Reviews-Birth/Death/Infinity

Reviews

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BIRTH/DEATH/INFINITY

Review for Project 7 - Birth/Death/Infinity (DSB Records)

Anyone who remembers the 1969 John Mclaughlin album "Devotion" should give a listen to the most recent album from Long Island based guitarist Dan Begelman. Recorded at various studios in the N.Y. Tri-State area and released at the tail end of the 90's, "Birth/Death/Infinity" finds Begelman supported by a crew of fine players including John DeCesare (bass) and Tony Gallino (drums). Begelman demonstrates a creative touch on electric and acoustic guitars, AXON guitar synth and bass, while also proving his worth as an ingenious composer with a flair for composing lengthy pieces of progressive instrumental wonder. The 10 + minute title track affords Begelman and company the latitude to stretch their musical muscles. The CD sounds incredible thanks to the superior production by Begelman and Victor Deyglio.

When asked about his musical influences the guitarist adds, "Jeff Beck and John Mclaughlin - I think that shows up on the CD. My first CD is kinda close to "Blow by Blow" by Jeff Beck. Blues players like Johnny Winter are a big influence. I play classical guitar as well. As a matter of fact, I just wrote a seven string guitar book for Warner Bros., a method book for how to play seven string guitar". Another high point on "Birth/Death/Infinity" is a rocked out instrumental cover of The Yardbirds '65 classic, "For Your Love" which reflects Begelman's melodic approach to progressive jazz-rock instrumental music. Also worth checking out is Begelman's first solo album with Project 7 entitled "Lost For Words".

-Robert Silverstein/20th Century Guitar - April 2001

Reviews for both Birth/Death/Infinity and Lost For Words:

A new super trio hits the scene, 'super' not because they are well known names, but because they have produced two absolutely storming albums of instrumental guitar-bass-drums music. 'Lost' is the first album and it opens in fine full-on fashion with some scorching electric guitar work that positively goes stellar in the heat, as the thunderous electric bass and superbly produced drums sound real tight, driving this six minute intro as a hail of riffs and solos fly past. It's not cliched heavy metal and it sure as hell rocks. Track 2 features a slightly funkier rhythm, but don't be put off by that because it's still absolutely solid and over this you'll find wave after wave of red hot electric guitar leads and wicked rhythm guitar backdrops as the firepower continues, never too fast, technical or flashy and always steaming; definitely essential listening for the Satriani/Macalpine/Goodsall legion of admirers. The compositions are soundly structured, excellently played and produced, with an eye always on the melody content, ensuring real tracks and not just aimless jams of flashy expertise with no feeling. Track 3 is slightly slower, bluesier and stretched out, with some superb drum work that ranges from quiet to crashing, as the guitar layers vary from gorgeous slides through biting solos to spacious restraint, all with a sense of edge, building to excellent effect over the near ten minute running time. Things go positively supernova around the four minute mark, but still at the same pace, although gathering intensity and firepower all along the way. Track 4 rocks once more while the eight minute track 5 starts as a tender melodic tune that gradually builds and layers with some incendiary flowing lead guitar work cutting right through as the slow, perfectly placed rhythm section pours forth. Track 6 is as inventive and consistent as all the others and is another near nine minute rock workout where the guitar just shines like a star in the night sky, as it burns its way through the airwaves over an ever dependable rhythm section. Overall, a mix of rock and fusion that never conforms to the excesses of either genre and is as good as the best past musicians working in this field - a 100% excellent debut album.

