

    There is a definite reason why Frank Gambale and Prashant Aswani chose to make guest appearances on this album. And, this is because Benvenuti is HOT! This is one of the hottest, coolest new guitarists that I have heard in 2002. Benvenuti has plenty of silky-smooth, legato speed and is liberal in applying it. The aggression, legato, and speed is packaged tactfully and in a very appealing manner. Carefully selected voicings mark the background rhythms and progressions, much in the tradition of the great fusion guitar efforts. The technical depth is astounding, Benvenuti is seamless in his polished finesse, and creates the illusion of making it seem effortless. The ripping-fast speed is relentless from start to finish on this album. The speed is balanced and complemented with progressive fusion progressions, rhythms, aggressive phrasings, complex harmonization, and lip-biting melodies. Sonic Design is a solid, remarkable effort from cover to cover, though it goes by in a blink at light speed. There is no point in singling out any specific tracks, because this cavalcade of fusion bliss is nonstop. THIS is what good fusion is all about! World Class! CHECK THIS ONE OUT!

  • Recommended guitar rock with a fusiony twist
    author: John W. Patterson

    This is a CD highly recommended to folks who like virtuoso instrumental guitar rock that is not mindless shred. Benvenuti, well done sir! Do it again and give us more jazz fusion next time. Good stuff!

  • I love this cd!
    author: Angel Veil

    Wow! This guy kicks butt. I love the melodies and songs. A friend got me this cd and I'm not too familiar with this genre but I like to listen to it while driving. It gives me alot of much needed energy. www.angelveil.net Love ya, Angel

  • Slick legato shredding progressive rock fusion
    author: Chris Brody

    Rippin' prog fusion in the vein of Greg Howe,Frank Gambale, Shawn Lane, Shaun Baxter and Tribal Tech. However; it has it's own 'originality' in the tunes and format. Awesome guitarwork!!! Great songwriting!!! Smooth, relaxing and bluesy yet heavy and funky groovin' tunes. This disc not only showcases Alessandro's beautiful legato sweeps and soloing BUT lets the whole band and guests (Gambale, Prashant Aswani) branch out too. Prog fusion guitar fans, buy it now!! You'll be diggin' it.

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