Teddy Presberg
Blueprint of Soul
© 2007 Outright Music (634479355295)
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Psychedelic Jazz Improvisation for Lovers of Life and Dancers. Blueprint of Soul is a "Staff Pick Top 10 album of 2007" - All About Jazz.
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Often compared to the funky, soulful jazz musicians such as Grant Green and Eddie Harris, you also hear artists such as The White Stripes and Beck influence his sound. His music is fresh, ever evolving, and lays out his immediate and unfiltered response to our society and times.
He's not flashy with in-your-face chops. He can own one note, and with that note, you know exactly what he means. Teddy plays for the moment, never repeating himself – risking the falls to reach the musical highs.
Teddy’s debut solo album “Blueprint of Soul” consists of songs written in a stream of consciousness, tracks done in one take, and unforgettable improvisational grooves. The result is a funky Friday-night record that you'll put on before, during, and after the party. To much acclaim, the album was named a Critic's Pick Top 10 Album of 2007 by All About Jazz.
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The Crown Prince of Funk Improv
author: Jeremiah SutherlandThe first time I heard a cut from this release, I thought, “Hmmm, yummy guitar!”. Listening to the whole album, there’s no reason to change my first impression except maybe to add the adjective, “Big”. Not on every cut, mind you, but Presberg’s outsize guitar footprint is evident everywhere. Presberg spent a bunch of years in Portland, Oregon and this album is his effort to recreate a rainy night (is there any other kind?) here on the Soggy Coast. Rather than spending a lot of time working out a set list of songs and carefully crafting each one, Presberg has gone for a home studio-based, spontaneous creation. All the songs have been improvised in an effort to capture a set of pure and natural musical impressions. No second takes allowed here. Assuming no one is pulling my leg with regard to second takes, the result has been golden. We are treated to a series of cool (almost subzero), arrogant jazz instrumentals with generous dollops of funk. A listener will notice the big, strutting grooves that take charge on each cut. Then Presberg’s guitar comes in, taking over centre stage. He has a lot to say, but he makes his points in an economical, almost terse style; no long guitar solos intended to show off his virtuosity. The mood on this album is darkly hip, the underside of a rainy city…don’t stray off the sidewalk into the shadowy alleys. My favourite is “Colonel Summers”, a great soundtrack for a cop drama. Summary: It may be too early to crown Presberg as the King of Funk Improv, but he’s definitely proved that he should be the Crown Prince.
- author: Glenn Astarita, The Jazz Review
Refreshingly entertaining, stylistic and playfully off-center, the guitarist also merges a sound that hints at classic psycho-pop via a jam-based modus operandi. But he maintains a distinctly personalized musical aura throughout. One of the hands-down musical surprises for 2007.
Dig It
author: Andy Blackman HurwitzBlueprint jumps around town with a style that can’t be found anywhere else. You can’t go wrong with this recording and will want to listen, learn and love it many times over – it’s one of those road trip albums that you’ll come back to time and time again. Pick it up and never let it down
- author: erikhane@hotmail.com
Nice and funky. I dig it
This disc is a retro blast!
author: Mark Waterbury - Music MorselsTeddy Presberg obviously has deep roots in the 60’s to 70’s heyday of R&B, that is before it morphed into disco. This collection of ten instrumental tracks has a highly enjoyable vibe, driven with a kind of loose abandon that still allows the prodigious musical talents to shine through. Wicked guitar licks, funky organ passages and a solid, grooving beat dominate the songs from the sultry blues of “My Bird Can Fly” to the rock-edged boogie of “Colonel Sumners.” This disc is a retro blast!
Completely and totally awesome! We've been listening to it at home and dancing t
author: Rachel Jeffersonenhancing the wah-wah in funk
author: John Book, Music for AmericaImagine if you were to examine someone's notebook of ideas, and this is a hint of the vibe of this album. Honestly, I think all of these songs would work very well in surf films, as they each have a carefree spirit that is not unlike those shared by the surfing community. I think if Presberg sent this to Jack Johnson or Woodshed Films, he could get a much wider audience. The album was mixed out in Makaha, on the island of O'ahu, perhaps if he returns next time, he'll be inspired by the waves, the people, and Makaha Drive-Inn with their French fries and gravy specialty plate. What I also liked about Blueprint Of Soul is that Teddy plays a wide range of guitars and guitar styles, whether it's enhancing the wah-wah in funk, a beautiful slide guitar, or getting rootsy with an acoustic guitar. I could see someone like him touring with band like the Juggling Suns or make the festival circuit next year. While the loose feel of the songs is celebrated, I'm very curious to hear what he would sound like with some set compositions in place. A perfect balance between the compositions and jam sessions would give him the kind of attention he fully deserves, but regardless of what path he takes, I'm curious to know where he will take himself in the future.
Jazz/funk guitarist takes a risk by producing improvisations inspired by the cit
author: Libby Wait, CDREVIEWS.COMIt takes an extraordinary amount of musical talent to write a cohesive song in a short period of time and then both play and improvise the music successfully in one take. So although the tracks on Blueprint of Soul may not be exceptionally layered or structured, one has to consider the amount of skill that Presberg and his guest musicians must have. After all, Blueprint of Soul is a mixture of funk and jazz, both of which are two genres that are rooted in improvisation. Presberg follows his muse and allows it to spontaneously carry his music in whichever direction it desires. For the most part, it is near impossible to ascertain that so much of the music is improvised. Some tracks such as “The Blueprint” and “The Dig” are so smooth and flowing that they sound as if the musicians had played them several times previously. Teddy Presberg is not afraid of taking a risk by releasing Blueprint of Soul as his debut album. Rather than dedicating hours of studio time to perfecting each song, Presberg depends on his musical muse to produce the music he desires. Blueprint of Soul, although it may be lost on some listeners, deserves admiration because it presents music in its purest form. Presberg revisits the roots of jazz and funk where all that is needed is an instrument, an inspiration, and some passion.
Blueprint of Soul will be the secret ingredient everyone will be talking about
author: Alex Jasperse, The Muse's MuseProudly wearing a badge of honesty, Blueprint of Soul offers a collection of witty, crafty and enticing group improvisations that speak with a creative life all their own. As a whole, the album is a haunting and richly assembled work of stripped down blues-rock and improvisational jazz. More than just an enjoyable jam session, the changing four-part ensembles offer up a subtle interplay of accessible melodies and rhythms. With quirky John Scofield-like phrasing mixed together with hints of Grant Green’s legendary playing, it makes for an immensely entertaining and enlightening ride. ness comes together and adds a hip and suave vibe, lending the album so much of its stylishness. So can meaning be conveyed without words? Can it really be conveyed with only one part of the equation: music? By not confining himself to words, Presberg’s smartly retro-hip and instrumental dialogues allow him to successfully present a number of openly honest conversations. Some meanings are defined, slyly intertwining late night cool jazz sounds with smoky dance floor imagery, yet many others are enigmatic at the same time. Adding a new flavor to any environment, Blueprint of Soul will definitely be the secret ingredient everyone will be talking about.
- author: shackaholic
Jazzy funky compositions culled from an improv session lead to some honest and pure music here. No attempts are made at anything in specific, just unadulterated playing in the moment and seeing what rises to the top. What rises to the top are 10 tracks of solid grooves. Too bad this rating system is based on a 5 star system. I would have given this album a 4.5 if I could.