JAMES MANKEY: JAM

James Mankey

JAM

© 2003 James Mankey (659057687223)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Instrumental guitar music for guitar lovers- strong, penetrating and powerful yet easy to listen to.

tracks

1 Vinyl224
2 Grande Caverne
3 GoGo Me
4 MariaMia
5 Dance Like it Matters
6 Caution - Gun at Work
7 Goin GaGa
8 Got It
9 New Sheriff in Town
10 The Wave that Got Away

notes

James Mankey has been the guitar player for the band "Concrete Blonde" for a really long time. The band broke up for a while but recently reformed. In the period before the reformation James had temporary mental problems. As a form of therapy he decided to complete an album of his own material.
This album is the result of that therapy.
James spent a lot of time looking out the window of his Los Angeles home while he was trying to think of something to play. Water was visible out this window. Water has power. The water seemed important at the time so he took a picture of it and put it on the cover of the CD.
All songs are written, played and recorded in James' basement by James. He mixed the music as well with the exception of two songs which were mixed by James' brother and long-time Concrete Blonde associate Earle Mankey.
Yes, this music will be of interest to guitar playing nerds and geeks of all stripe yet any intelligent listener will be hooked by the evocative melodies and moody arrangements.
You're an intelligent listener, aren't you? Of course you are.
Then you might like this CD.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Jamming
    author: didier morvan

    All the years of being in and out of studios playing and paying time with Concrete Blonde brought us a long awaited solo. All the work we have heard over the years have culminated in an "album" of jazz and eclectivness that pays us all off for our patience. Maria Mia gives us Flamenco while Grande Caverne and New Sheriff in town gives us cool that is never hear of nowadays. Thank you James we have been well rewarded by your talent.

  • author: Rex Gaub

    It's hard to impress me. I am a devoted Jimi Hendrix listener. I have ALL of his albums. That being said and being a long time lover of Concrete Blonde, I will own this CD. I only hope it is available to order thru a music store as I don't but diddly squat over the internet. Kudos to you Jim.

  • Mankey is god
    author: Michael Staley

    Not since the era of Jeff Beck have we heard a guitarist that pulls as much harmony from his strings as James Mankey. In a day and age where the guitar as an instrument is dead, Mankey resurrects the muse with this beautiful album. When I say beautiful, I mean like how Jimi Hendrix described his rendition of The Star Spangled Banner to Dick Cavett - " I thought it was beautiful." Jim is an anomaly in that his approach to the instrument is in the vein of the greats of yesteryear - Hendrix, Kreiger, Beck, and Trower. Too many modern guitarists strike the chord of record company greed. These were true guitar players, and so is JAM.

  • Great musician
    author: Ryan Pereira

    A very mature artiste for sure. Beautiful music. James, I hope you have a lot more up your sleeve.

  • Great service and Great CD!
    author: Brian H

    I always liked Mankey with Concrete Blonde. This cd does not disappoint. Great variety of music!

  • author: Darren

    Excellent C.D. by a very original sounding player.James has such a signature sound you know it's him instantly.

  • Great cd, great guitar sounds
    author: Phil van der Kley

    Love the cd. Great service from cd baby to Australia. Wonderful guitar work. Unique sound. I'm sure Jim's guitar is just an extension of his arm. The Concrete Blonde sound comes through occasionally. Do some more Jim.

  • 'Kin Brill
    author: simon bennett

    Top service from CDBaby as ever, and a great CD too, Mr Mankey is one of my fave players ever and this disc just affirms that notion. Class stuff all round, cheers Jim :)

  • Talk about making a guitar sing WOW
    author: Tom M

    I cant think of how this cd could be any better. Makes me want to almost cry then jump up and play air guitar.I think it's a crime not to give it 5 stars.Thanks Jim for reminding me why I love great guitar work.

  • My Dad even loves it!
    author: Sandy

    I got the CD as a Concrete Blonde fan, excited to hear Jim's solo work... As soon as I heard the first few tracks, I knew that this was just a great album that any GOOD guitarist would appreciate. I bought an extra copy for my father, a skilled guitarist of many, many a year who's pallet is very dicriminating. He loved Jim's work as much as I did and told me it was his favorite present (from me) ever. THAT says A LOT!!

  • James has always had an organic approach to the guitar.
    author: Kat & Eric Almlie

    This really shows how close he is to his instrument. Very organic; as if the guitar is part of him. You can tell what he's feeling. You don't have to be a guitarist to get it. Rock on~ Kat & Eric Almlie

  • Very good guitar work.
    author: Eman

    I understand this cd was a form of therapy for James. It is for me as well. Every time I listen to it I feel like I'm in a great place. For James it's the water, for me I close my eyes and I'm in the sky on a cloud flying over vast mountains and forests. Thanks James, EMan.

