creative talent
author: Tom Kent, Cool Muse Music
Richard Zeier's new CD Phenomenation is truly a musical masterpiece of interpretive musical moods. There are a lot of songs on the album that caught my attention, two of which are Cloud Painter and Sweet. This artist is a major talent.
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Amazing Musical Imagination
author: 20th Century Guitar magazine
Much like the awesome cover art of his 2006 CD Phenomenation, guitarist Richard Zeier has a pretty amazing musical imagination. Except for the cosmic lyrics featured on the title track and several tracks featuring multi-tracked choral vocals by Chi Coltrane, the instrumental album demonstrates a daring cross section of guitar / keyboard smooth jazz New Age style tracks that would sound great as film TV music, both serious drama and action type stuff. The rhythmic, more modern sides of Tangerine Dream, Mike Oldfield and Jan Hammer are some of the atmospheric influences that weave in and out of Zeier’s wide screen sound mix. Backed by some fine players, including drummer Mike Ruiz, Phenomenation takes the scenic tour and serves as a splendid introduction to the guitar magic of Richard Zeier.
by Robert Silverstein, July 2006
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Phenomenation is Phenomenal
author: Buddy Hollywood.com
Written by Mike Parker Saturday, 24 June 2006.
I don’t make this proclamation often, and you may not hear me say it again this year, so take notice: ‘Stop what you are doing, right now, and buy this CD!’
Think I’m kidding? Do it! Do it right now!
Okay, I’ll give you an out – If you detest impeccably crafted, thought-provoking, stunningly produced, cinematic, film score-esque, instrumental rock ‘n’ roll, then I guess it’s okay for you to pass up Phenomenation. More for me.
Seriously, I was hooked from the opening breathy, airy, opening strains of “Rainbow Nebula,” and mesmerized by the easy way he segued into a mysterious Middle Easter rhythm. Zeier, whose forte is his ability to meld classic, Eric Clapton guitar licks with John Williams’ everyman film scores, manages to transcend genres to deliver a thirteen track tour-de-force of art rock. And don’t let that term fool you – this is not some esoteric mumbo-jumbo pretending to be art for art’s sake that nobody can underst
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he ran the race, and he won.
author: DC Guitar Journal
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Richard Zeier - CD Review
I just got a new CD Phenomenation in the mail from Richard Zeier. (Richard is one of the remaining EMU-Ensoniq PARIS DAW holdouts. PARIS is an obsolete computer-based recording system that sounds startlingly good considering it has been dead for years now. I am another PARIS hardcore holdout myself, so when I had the chance to meet Richard and see his beautiful studio, I jumped at it.)
I was expecting good audio, but honestly I was even more impressed with the heart and spirit of his music. This disc sounds like a lifetime of passion, faith and love poured into a little shiny disc. Very impressive.
The music is progressive, well-composed, with touches of fusion and lots of classical elements. There is a touch of new-age feel throughout as well, but the music rarely loses its muscles. I have been recovering from a painful leg injury and this made me want to jump up and go run for a mile or two!
Richard is clearly a first-rat
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