'Birth' is latest album and it is even more sensational, with the addition of keyboards and guitar synth to the line-up and this added element fills out the sound to excellent effect. The album opens with an eleven minute track of such fiery intensity, it recalls the best and most unforgettable dynamic power of the Inner Mounting Flame'/'Birds Of Fire' era Mahavishnu Orchestra, only here we get some huge muscular riffs and spiraling solos substituting for the sheer speed of the MO, and this is just incredible stuff as the guitars fly out in all directions over the solid rhythmic bed of bass/synth undercurrents and electric basses, all pounding away to skull-crunching effect as the guitars soar high above to breathtaking extent - a classic way to open any album and one of the best guitar tracks around. This is a class guitar based track with quality, pace, and power and an ideal, white hot opener. After that, track 2 sensibly takes things down to the gentle tune-like status as the soft drums, undulating bass, keyboards and relaxed melodic guitar work weave a gorgeous musical spell, all very emotional and heartfelt. Track 3 rocks, track 4 builds to great effect with the guitar gathering fire on a more bluesy, but cutting composition, allowing room for the bass to play a more important roll. Track 5 covers the Yardbirds classic For Your Love over seven fiery minutes, largely retaining the structure of the original song in melody terms, but really making it work as an instrumental in this context as the red-hot guitar tears out the lead lines and the drums propel the track along furiously. The ten minute title track alternates between restrained, dynamic and full-on power in an almost Holdsworth way, only dirtier and more effective with great feeling as the track carves its vari-paced progress. Track 7 is a restrained ballad mixing acoustic and electric guitars for three minutes while the final track is like a nuclear force instrumental mix of all the great guitarists you could name - the piece has a rhythm section that stomps its lead lined boots all over the soundstage while the guitar comes on like a positive tornado, tearing out everything in its path with sizzling solos and crunching, grungy molten riffing, threatening to destroy your speakers at any minute as the intensity builds and builds. You'd swear that your gear is about to ignite in a ball of fire at any minute as the album ends as magnificently as it began, and if you thought the first part was 100% excellent, then this scores an amazing 200%, ending one of the all-time great guitar albums, and I say that without any doubt whatsoever.

- Dead Ernest - November 1999

Review for BIRTHDEATHINFINITY:

Veteran guitarist Dan Begelman presents us with his second CD of very intense heavy instrumental fusion. "BirthDeathInfinity" contains all the fire and fury of Mahavishnu, but is served on a palette of super high quality production. The music gets downright evil at times, tipping the scales of extreme heaviness, but in other spots displays a sensitive jazz and classical influence as well. There's a nice diversification of sub-styles between the individual tunes. Dan has employed the use of many interesting voices... piano, violin, etc. (some probably driven by his Axon guitar synth), as well as ethnic percussion and tribal song. The production is very deep... I hear new and interesting sonic layers with every listen. Dan's guitar work is indeed innovative and outstanding. The drum work of Tony Gallino (maker of GMS Drums) is excellent as well... and yes, the drums sound great! All in all, "BirthDeathInfinity" is a quality work, and a very worthwhile acquisition.

-Dave Miranda/Guitar 2001, Winter/Spring 1999

Review for BIRTHDEATHINFINITY:

Project 7 is a progressive power trio led by veteran New York Guitarist Danny Begelman. Begelman is a veteran transcriber as well, whose work has appeared in Guitar World for a number of years. BIRTHDEATHINFINITY is Project 7's second self-produced CD (The bands debut was '92 Lost For Words), and with this record Danny and band serve up an album full of first rate progressive jazz/rock with a ferocious edge. Daring and intense, this is rock music for the 90's, music that pushes the envelope in the tradition of guitar giants Jeff Beck and John McLaughlin. BIRTHDEATHINFINITY features seven compelling original compositions that run the gamut from the complex and epic-like "The Last Night" and "Birth/Death/Infinity" - two tunes that indicate the prog-rock influences of bands like King Crimson and The Mahavishnu Orchestra to the beautiful jazzy ballad, "Tamara", to the Zeppelin-esque acoustic/electric "The Vampire" . An added bonus is an aggressive instrumental arrangement of the Yardbirds classic "For Your Love". The piece-de-resistance, however, is the album's closer, "Somalia", a wild-ass ride of a tune that contains some of the most psycho guitar playing you will ever hear. Beautifully recorded, the album puts big fat Marshall-driven Stratocasters and vintage Les Paul's right in your face. BIRTHDEATHINFINITY is solid from top to bottom, and is a must for all fans of instrumental rock.

- Andy Aledort/Guitar World Magazine 1997

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