  • Amazing
    author: Robert Arndt

    This is the guitar work that made Concrete Blonde one of my favorite bands. An amazing CD star to finish. Thanks James Mankey

  • Relax and Enjoy
    author: LMH

    I was already a fan, but now I have an even greater respect for musician Jim Mankey. A great, relaxing cd to listen to.

  • AWESOME
    author: Sally

    This is a great representation of the work Jim can put out, astounding, a great CD from start to finish.

  • WOW... this is really great!
    author: Brian

    This is a great CD with catchy, thought provoking compositions. My favorite song is GoGo ME, a progressive rockblues type guitar song with some cool reverb effects that give the song a tropical feel. NICE!

  • darkly imaginative brilliant work of creative passion - powerful integrity.
    author: Alec Austin Müller the 1st

    This CD rocks!!! Its' surreal yet darkly imaginative feel makes me want to suck blood and howl at the moon. This CD is a brilliantly work of creative passion. It is powerful and complete with confident integrity. Amazing and thought inspiring. Please say that there is another one on the way !!!

  • AWESOME!!!! Great guitar work and excellent mood
    author: Rob Anslow

    This is a great piece of guitar work from James. Very easy to listen to and enjoy from a guitar players point of view. The CD had not left my CD player since I've received it!!! Excellent work James!!! I'd love to hear more of your work. CD BABY...keeps promoting good artists like this and I'll defiantly be back!

  • What a hidden treasure! Enjoyable on many levels!
    author: DL White

    Musicians will be able to appreciate the complex and amazing guitar work and composing Jim provides on this CD. I discover something new with each listen. His guitar makes beautiful, sad and energized sounds I've never heard anywhere else. Casual music fans will enjoy it - I've discovered it makes great cruising music while in my car. And for the Concrete Blonde fans out there, (myself included), I found it a real treat to hear Jim's work solo - and discover all his creative musical flavors seperate from Concrete Blonde. It makes me appreciate his contributions to the band's sound even more than I did previously.

  • Where does he get that sound?
    author: Christian

    This CD is great! I have been waiting for years for James Mankey to release a solo album. I am a musician myself and it is a breath of fresh air to hear guitar based music that is not dominated by riffs and shredding. The music has so many layers to it that it's depth seems endless. Where does he get that sound! A must have CD!

  • A sound all it's own, awsome!
    author: Jim DuBois

    This is a great addition to my collection. It has a sound like nothing else. It's indescribable so you'll just have to get it and listen for yourself!

  • Smokin'
    author: James Burrow

    What a pleasant surprise this CD was. With all the music you've put out, this CD has some of the most killer hooks I've ever heard. It's a masterpiece, really. Can't wait for your next CD.

  • A great addition to my cd collection
    author: Pam Smith

    Excellent cd Jim. It is great that you have finally released a solo album. I hope to hear of more in the future.

  • Great CD, very good addition for any Concrete Blonde fan
    author: steve_m

    I've been a big fan of Mankey's work with Concrete Blonde since the early 90s. As one review already said, this is not Concrete Blonde, but it is is very good. I'm looking forward to the next one.

  • THIS IS GREAT
    author: Gary McCluskey

    This is a great cd. Really not what I thought it would be (not that I didn't think it would be good). A VERY different sound than Concrete Blonde. Nice to hear Jim on his own. It's a very melodic 'guitar god' sound with a kind of progressive feel to me. Standout tracks include: Dance Like it Matters and Goin Gaga. Buy it!

  • Different than Concrete Blonde, but just as exciting
    author: A L J

    With this album, Jim Mankey continues to prove he has incrdible talent and skill. These songs flow smoothly and rub you just the right way. This is certainly an essential album in my collection! It makes my life feel like a cool movie with cool music when I listen to it. Please buy this, support this great talent!

  • I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!
    author: sydsview

    Awesome CD! The first solo I've heard from the great Mankey and well worth any price! I've listened to it over and over and I can't get the smooth sounds out of my head. Deep and edgy, mellow and soothing, intricate and engrossing. I love it all! Thanks Jim, for giving us your best! ~syd

  • F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C!!!!!
    author: Roger

    Great CD. Bravo.

  • Great cd, wonderful layers, you need to have it!
    author: Desiree Carlson

    I've been waiting since Guitar Speak II for solo Jim Mankey material. I have not been let down, it's been worth the wait. Each song is something new and inviting, evocative. Great work!

  • Oh yeah!! I love it Jim Mankey
    author: Jenn Rodman

    What a great cd JAM is... I love Jim's guitar licks their so damn beautiful.. Two thumbs up.... I Will teach myself to play guitar by listening to JAM.... Jim doesnt sing on it, but who cares its amazing........

email

Please log in to email this artist.